Whiskey has a storied history as one of the most beloved spirits, and its versatility has inspired countless cocktails. In this list, you'll discover not only the classics you know and love but also some modern classics and lesser-known gems that might just become your new favorites. As a whiskey enthusiast, these are some of my favorite drinks ever—and they might soon be yours, too.
1. Bensonhurst
Named after a neighborhood in Brooklyn, the Bensonhurst is a modern twist on the Manhattan. Its use of dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Cynar creates a unique balance of bitterness and sweetness.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
1 oz dry vermouth
½ tsp maraschino liqueur
½ tsp Cynar
Stir with ice, strain into a chilled glass, and garnish with a cherry.
Watch me make it here.
2. Benton’s Old Fashioned
This contemporary take on the Old Fashioned incorporates bacon fat-washed bourbon for a savory twist, popularized by PDT in New York City.
Recipe:
2 oz bacon fat-washed bourbon
¼ oz maple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange peel.
Watch me make it here.
3. Trinidad Sour
An unconventional cocktail where Angostura bitters take center stage, the Trinidad Sour offers a bold, spicy flavor balanced by sweetness.
Recipe:
1 oz Angostura bitters
1 oz orgeat
¾ oz lemon juice
½ oz rye whiskey
Shake with ice, strain into a coupe glass.
Watch me make it here.
4. Cobble Hill
A cousin to the Manhattan, the Cobble Hill features dry vermouth and amaro, giving it a more herbal and earthy profile.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
¾ oz dry vermouth
¾ oz Amaro Montenegro
2 slices of cucumber
Muddle cucumber, add remaining ingredients, stir with ice, and strain into a chilled glass.
Watch me make it here.
5. Red Hook
Another Brooklyn-inspired cocktail, the Red Hook is bold and slightly sweet, thanks to the addition of maraschino liqueur.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
½ oz Punt e Mes
½ oz maraschino liqueur
Stir with ice, strain into a chilled glass, and garnish with a cherry.
Watch me make it here
6. Boulevardier
A whiskey-laden twist on the Negroni, the Boulevardier swaps gin for bourbon or rye, resulting in a richer, spicier profile.
Recipe:
1 oz bourbon or rye
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 oz Campari
Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist.
Watch me make it here.
7. Paper Plane
Created by bartender Sam Ross, the Paper Plane is a perfectly balanced mix of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice.
Recipe:
¾ oz bourbon
¾ oz Aperol
¾ oz Amaro Nonino
¾ oz lemon juice
Shake with ice, strain into a coupe glass.
Watch me make it here.
8. Greenpoint
Part of the "neo-classic" Manhattan variations, the Greenpoint features yellow Chartreuse for a touch of herbal complexity.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
½ oz yellow Chartreuse
½ oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Stir with ice, strain into a chilled glass, and garnish with a cherry.
Watch me make it here.
9. Rusty Nail
Simple yet sophisticated, the Rusty Nail pairs Scotch whisky with Drambuie for a rich and warming drink.
Recipe:
1 ½ oz Scotch whisky
¾ oz Drambuie
Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass with ice, and garnish with a lemon twist.
Watch me make it here.
10. Manhattan
A classic that never goes out of style, the Manhattan is a perfect balance of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
Recipe:
2 oz rye or bourbon
1 oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a cherry.
Watch me make it here.
11. Old Fashioned
The granddaddy of all cocktails, the Old Fashioned is as simple as it is timeless.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon or rye
1 sugar cube
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Muddle sugar and bitters, add whiskey and ice, stir, and garnish with an orange peel.
Watch me make it here.
12. Sazerac
Hailing from New Orleans, the Sazerac combines rye, sugar, and Peychaud’s bitters with a touch of absinthe.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
1 sugar cube
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Absinthe rinse
Muddle sugar and bitters, add rye, stir with ice, and strain into a chilled glass.
Watch me make it here.
13. Irish Maid
A light and refreshing cocktail, the Irish Maid combines Irish whiskey with elderflower liqueur and citrus.
Recipe:
2 oz Irish whiskey
½ oz elderflower liqueur
¾ oz lemon juice
¾ oz simple syrup
2 slices cucumber
Muddle cucumber, shake ingredients with ice, strain into a rocks glass with ice.
Watch me make it here.
14. Mint Julep
The official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the Mint Julep is a simple yet elegant mix of bourbon, mint, and sugar.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon
1 tsp sugar
2-3 mint sprigs
Muddle mint and sugar, add bourbon and crushed ice, and stir until frosty.
Watch me make it here.
15. Whiskey Sour
A classic balance of sweet and tart, the Whiskey Sour is a go-to for any whiskey lover.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon
¾ oz lemon juice
¾ oz simple syrup
Optional: egg white
Shake with ice (dry shake if using egg white), strain into a rocks glass with ice, and garnish with a cherry.
Watch me make it here.
16. Whiskey Smash
A cousin of the Whiskey Sour, the Whiskey Smash incorporates fresh mint and lemon for a refreshing twist.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon
½ lemon (cut into wedges)
1 tsp sugar
4-5 mint leaves
Muddle lemon, mint, and sugar, add bourbon and ice, shake, and strain into a rocks glass with ice.
Watch me make it here.
17. Gold Rush
This modern classic combines bourbon, lemon juice, and honey syrup for a rich yet refreshing flavor.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon
¾ oz lemon juice
¾ oz honey syrup
Shake with ice, strain into a rocks glass with ice.
Watch me make it here.
18. Black Manhattan
A darker, richer version of the Manhattan, the Black Manhattan uses amaro instead of sweet vermouth.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon or rye
1 oz Averna Amaro
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 dashes orange bitters
Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a cherry.
Watch me make it here.
19. New York Sour
A stunning variation of the Whiskey Sour, the New York Sour features a red wine float for added complexity.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon
¾ oz lemon juice
¾ oz simple syrup
½ oz red wine (to float)
Shake first three ingredients, strain into a rocks glass with ice, and carefully float the wine on top.
Watch me make it here.
20. Improved Whiskey Cocktail
An upgrade to the classic whiskey cocktail, this version includes absinthe and maraschino liqueur.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
¼ oz maraschino liqueur
¼ oz simple syrup
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Absinthe rinse
Stir with ice, strain into a chilled glass.
Watch me make it here.
21. Little Italy
This Manhattan-inspired cocktail includes Cynar and sweet vermouth for a bittersweet profile.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
¾ oz sweet vermouth
¾ oz Cynar
Stir with ice, strain into a chilled glass, and garnish with a cherry.
Watch me make it here.
22. Brown Derby
Named after a famous Hollywood diner, the Brown Derby is a refreshing mix of bourbon, grapefruit juice, and honey.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon
1 oz grapefruit juice
½ oz honey syrup
Shake with ice, strain into a coupe glass.
Watch me make it here.
23. Old Pal
A dry and bitter cousin to the Boulevardier, the Old Pal uses dry vermouth instead of sweet.
Recipe:
1 oz rye whiskey
1 oz Campari
1 oz dry vermouth
Stir with ice, strain into a chilled glass, and garnish with a lemon twist.
Watch me make it here.
24. Midnight Stinger
A refreshing mix of whiskey and mint, the Midnight Stinger is perfect for warm nights.
Recipe:
1 ½ oz bourbon
¾ oz lemon juice
¾ oz simple syrup
½ oz Fernet-Branca
Shake with ice, strain into a rocks glass with ice.
Watch me make it here.
25. Ward 8
Created in Boston, the Ward 8 is a fruity and slightly tart whiskey cocktail.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz orange juice
¼ oz grenadine
Shake with ice, strain into a chilled glass.
Watch me make it here.
26. Rob Roy
The Scotch whisky version of a Manhattan, the Rob Roy is smooth and slightly smoky.
Recipe:
2 oz Scotch whisky
1 oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a cherry.
Watch me make it here.
27. Remember the Maine
A complex cocktail with layers of cherry and absinthe, the Remember the Maine is a must-try for adventurous drinkers.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
¾ oz sweet vermouth
½ tsp absinthe
½ tsp cherry liqueur
Stir with ice, strain into a chilled glass.
Watch me make it here.
28. Revolver
A bold cocktail featuring coffee liqueur, the Revolver is a great after-dinner drink.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon
½ oz coffee liqueur
2 dashes orange bitters
Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with an orange twist.
Watch me make it here.
29. The Godfather
A simple, two-ingredient drink, The Godfather pairs Scotch whisky with amaretto for a sweet and nutty flavor.
Recipe:
2 oz Scotch whisky
½ oz amaretto
Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass with ice.
Watch me make it here.
30. Penicillin
Created by Sam Ross, the Penicillin is a modern classic that balances the smoky and sweet flavors of Scotch whisky, honey, and ginger.
Recipe:
2 oz blended Scotch whisky
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz honey-ginger syrup
¼ oz Islay single malt Scotch (float)
Shake first three ingredients with ice, strain into a rocks glass with ice, and float the Islay Scotch on top.
Watch me make it here
Each of these cocktails has its own history and charm, from the refreshing simplicity of a Whiskey Smash to the intricate flavors of a Remember the Maine. Whether you're exploring modern classics or revisiting old favorites, there's something here for every whiskey lover.
Comments