Whiskey cocktail recipes

Classic bourbon, rye, Scotch, and Irish whiskey cocktails. Each recipe lists exact amounts, a short method, and the kind of bottle to pour. Scan a bottle with Instadram to keep it on your shelf.

All recipes

Old Fashioned recipeBourbon or rye
The Old Fashioned is whiskey, sugar, bitters, and a twist of orange. It is slow to stir and easy to make well at home.
Manhattan recipeRye or bourbon
The Manhattan is rye or bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters, stirred cold and served up. It is one of the best known whiskey cocktails.
Mint Julep recipeBourbon
The Mint Julep is bourbon, mint, and sugar over a mound of crushed ice. It is the drink of the Kentucky Derby.
Whiskey Sour recipeBourbon
The Whiskey Sour is whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar. A ratio of 2 oz whiskey to 0.75 oz lemon to 0.75 oz syrup keeps it bright and balanced.
Boulevardier recipeBourbon or rye
The Boulevardier is whiskey, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Think of it as a Negroni with a whiskey base.
Sazerac recipeRye
The Sazerac is a New Orleans classic: rye, sugar, Peychaud's bitters, and an absinthe rinse. It is served with no ice.
Paper Plane recipeBourbon
The Paper Plane is a modern classic with four equal parts: bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice.
New York Sour recipeRye or bourbon
The New York Sour is a Whiskey Sour topped with a float of dry red wine. The wine adds color, a little tannin, and a dry finish.
Penicillin recipeScotch
The Penicillin is a modern Scotch cocktail with lemon, honey, and ginger, topped with a float of smoky Islay Scotch.
Vieux Carré recipeRye and cognac
The Vieux Carré is a New Orleans cocktail of rye, cognac, sweet vermouth, and Benedictine. It tastes like a rich Manhattan.
Hot Toddy recipeWhiskey
The Hot Toddy is a warm drink of whiskey, honey, lemon, and hot water. It is simple, and it is good on a cold night.
Irish Coffee recipeIrish whiskey
The Irish Coffee is Irish whiskey and hot coffee, sweetened with sugar and topped with cold cream.
Rob Roy recipeScotch
The Rob Roy is a Manhattan made with Scotch in place of rye. It is smooth, a little smoky, and quick to make.
Rusty Nail recipeScotch
The Rusty Nail has two ingredients: Scotch and Drambuie. The honey and herb liqueur softens the Scotch.
Godfather recipeScotch
The Godfather is Scotch and amaretto over ice. The almond liqueur adds sweetness and a nutty finish.
Gold Rush recipeBourbon
The Gold Rush is a Whiskey Sour made with honey syrup in place of sugar. It is rich, smooth, and easy to batch.
Ward Eight recipeRye
The Ward Eight is a Boston sour of rye, lemon juice, orange juice, and grenadine. It is fruity, but the rye keeps it dry.
Brown Derby recipeBourbon
The Brown Derby has three ingredients: bourbon, grapefruit juice, and honey syrup. It is tart, a little bitter, and smooth.