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The 5 classic whiskey cocktails you need in your bartending repertoire

If whiskey is your thing, you must know how to whip up these five classic cocktails

Mark Stock
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Ever wonder why so many of the classic cocktails out there involve whiskey? Because the spirit is versatile, coming in various forms (rye, bourbon, Scotch, etc) and taking kindly to a number of complementary ingredients. And while there are countless recipes you should explore, there are five you really must know.

Yes, like classic gin cocktails or classic tequila cocktails, classic whiskey cocktails are combinations you should know by heart and work to perfect with little tweaks here and there. They get adorned with the classic name because the combinations are tried and true, standing the test of time. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with them, as we always encourage you to play around with things like whiskey type, liqueur type, bitters type, and more. They’re classics, sure, but they can still be tailor-made for your own palate.

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Here are five classic whiskey cocktails you must have in your drinks repertoire.

The Old Fashioned

how to make an old fashioned cocktail
Dan Baker/The Manual

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 3-4 dashes bitters (Angostura or Orange)
  • 1 sugar cube
  • A few drops of water
  • Orange peel

Method

  1. In an Old Fashioned glass, add cocktail bitters, sugar cube, and water.
  2. Stir.
  3. Add bourbon and ice and stir.
  4. Express an orange peel over the top and drop it in the glass.

Read more: Best Whiskey for An Old-Fashioned

Whiskey Sour

How to Make a Whiskey Sour Cocktail
Dan Baker/The Manual

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 1 ounce lemon juice
  • 3/4 ounce simple syrup
  • 1 egg white
  • Cherry for garnish

Method

  1. In a shaker tin, add all ingredients except for ice.
  2. Dry shake for 10-15 seconds.
  3. Add ice and shake again.
  4. Double strain into a chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with a cocktail cherry.

Read more: Best Whiskey for Whiskey Sours

Sazerac

sazerac-whiskey-cocktail-lemon

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces rye whiskey
  • 1/4 ounce absinthe
  • 3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
  • 1 sugar cube
  • A few drops of water
  • Lemon peel 

Method:

  1. Rinse a pre-chilled Old Fashioned glass with absinthe, then add crushed ice and set it aside.
  2. Stir bitters, sugar, and water together.
  3. Add rye whiskey and ice and stir.
  4. Discard the ice and absinthe from the Old Fashioned glass and strain the whiskey into the glass.
  5. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Read more: Best Rye Whiskey Under $50

Rob Roy

rob roy cocktail cherry garnish
Christian Kargl/Getty Images

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Scotch whisky
  • 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
  • 3-4 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Cherry for garnish

Method

  1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
  2. Stir.
  3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  4. Garnish with a cocktail cherry.

Read more: Essential Scotch Cocktails 

Manhattan

manhattan cocktail
Dan Baker/The Manual

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces rye whiskey
  • 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
  • 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Cherry for garnish

Method:

  1. Stir liquid ingredients together with ice.
  2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
  3. Garnish with a cherry.

Read more: Best Whiskey Subscription Boxes

Need a primer before taking the plunge? Here’s how to drink whiskey, in case you forgot (or need reminding). And don’t forget to try whiskies of various ages too, you’ll be amazed by how they evolve over time.

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Mark Stock
Mark Stock
Contributor
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
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