Whether you want something strong or on the sweeter side, there are plenty of whiskey cocktails to choose from. Get to know the different types of whiskey and find your new favorite.
DISCLAIMER
*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Feast + West may receive commissions for purchases made through those links — at no cost to you. All opinions are our own. Please read our full disclosure for more information.
Your ultimate guide to whiskey cocktails
When you think of whiskey, you probably picture an amber liquid in a glass held by someone that looks like they just stepped out of Mad Men. The truth, however, is that there are so many different types of whiskey that create so many different drinks.
Whether you’re already a whiskey aficionado or are looking for your new favorite sipper, these recipes are some of the best when it comes to this strong spirit.
Types of whiskey
Simply calling something a whiskey cocktail won’t tell you everything you need to know. Here are some of the types of whiskey you may find on a cocktail menu or ingredient list:
Bourbon whiskey: Perhaps the most popular type of whiskey, this spirit must be produced from at least 51% corn and is aged in new, charred oak barrels. To be called bourbon, it must be made in the United States and it has a sweet and caramel-like flavor.
Rye (Canadian) whiskey: Rye whiskey uses a rye mash or a mash combination of rye and malt and regulations stipulate that the mash must contain at least 51% rye grains in order to call it rye whiskey. (Canadian regulations do not specify a minimum percentage of rye.) It has a more astringent flavor than bourbon.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email a link to you, so you can come back to it later! Plus you'll get great new recipes each week!
Irish whiskey: Irish whiskey is made in Ireland from unmalted barley and cereal grains. It is often triple-distilled in copper pot stills and aged in new or previously new barrels. Its flavor is smoother, cleaner and less smoky than its Scotch counterpart.
Scotch whisky: Scotch whisky has a smoky flavor derived from its production. The grains, primarily barley, is malted and heated over a peat fire and distilled only twice. Scottish regulations state a whisky cannot be called scotch unless it is entirely produced and bottled in Scotland.
Tennessee whiskey: This spirit is similar to bourbon, since it is also distilled from at least 51% corn and goes into a new, charred oak barrel to age. The difference is that just before the clear spirit goes into the barrels, it gets charcoal filtered.
Japanese whiskey: Japanese whisky often uses malted or peated barley that’s imported from Scotland. Like scotch, it is also double-distilled. Some distillers use imported barrels while others use locally made barrels made of Japanese Mizunara oak. Japanese distillers prefer to refine their flavors to yield more delicate whiskies.
Flavored whiskey: Much like other flavored spirits, flavored whiskey can take on a multitude of flavors from caramel to cinnamon and beyond. You can infuse your own to control the final flavor or pick out your favorite flavor from the liquor store.
What to mix with whiskey
Unlike some types of booze, whiskey can play well with lots of other flavors depending on what you’re in the mood for.
Bright citrus, especially orange or lemon, lightens the heaviness that can weigh down the spirit like in a whiskey smash or sour. Herbs like mint can balance out whiskey’s strength, like in the mint julep and its variations. Add a touch of sweetness with additions like honey, chocolate or even peanut butter!
The best whiskey cocktails
From refreshing to warming, here are the whiskey recipes you need to know.
Leave a Reply