Weekend parties are the best way to unwind after a long week. It is also an opportunity to reconnect with old friends. All you need is food, rocking music, and rattling dance moves. Though it does not have to be extravagant, proper planning is required so everyone can enjoy themselves. While menu planning is time-consuming, there are plenty of cocktails to choose from when it comes to drinks.
However, one thing is for sure; you cannot go wrong with whiskey cocktails. These boozy classics can amp up any celebration, and just one sip is enough to start the party. If you’re planning a house party this weekend, we’re here to help by providing whiskey cocktail ideas for your gathering.
Here are five recipes for whiskey cocktails created by expert mixologists to liven up your celebration:
Old Fashioned
Origin: Around 1806, the Old Fashioned was used for the first time, but it wasn’t the Old Fashioned as we know it today. An Old Fashioned, which referred to a particular mixology method, was the first name people began using to refer to cocktails. Similar to modern Old Fashioned fusions, these Old Fashioned recipes used a variety of spirits, including gin and mezcal.
This continued to be the case until the 1860s, when people began to order bitters, water, and sugar along with their preferred spirit of choice even more frequently. A Chicago bartender reported in 1882 that the most popular version was an “old-fashioned” made with rye whiskey.
There are many conflicting accounts of whiskey history, as there are of all history. Some claim that the Pendennis Club, a private social club in Louisville, Kentucky, is where the drink got its start in 1880. The bourbon distillery and bartender James E. Pepper are associated with the recipe.
Before bringing the drink to the Waldorf-Astoria hotel bar in New York City, rumors claim that Pepper was a member of The Pendennis Club. Some say Louisville is the birthplace of the Old Fashioned, while others insist New York City is the origin. However, wherever it came from, it’s one of the most classic cocktails.
Taste: The Old Fashioned perfectly highlights the flavor of the whiskey with its citrusy flavor and light sweetness.
Ingredients:
- Bird dog whiskey 60ml
- Angostura bitters-soaked sugar cube
- Soda water
Method:
- Soak sugar cubes in a few drops of water and dashes of Angostura bitters. Muddle it in a rocks glass.
- Pour in the Bourbon in 20ml increments, adding a few ice cubes each time and stirring for about 15 seconds for each 20ml poured.
- Finally, gently twist the orange peel to release the flavor and garnish the zest.
Rob Roy
Origin: This whisky cocktail’s history dates back to 1894 and is named after an operetta inspired by the life of Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor. It was created at the Manhattan Waldorf Astoria, and as you might expect, it’s made with Scotch whisky.
Taste: Dry and sweet
Ingredients:
- Angostura bitters
- Scotch whisky 60ml
- Sweet vermouth 20ml
Method:
- Add a dash of Angostura bitters and sweet vermouth to your Scotch whisky mixture.
- Stir in ice to chill and dilute the mixture.
- Finally, strain it over ice into a chilled martini glass, then garnish with a few maraschino cherries.
Variation: Despite being traditionally sweet, the Rob Roy comes in “dry” and “perfect” varieties to customize to your preferences. Simply use equal amounts of sweet and dry vermouth to create a more harmonious cocktail by exchanging the sweet vermouth for dry vermouth.
Whiskey Sour
Origin: The Whiskey Sour, initially enjoyed by British sailors, has been around the world and has evolved. One of the earliest references to this well-known cocktail dates to 1872, when a Peruvian newspaper article credited a sailor by the name of Elliot Staub with coming up with the cocktail.
Taste: Sour and citrusy flavor with orange and zesty lemon highlights.
Ingredients:
- Bourbon 60ml
- Fresh lemon juice 30ml
- Egg white 15ml
- Sugar syrup (simple syrup) 15ml
- Angostura bitters
Method:
- Mix the ingredients in a cocktail shaker without using ice.
- Stir thoroughly to aerate. The acidity in the lemon juice will aid in emulsifying the egg white, resulting in a thick and creamy foam.
- Add ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds before straining.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters.
Variation: If you want to be more sophisticated, make a New York Sour with a layer of red wine on top.
Brown Derby Cocktail
Origin: The Brown Derby Cocktail is a bit elegant, straight from Hollywood. It was invented in the 1930s at the Vendome Club and named after a hat-shaped restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard.
Taste: Refreshing
Ingredients:
- Whiskey 45ml
- Fresh grapefruit juice 30ml
- Honey Syrup 15ml
Method:
- In a shaker, combine the honey syrup and fresh grapefruit juice.
- Pour in the whiskey and serve with ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with grapefruit zest
Whiskey Smash
Origin: The first Whiskey Smash was created in the 1860s by Jerry Thomas, the father of American mixology, who also published the first cocktail recipe book. The cocktail we know and love today was developed by Dale “King of Cocktails” DeGroff in the Rainbow Room in New York.
Taste: Citrusy, refreshing, and minty.
Ingredients:
- Whiskey 60ml
- A handful of fresh mint leaves
- Half a lemon cut into wedges
- Sugar syrup (simple syrup) 1 tbsp
Method:
- Muddle the lemons with the syrup in a mixing glass, then garnish with mint leaves.
- After that, add the whiskey and ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into the glass.
- Serve in a rocks glass with crushed ice and a garnish of mint leaves.
Conclusion
This collection of simple cocktail recipes is ideal for anyone hoping to get their foot in the bartending door, or even if they’re throwing a party and need some drink ideas. There’s something here for every whiskey fan, and the variety of flavors will impress your guests.