All of our whiskies are delicious on their own, garnished with a simple slice of lime or lemon, and with a couple of cubes of ice. But if you’re in the mood for something fancier, or are holding a party, a whisky cocktail is just the thing for a special treat or to wow your guests.

It doesn’t have to be super complicated, though, so we’ve rounded up some of the easiest whisky cocktail recipes to whip up in 5 minutes flat. We recommend trying them all (though not all at once!) to discover your favourite.

Read more about whisky in our other guides:

• Bourbon, Scotch, or Whisky: What’s the Difference?
• An A-Z of Scotch Whisky Brands

Kicker

Let’s kick it off with the Kicker! This is a super-easy cocktail to make, though it’s a bit of an unusual one, so might not be the first choice for beginners (unless you’re feeling a bit adventurous!) It sweetens up a whisky drink and gets tastier the more you sip.

Ingredients

• 1  measure rye whisky
• 1 measure Melon liqueur

Method

Simply pour the two alcohols together, either chilled or on a couple of ice cubes. This one couldn’t be simpler! We’ve recommended rye whisky, but this also works well with other types of whisky if you don’t have any rye to hand.

Whisky Highball

A true classic, a highball can be made with a number of base alcohols, including whisky. A highball is a good choice if you’re just learning to appreciate the taste of whisky and can’t quite manage the full flavour just yet.

Ingredients

• 2 measures whisky
• Soda or sparkling water to taste
• Lemon slice to garnish

Method

Add ice and the whisky to a tall glass, then stir so the whisky cools. Add soda or sparkling water until it tastes perfect, then top off with a small slice of lemon to garnish.

Whisky Rickey

Similar to a highball, the Whisky Rickey adds a lime splash for an extra refreshing drink.

Ingredients

• 1.5 measures whisky
• 1.5 measures lime juice
• Soda water, to top up
• Lime rind twist, to decorate

Method

Add some ice cubes to a tall glass before pouring over the whisky and lime juice. Top up with soda water to taste, then finish it all off with a twist of lime rind. This is best made with freshly squeezed lime juice.

Lynchburg Lemonade

The name of this drink suggests you should use a Tennessee whisky such as Jack Daniels, which is made in Lynchburg. But we find it works just as well with one of our own Scottish whiskies too. This is a tart and smoky delight.

Ingredients

• 1.5 measures whisky
• 1 measure orange liqueur 
• 1 measure lemon juice
• Lemonade, to top up
• Lemon slices, to decorate

Method

Shake together a couple of ice cubes with the whisky, orange liqueur and lemon juice. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, something like a mason jar or similar will work just as well. Then pour into a highball glass that’s been topped up with ice, before adding lemonade to taste and a lemon slice to decorate.

Rusty Nail

This famous whisky cocktail is also known as a Straight-Up Nail if served without ice. It needs just two ingredients so is perfect to whip up in a flash.

Ingredients

• 1.5 measures Scotch
• 1 measure whisky liqueur

Method

Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes and then pour over both the Scotch and liqueur. Then simply stir gently to mix them well.

Manhattan

Reputedly created by Winston Churchill’s mother at a party she was hosting, the Manhattan is a simple yet effective cocktail with a strong, slightly bitter taste. Use bourbon for more sweetness, or rye for a drier taste.

Ingredients

• 2 measures rye whisky or bourbon
• 1 measure extra dry vermouth
• 4 dashes Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherry, to decorate

Method

Put your glass in the fridge about half an hour to an hour before you want your drink. When you’re ready, mix all the ingredients with some ice in a mixing glass, and gently stir so they all blend together well. Pour into your chilled glass, then add a cherry for decoration.

Old Fashioned

This classic cocktail has been around for years and, as a result, the “true” recipe is often debated. Here’s one that’s easy to put together for a sweet and spicy whisky cocktail.

Ingredients

• 2 measures bourbon
• 1 teaspoon sugar syrup
• 4 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange rind twist, to decorate

Method

Add the bourbon to your glass, then pop in a couple of ice cubes. Carefully add the sugar syrup followed by drops of Angostura bitters before topping it all off with a fancy orange rind twist.

Godfather

Named after the beloved movie, the Godfather adds an Italian twist to a whisky drink thanks to the addition of Amaretto. The nuanced flavour is a delightful surprise, especially when you realise only two ingredients are required!

Ingredients

• 2 measures blended Scotch whisky
• 1 measure Amaretto

Method

Put some ice cubes, the Scotch, and the Amaretto into a cocktail shaker (or similar) and give it a good shake so the ingredients are well mixed. Then simply pour into an old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes.

Boozy Dark Delight

Deep, rich and delicious, the Boozy Dark Delight combines whisky and stout for a powerful taste that’s perfect for a nightcap.

Ingredients

• 1 measure orange liqueur
• 1 measure whisky
• 200ml stout
• Chocolate orange shavings to garnish

Method

Add a couple of ice cubes to the glass, then pour over the orange liqueur and whisky. Top up with stout (we’ve suggested 200ml, but you can add as much or as little to suit your taste). Then, as an optional garnish, sprinkle over some chocolate orange shavings.

Buy your whisky online

Every whisky cocktail needs a good whisky. Browse our collection of local and international whiskies and find a new favourite.