The festive season is right around the corner and that means lots of feasting, drinking, and merrymaking are upon us. While savouring a fine bottle of whisky neat has its own merits, it may be unfeasible given the number of Christmas parties and gatherings looming our way. These kinds of occasions call for crowd favourites—pleasant cocktails that can be mindlessly sipped on while partaking in social niceties.

If you’ve been thinking of serving your guests whisky-based cocktails, you’ve come to the right place cause we’ve got a list of easy whisky cocktail recipes you can try making at home. From old time classics to lesser-known, quirky concoctions, these spirits can be conjured using various selections of whiskies that you’re bound to already have on your shelves.

1.  Whisky Sour

Photo by Paul H. Christian from epicurious.

Let’s start with the frontier of all whisky cocktails, shall we? The Whisky Sour needs no further introduction. Dating back to the 1870s, this beverage is a revered classic that has truly withstood the test of time and for good reason, too. It encapsulates all edges of the palate—tangy lemon, sweet maple syrup, and aromatic bourbon to fashion a refreshing drink with just the right proportions of sweet and sour, neither too cloying nor tart.

Ingredients (serves one):

• 60ml bourbon
• 20ml fresh lemon juice
• 20ml maple syrup or simple syrup
• Orange peel for garnish

Steps:

1. Pour bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker
2. Fill it with ice, cover, and shake vigorously for about 20 seconds, or until the shaker feels ice cold
3. Using a Hawthrone strainer, pour the liquid out into a glass filled with ice then garnish with orange peel

Recipe credit: bon appetit

2.  Mint Julep

Photo from Real Simple.

Until you try a Mint Julep, your whisky cocktail portfolio will be deemed incomplete. Also an iconic bourbon-based cocktail, the Mint Julep is a perfect refresher. It has a balanced profile of sweet, smoky, and earthy flavours, making the concoction extremely invigorating and delicious. Not to mention, its thirst-quenching feature is a saving grace and a much-welcomed respite in our tropical weather.

 Ingredients (serves one):

• 4 to 5 mint sprigs
• 2 sugar cubes or 15ml simple syrup
• 75ml bourbon

 Steps:

1. Gather the mint leaves and sugar cubes or simple syrup into a glass
2. Using a muddler, gently muddle everything together until sugar is dissolved
3. Pour the bourbon in
4. Fill the glass with crushed ice and stir well, for at least 30 seconds
5. Garnish with a mint sprig on top

 Recipe credit: The Spruce Eats

3.  Whisky Highball

Photo from The Manual.

Ah of course, a cult favourite and with only two ingredients needed to nail the Highball, we can’t possibly leave this out of the list, can we? The Whisky Highball is the most versatile one in the world of whisky cocktails, as any whisky can be used to prepare the spirit. It can also literally be done in a hot minute regardless of your whisky-drinking status. Amateur or connoisseur, the Whisky Highball is an idiot-proof cocktail meant to be concocted with utmost simplicity and without the need for fancy cocktail-making tools or complex ingredients.

 Ingredients (serves one):

• 60ml whisky
• 120ml club soda, chilled

 Steps:

1. Fill a tall glass with ice
2. Add the whisky in
3. Top with club soda
4. Stir gently and briefly to mix the liquids well

Recipe credit: Liquor.com

4.  Irish Mule

Photo from Feast and West.

If you’re a spicy whisky lover, you are bound to devour the Irish Mule. To give credit where it’s due, the Irish Mule is actually a spin off from the Moscow Mule, with Irish whiskey replacing vodka. The concoction is light and bubbly, and has a spicy whisky finish, which sounds like it’s made just for Christmas parties if we may say so ourselves. You’d want something easy to sip on, but also not too quick to down and forgettable. The spicy note hits the spot by tantalising the palate, which tempts you for more.

Ingredients (serves one):

• 60ml Irish whiskey
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 120ml ginger beer
• Lime for garnish

Steps:

1. Pour all ingredients into a glass
2. Add ice and stir well
3. Garnish with lime

Recipe credit: A Couple Cooks

5.  Milk Punch

Photo from A Couple Cooks.

What’s Christmas without eggnog? Take away the eggs and we’ll give you Milk Punch! Though the name of this cocktail may sound innocent and juvenile, we promise you it’s definitely not intended for those below the legal drinking age. Cold, creamy, and rich, the Milk Punch is the perfect nightcap for the end of the night. Think sitting by the fireplace with a mug of Milk Punch in hand while listening to Christmas carols. Yes, we know it’s an extremely unlikely scenario in Malaysia but you get the idea.

Ingredients (serves one):

• 120ml milk
• 2 ½ tablespoons half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 80ml bourbon
• 4 teaspoons powdered sugar
• Ground nutmeg for garnish

Steps:

1. Fill ice in a cocktail shaker
2. Pour in milk, half-and-half, vanilla extract, and bourbon
3. Add powdered sugar
4. Close the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds
5. Pour the liquid into a glass using a strainer
6. Sprinkle ground nutmeg on top

Recipe credit: Bread Booze Bacon

6.  Blood And Sand

Photo by Elana Lepkowski from serious eats.

This one’s for those who are not accustomed to drinking scotch yet. The name may sound questionable, but this unique cocktail will be impressionable. At first glance, the ingredients may come off as saccharine, but when put together, and with the sharpness of scotch to cut through the sweetness, the Blood And Sand ends up light, balanced, and pleasant on the palate with a tinge of cherry flavour.

Ingredients (serves one):

• 15ml scotch
• 15ml sweet vermouth
• 15ml orange juice
• 15ml cherry-flavoured brandy

Steps:

1. Pour scotch, sweet vermouth, orange juice, and brandy in a cocktail shaker
2. Add ice, cover, and shake until chilled
3. Strain into a chilled glass

Recipe credit: allrecipes

7.  Godfather

Photo from Mantitlement.

If you prefer savoury over sweet, you will enjoy the Godfather. The amaretto provides a nutty and slightly bitter profile, while the scotch lends a smoky finish. As you can imagine, this one’s a little stronger than the other cocktails on the list. Scotch lovers will appreciate it though, as the Godfather adds a different dimension to scotch without completely masking its original profile.

Ingredients (serves one):

• 30ml scotch
• 30ml amaretto
• Orange twist for garnish

Steps:

1. Pour scotch and amaretto into a glass filled with ice
2. Stir well
3. Using a strainer, pour the cocktail into another glass also filled with ice
4. Garnish with orange twist

Recipe credit: Taste of Home

8.  New York Sour

Photo by Jennifer Causey from Food & Wine.

The New York Sour is all about the aesthetics, which makes it a photogenic dram fit for the ‘Gram. The layer of red wine floating atop the golden-coloured concoction reminds us of a sunset, but hey, Santa’s striking red and sparkling Christmas lights work just as well, too. Appearances aside, this cocktail is not one without substance. The bottom layer is essentially Whisky Sour which is zesty and fragrant, while red wine gives off a fruity acidity. A complex spirit for sure, but also a fun one to drink with friends around.

 Ingredients (serves one):

• 60ml bourbon
• 30ml lemon juice
• 15ml simple syrup
• 45ml red wine

Steps:

1. Pour bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice
2. Shake well
3. Pour the cocktail into glass over ice using a strainer
4. Using the back of a spoon, pour red wine in gently so that it floats on top of the drink

Recipe credit: Wine Enthusiast

To mix or not to mix?

Some may abhor the idea of a whisky cocktail, flagging it an abomination that ruins a good whisky, but if anything, cocktails and mixers can also showcase the versatility of the alcohol. The key is to incorporate complementary flavours without robbing the authentic profiles off the spirit to maintain a well-rounded whisky experience. Good luck and have fun trying out these recipes!