Classic Cocktails with a Whisky Twist
What’s the only thing better than enjoying one of your favourite whisky cocktails, like the sophisticated Old Fashioned or the sweet Mint Julep? It's realising that you can make other classic cocktails with your favourite whisky to put a fresh twist on some all-time great drinks.
Rules were made to be broken, so some say. Some like Ervin Trykowski, Global Scotch Ambassador and an award-winning bartender with over a decade of experience.
Ervin started experimenting with swapping out the traditional base spirit for some classic cocktails with whisky when he first started travelling the world with The Singleton.
“Being in Asia and seeing the way that they (quite literally) throw single malts around into fun and serious drinks got me thinking why this isn’t something we could push even further. Then came World Class Studio’s cocktail cartography where we spoke in depth about why single malts were cocktail menu dynamite.”
“The combination of stories that people actually want to hear over a bar and completely unique flavour profiles means it can be applied to any style of drink in any bar. We then challenged the world’s best bartenders to test our concept and the results were ridiculous - in the best way.”
Here’s some examples to start making at home before experimenting with new recipes of your own…
Mary, Queen of Scotch - a Bloody Mary reimagined
The Bloody Mary is a brunch staple, and a cocktail that can amp up the spice factor. That means it lends itself well to replacing the base spirit of vodka with a salty, peppery Talisker.
For Ervin’s recipe, you’ll need:
50ml Talisker (Ervin used Port Ruigh but a Talisker 10 or Talisker Storm work just as well)
10ml lemon juice
Pinch salt
Pinch pepper
100ml tomato juice
Tabasco (use as preferred, depending on your spice limits)
15ml Worcester sauce
To make:
Build all ingredients in a glass over ice and give it a good stir
Serve and garnish with salty snacks to really complement the peppery, briney flavours of a Talisker.
Smoky Margarita - the tequila favourite made with whisky
Tequila, like whisky, can seem like a more challenging spirit to get acquainted with. The two share bold, fiery flavours. And this is perhaps why it’s a logical swap to substitute tequila with a smoky, warming Islay single malt in a classic tequila recipe.
As Ervin explains, the coastal salt notes sit perfectly next to the cocktail’s lime and agave flavours.
You’ll need:
50ml Lagavulin 16-Year-Old single malt Scotch whisky
20ml lime juice
20ml agave syrup
2-4 jalapenos (depending on preference, add more if you like it extra hot)
To make:
Muddle 2-3 jalapenos in a bottom of a cocktail shaker and add ice
Add the remaining ingredients and shake hard for around 10 seconds
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and garnish with a leftover jalapeno.
Johnnie Ruby Cosmo - Johnnie Walker meets the vodka classic
The pink drink made legendary by the ladies of Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw meets Johnnie Walker with Ervin’s whisky-twist on this vodka classic. The rich style of Johnnie Walker Black Ruby complements the acidity of the other ingredients perfectly.
You’ll need:
40ml Johnnie Walker Black Ruby
25ml PAMA pomegranate liqueur
30ml cranberry juice
5ml lime cordial
5ml lime juice
A dash of orange bitters
To make:
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice
Shake hard and strain into a chilled martini glass.
The Singleton Spritz
With soft citrus notes and topped with soda, the Singleton Spritz might be the perfect whisky drink for anyone who might be new to whisky, or those who enjoy an Aperol Spritz or wine spritzer. A bubbly, light serve, it's the classic summery spritz with a subtle, sophisticated touch of smooth Speyside scotch.
You’ll need:
30ml The Singleton
30ml apple juice
15ml pear liqueur
15ml lemon juice
75ml soda water
To make:
In a wine glass, add cubed ice
Measure and pour in the ingredients, finishing with soda water
Garnish with a cut slice of pear and a mint sprig.
More ways to get more out of your whisky
The world of whisky is one that’s versatile and surprising - as these cocktail swaps prove. And it doesn’t stop there. If you’re ready to explore just how expansive and experimental whisky can be, why not try whipping up your own whisky sauce next or explore how best to pair whisky and food for a full sensory experience.
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