5 Delicious Cocktail Recipes for Whiskey Beginners

Whiskey may seem like a harsh spirit for some—an Old West anesthetic downed before a doctor removes a limb. But whiskey doesn’t have to be taken neat and it doesn’t have to burn your throat. If you love cocktails, but are a little spooked by smoky and peaty flavors, the five drinks below offer a gentle entry point into discovering whiskey’s many complex and nuanced flavors. From creamy coffee cocktails to tropical summer treats, these five tasty tipples will delight whiskey newcomers and devotees alike.

Putting coffee and spirits together is not new, but not all cocktails are equal. This whiskey cold brew with vanilla cold foam made with Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur is nearly perfect as a coffee cocktail.

Combine whiskey, Mr Black, and maple syrup into a glass with ice and stir to chill. To create cold foam, combine heavy whipping cream, milk, and vanilla syrup. Using a frother or immersion blender, blend until you get a medium to thick cream. (I use the Instant Pot Milk Frother, which has a cold frothing setting.) Garnish with three coffee beans.

This is a refreshing drink you’ll never regret. It’s full of flavor, absolutely delicious, and you’ll probably forget you’re drinking whiskey. You can use any whiskey as the base for this cocktail, but we’re particularly fond of how good old Bushmills plays off the peach and ginger.

To make the simple syrup, use a 1:1 ratio of  ½ cup of water and ½ cup of sugar. Then add a ½ cup of fresh sliced peaches into a saucepan over medium heat and stir regularly. When the liquid is clear, lower to a simmer and to give the peaches time to break down and flavor the syrup (to taste). Strain syrup into a container and let cool. 

Combine whiskey, peach syrup, and lemon juice into a shaker with ice. Shake for 10 seconds. Muddle leftover strained peaches in your glass and add ice and our other ingredients. Top off with ginger beer or soda water and add garnishes.

These perfect patio cocktails are bright, light, and refreshing. Without bitters and with lime juice, it’s a Kentucky Mule. With bitters and no lime juice, it’s a Horsefeather. (I prefer the Horsefeather, but I also add lemon juice.) Either way, an American whiskey like Bulleit Rye is the way to go for this drink. 

Combine whiskey, bitters, and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Pour into a tall glass, and top off with ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon wedge or wheel.

The first published recipe of a whiskey sour appears in Jerry Thomas’ 1862 The Bartender’s Guide, and ever since then we’ve been mixing sours with everything. The addition of pineapple brings sweetness to the sour in a perfect way. To keep it appropriately old school, we’ve based this drink cocktail around Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey.

Combine whiskey, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and egg white or aquafaba in a shaker. Dry shake for 15 seconds. 

Add ice and shake again for at least 15 seconds. Strain into your glass of choice. Add a few dashes of bitters, then garnish with pineapple.

This simple drink tastes exactly like the sandwich, thanks to the addition of Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, and is extremely smooth. If you’re looking to impress your guests—or just feeling a little hungry, mini sandwiches as a garnish make this cocktail even more memorable.

Make a PB&J sandwich with three layers of bread: bread, jam, bread, peanut butter, and bread. Cut into 1 ½ inch squares and skewer. 

Combine whiskey, jam, and bitters into a shaker. Shake for 10 seconds. Add ½ tablespoon of jam to the glass and fill with ice. Pour cocktail and stir lightly for a few seconds.