Spirits Whiskey 21 Whiskey Cocktails for Your Repertoire By Food & Wine Editors Updated on February 1, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio The world of whiskey-based cocktails is vast and wonderful. Whether you're interested in a bourbon-based fan favorite like the Paper Plane (or just want to understand the difference between whiskey and bourbon), or prefer to keep things classic with an Old Fashioned, whiskey is one of the most versatile and beloved ingredients on our back bars for a reason. Want to make sure that treasured bottle lasts for as many rounds as possible? We've got you covered on storage tips, as well as where to look for must-have bottles. Read on for a variety of whiskey drinks. 01 of 21 Maple Bourbon Smash Julia Hartbeck Grade A maple syrup isn't just for pancakes! We recommend using just half an ounce for a sweet, soothing sipper. Get the Recipe 02 of 21 Old Fashioned Lucas Allen According to veteran mixologist David Wondrich, the Old Fashioned is a direct descendant of the earliest known "true" cocktail, which in 1806 consisted of "a little water, a little sugar, a lot of liquor, and a couple splashes of bitters." Get the Recipe 03 of 21 Bottled Manhattan Greg DuPree Pre-mixing batches of this rye-forward Manhattan from Existing Conditions in New York's Greenwich Village and chilling them beforehand prevents dilution, resulting in an ideal drink every time. Get the Recipe 04 of 21 Gaelic Punch © Tina Rupp For hot punches, young Irish whiskeys work best. Heat intensifies the tannic edge of older whiskeys; young ones stay smooth. Get the Recipe 05 of 21 In Cold Blood David Malosh Bar owner Andrew Volk says this is a popular order at Portland Hunt & Alpine Club in Maine. The drink, according to Volk, is "approachable but geeky with the salt" — which he adds to balance the bitterness of the artichoke-flavored aperitif Cynar. Get the Recipe 06 of 21 The Belmont Victor Protasio 2017 F&W Best New Chef Angie Mar's famed restaurant The Beatrice Inn may (sadly) be no longer, but this herbaceous, citrus-forward whiskey cocktail remains absolutely worth making. Get the Recipe 07 of 21 Northern Standard Carey Jones This drink is even better than a Manhattan, thanks to three different bitter elements. Created by mixologist James Ives, the Northern Standard is a full-flavored cocktail that uses Knob Creek rye aged in charred barrels to balance out the richness of Carpano. It's as strong as it is smooth. Get the Recipe 08 of 21 Vanilla Old Fashioned © Frances Janisch Who knew a classic Old Fashioned could taste even better with the addition of vanilla bean? This warming take on the traditional bourbon-based drink is a surefire hit as soon as temperatures drop. Get the Recipe 09 of 21 Paris Between the Wars Photo by Victor Protasio / Prop Styling by Christine Keely With rich smokiness from the blended Scotch, rounded bitterness from Campari, and a tart bite from fresh lemon juice, this cocktail is well-balanced and refreshing. Get the Recipe 10 of 21 Manhattan Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver According to popular legend, this cocktail was created at the Manhattan Club in 1874, at a party given by Winston Churchill's American mother to celebrate Samuel J. Tilden's election as governor of New York. Get the Recipe 11 of 21 Felicitation Punch © Tina Rupp In this pleasantly tart punch, veteran mixologist David Wondrich mixes Irish whisky with gin to mimic the taste of a richer, older style of gin. Get the Recipe 12 of 21 Paper Plane Guillermo Riveros / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter The Paper Plane has just enough sweetness to counteract its bitter and sour notes; the drink's signature orange hue comes from Aperol. Get the Recipe 13 of 21 New York Sour Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegas The perfect balance of fruity red wine and smoky-sweet bourbon, the New York Sour cocktail is a classic for a reason. Shaking the cocktail with large ice cubes will chill the drink without diluting it — and those large cubes look great in a rocks glass, too. Be sure to pour the wine slowly over the back of a spoon to create a perfect float. If you're feeling adventurous, add an egg white to the shaker for thicker viscosity. Get the Recipe 14 of 21 Bourbon Tea Julep Kelly Marshall Tannins from black tea add a beautiful hint of bitterness to this twist on a classic Mint Julep. The citrus oil, oleo saccharum, is made by steeping lemon peels in sugar. Its bright flavor is the perfect lift to finish each sip. Get the Recipe 15 of 21 Stiletto © Tina Rupp Brandy-soaked cherries and small-batch Knob Creek bourbon distinguish this almond-tinged whiskey sour. Get the Recipe 16 of 21 Bufala Negra © Wendell T. Webber At the now-shuttered Oakroom, where Al Capone regularly played poker in the 1920s, bartenders used bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery in nearby Frankfort, Kentucky. Get the Recipe 17 of 21 Blackberry-Mint Julep PEDEN + MUNK Adding blackberries to a mint julep contributes fruity flavor to the classic warm-weather cocktail. Get the Recipe 18 of 21 Matcha Highball Lucas Allen A trip to Japan inspired Denver bartender Jason Patz to combine matcha with Japanese whiskey. Get the Recipe 19 of 21 Irish Buck Eva Kolenko Light yet oaky, Irish whiskey joins tart lemon juice, honey, and spicy ginger beer in this refreshing, fizzy, basil-scented Irish Buck cocktail. Get the Recipe 20 of 21 Whiskey Chai Fredrika Stjärne This boozy, fragrant nightcap shines when you use high-quality cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Get the Recipe 21 of 21 Homemade Eggnog Photo by Adam Friedlander / Food Styling by Pearl Jones This holiday favorite gets an extra-festive kick thanks to bourbon, brandy, and dark rum. Don't forget to grate a generous amount of nutmeg on top! Get the Recipe Updated by Megan Soll Megan Soll Megan Soll is a senior commerce editor for Food & Wine. She joined Dotdash Meredith in 2015 and has over 10 years of experience writing and editing food, entertainment, and lifestyle content. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit