Bourbon/ Whisky Cocktails

Boulevardier Cocktail (Serves 1)

If you like a Negroni this could well be your new favourite cocktail! It’s a take on the aforementioned but instead of gin its main ingredient is bourbon whiskey so it has a slightly sweeter edge…

45ml bourbon whiskey

30ml sweet red vermouth

30ml Campari

A handful of ice

A twist of orange peel to garnish

  1. Fill a glass with ice and pour over the ingredients, stir well, then top with the twist of orange peel to serve – how simple is that?!

Spiced Clementine Mulled Whisky (Serves 2)

During the winter months I’m rather partial to warm cocktails; I definitely don’t need the excuse of a cold to treat myself to a Hot Toddy! This Mulled Whisky is my new favourite…

300ml ginger beer (I like Fentimans)

75ml clementine juice (or orange juice)

1 tablespoon honey

1 cinnamon stick

3 cloves

Small pinch of allspice

100ml whisky

2 slices of fresh or dehydrated orange

  1. Put the ginger beer, clementine juice, honey, cinnamon stick, cloves and allspice in a small pan, and bring to a simmer over a low heat. Cook for 5 minutes to warm through.
  2. Remove from the heat and stir in the whisky. Divide between 2 heatproof glasses and garnish with a slice of orange.

Toronto Cocktail (Serves 1)

Dare I say it, I’ve found another new favourite. As you might have noticed I’m partial to both  ‘Manhattans’ and ‘Old Fashioneds’, and this cocktail, the Toronto, is a take on the two. Perfection!.. 

55ml Rye Whisky

10ml Fernet Branca

10ml Maple Syrup

2 dashes of Angostura Aromatic Bitters

A handful of ice

A maraschino cherry or an orange twist, to garnish

  1. Simply stir all the ingredients with the ice and strain into a chilled glass, garnish with a Maraschino cocktail cherry (or an orange twist).

Rob Roy Cocktail

The Rob Roy is similar to one of my other favourite cocktails, the Manhattan. However, instead of American bourbon it calls for Scotch whisky, the change may not seem significant but it creates a completely different drink – it has a smokier, slightly drier finish.

60ml blended Scotch whisky

30ml sweet red vermouth

2 drops Angostura bitters

Handful of ice

Orange zest twist & Maraschino cherry to garnish

  1. Simply stir the whisky, vermouth and bitters with the ice in a mixing glass and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with an orange twist and Maraschino cherry

Boozy Hot Chocolate (Serves 2)


What better way to warm yourself up on a cold, gloomy day than with this ‘cocktail’?! Yes, this isn’t strictly speaking a cocktail but it definitely isn’t your average hot chocolate!..

2 tablespoons cocoa powder (I use ‘Green&Blacks’)

500ml whole milk

A pinch of cayenne pepper

A pinch of cinnamon

1½ tablespoons caster sugar

50ml single cream

50g dark chocolate (I use Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate)

3-4 tablespoons very peaty scotch whisky (such as Ardbeg)

  1. Put the cocoa in a jug and mix with just enough milk to make a paste. Put the rest of the milk in a small pan and heat until simmering. Add the cayenne pepper and cinnamon.
  2. Whisk the hot milk into the cocoa paste until smooth, then pour back into the pan. Add the sugar, cream and chocolate, then heat gently until hot. Stir in the whisky and serve in mugs. Enjoy!

The Ultimate Hot Toddy (Serves 1)

Ok this isn’t exactly a cocktail but it’s a very good alcoholic beverage! And as it’s getting cold out there, I thought it was the right time to share this ‘Hot Toddy’; I have shared a recipe for a ‘Hot Whiskey’ before (scroll down) but I must admit that this new recipe is far superior! It has just the right balance of whisky and honey plus there’s a touch of cayenne pepper which gives it the perfect punch! It’s seriously good!

180ml water

60ml honey

30ml bourbon (I like Makers Mark)

30ml lemon juice

Pinch of cayenne

Thin slice of lemon (optional)

  1. Place the water and honey in a small saucepan and bring to the boil.
  2. Add the bourbon, lemon juice and cayenne. Whisk to distribute the flavours evenly.
  3. Serve in a mug or heat-proof glass, topped with a lemon slice (if using)

Manhattan Cocktail (Serves 1)

The Manhattan is a real treat for bourbon whiskey lovers. I particularly love the maraschino cherry garnish which gives you an additional sweet treat! If you’re currently keeping to a ‘dry January’, please don’t let me tempt you into breaking your resolution(!) – this Manhattan would be a great way to celebrate February 1st!…

60ml bourbon (I like Makers Mark)

30ml sweet red vermouth

3 dashes of Angostura bitters

A handful of ice cubes

1 Maraschino cherry

  1. Combine the bourbon, vermouth and bitters in a cocktail mixing glass (or a tall glass/ small jug). Add the ice cubes and stir well.
  2. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Maple Whiskey Sour (Serves 1)

This is delicious, perfect for a mid-winter evening!… And it’s so easy to make – you have been warned! The maple syrup adds a lovely dimension, a beautiful balance with the bourbon, however you could use sugar syrup instead.

4 tablespoons bourbon whiskey (I like Makers Mark)

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1½ tablespoons pure maple syrup (or sugar syrup)

A handful of ice

Orange peel and a cocktail cherry to garnish

  1. Add the bourbon whiskey, lemon juice and maple syrup with a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds until cold.
  2. Strain into a glass, with or without a couple of ice cubes. Garnish with a twist of orange and a cocktail cherry. Enjoy!

Bourbon Sidecar (Serves 2)

This cocktail was designed for summer evenings – seriously, they can be dangerous, so watch out…and enjoy!!…

2 tablespoons caster sugar

1 lemon wedge

100ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

120ml bourbon (I like Makers Mark)

60ml Cointreau

A large handful of ice cubes

Slice of lemon, cut in half to decorate

  1. Pour the sugar into a shallow dish. Rub the rim of two cocktail glasses with the lemon wedge and dip the rims in the sugar to create a sugared rim.
  2. Fill a cocktail shaker (or a large jam jar with a lid) half full with ice cubes. Add the lemon juice, bourbon and Cointreau. Cover and shake. Strain into the prepared cocktail glasses and use the halved lemon slice to decorate the side of the glass.

Irish Coffee (Serves 1)

Oh, it’s a tough life testing recipes for this blog…I felt I had to test a few of these to really make sure that the ingredient quantities were just right! This really is a delicious winter warmer! It is important to use good quality, strong, filter coffee, I have a Nespresso machine and I use the ‘lungo’ setting with an ‘espresso’ capsule.

You can see the video of this cocktail being made here!

150ml hot, freshly brewed coffee (see note above)

10g soft brown sugar

75ml Irish Whiskey

2 tablespoons double cream, very lightly whipped (or more if desired)

  1. Warm a glass with hot water.
  2. Add the sugar and stir in the whiskey.
  3. Pour over the hot coffee, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
  4. With the aid of the back of a spoon pour the lightly whipped cream over the top of the coffee.
  5. Enjoy!!

An ‘Old Fashioned’ Cocktail (Serves 1)

This cocktail is my guilty sin! Make sure you make it with bourbon, not whisky, as the flavour of bourbon is sweeter whereas whisky has a smokier flavour –  it really makes a difference in this cocktail, I like to use ‘Makers Mark’.

*You can see the video of this cocktail being made by clicking on this link to my Instagram Page

60ml Bourbon (see note above)

A piece of orange peel

1 teaspoon of sugar syrup

3 dashes of angostura bitters

Ice cubes

Add the sugar syrup and the angostura bitters to a glass and with a few cubes of ice, hold the orange peel over the glass and squeeze it ‘to express the oils’ and then drop it into the glass, give everything a stir.

Add the Bourbon, stir again and serve…ahhh!

*You can see the video of this cocktail being made by clicking on this link to my instagram page

Hot Whiskey (Serves 1)

This old Irish remedy for a cough and cold is the perfect winter warmer to snuggle down with, and it is a great way to lift ones spirits – even if you don’t have a cold!…

50ml Irish Whiskey

1 generous teaspoon of brown sugar

5 cloves

1 slice lemon

150ml boiling water

  1. Simply put the whiskey and sugar into a heatproof glass, add the lemon slice studded with the cloves. Pour over the boiling water, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Serve!