Scotch whisky adds warmth, honey notes, and smoky complexity to cocktails. It can also stand-in for other types of whiskey in cocktails, such as bourbon or rye, to add interesting depths of flavor. These Scotch cocktail recipes are a delicious way to enjoy Scotch in every season.
1. Scotch Sour
A whiskey sour is a classic whiskey cocktail that combines warmth, sweet, and sour. Using a blended, smoky Scotch such as Johnnie Walker Black adds a depth of complexity to this cocktail that's equal parts interesting and delicious.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces blended Scotch
- Ice
- Orange slice and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Scotch.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with the orange slice and the cherry.
Egg White Variation
You can also add a frothy foam to this by adding 1 egg white the cocktail shaker. Don't add the ice. Instead, dry shake (shake without ice) for about 30 seconds to foam the egg whites, and then add the ice and shake again to chill.
2. Scotch Old-Fashioned
While you can use a blended Scotch to make an old fashioned cocktail (typically made with rye or bourbon), this is a great cocktail to show off a balanced single malt such as Lagavulin.
Ingredients
- 1 sugar cube
- Splash of water or soda water
- 2 dashes Angostura cocktail bitters
- 1 orange peel
- 2 ounces single malt Scotch
- 3 ice cubes
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, muddle the sugar cube, water, bitters, and orange wedge.
- Add the Scotch and the ice cubes. Stir.
- Garnish with the cherry.
Variation
Replace the Angostura with smoked cinnamon bitters to enhance the smoke flavor and add a hint of spice.
3. Rusty Nail
The rusty nail is a simple combination of blended Scotch and Drambuie. It's a warming and delicious cocktail perfect for cool autumn afternoons.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Drambuie
- 1 ounce blended Scotch
- Ice
- Lemon wedge or peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, combine the Drambuie and Scotch.
- Add the ice and stir.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge or peel.
4. Blood & Sand
The blood & sand cocktail is a popular Scotch mixed drink made with sweet vermouth, Scotch, cherry liqueur, and orange juice. It's a combination of sweet, strong, and smoky that will tickle your tastebuds, and it's a great summertime sipper.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- ¾ ounce blended Scotch
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe or cocktail glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the orange juice, vermouth, cherry liqueur, and Scotch.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled coupe. Garnish with the orange peel.
5. Scotch Collins
The Tom Collins is a popular gin drink, and this is the Scotch counterpart. It's a fizz, which is a type of drink that has added soda - in this case club soda. It's a refreshing drink perfect for the warmer weather of spring or summer.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces blended scotch
- Ice
- 4 ounces club soda
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, simple syrup, and Scotch.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice.
- Top off with the club soda.
- Garnish with a lemon slice.
6. Rob Roy
The Rob Roy is the Scotch version of the popular Manhattan cocktail. To make this Rob Roy drink recipe, you'll need blended Scotch, sweet vermouth, cocktail bitters, ice, and a cherry for garnish.
7. Penicillin Cocktail
Scotch often has honey notes, so adding honey in a penicillin cocktail is a great way to enhance that flavor profile in a blended Scotch. This is a tasty fall cocktail.
Ingredients
- 3 slices fresh gingerroot
- ¾ ounce honey simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 ounces blended Scotch
- Ice
- ¼ ounce heavily peated single-malt Scotch (such as Bruichladdich)
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the gingerroot with the simple syrup.
- Add the lemon juice and blended Scotch.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Pour the single-malt over the back of a spoon to float on the top of the drink.
8. Scotch Toddy
For cold winter days or cool autumn weather, there's nothing better than a hot toddy. Scotch is the perfect strong to add to this drink that contains honey, tea, and other warming ingredients.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of brewed hot tea
- ¾ ounce honey
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1½ ounces blended Scotch
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a coffee mug, combine the tea, honey, lemon juice, and Scotch. Stir.
- Garnish with a lemon slice.
9. Bloody Mary Queen of Scotch
A classic bloody Mary is a thing of beauty. Adding a smoky blended Scotch in place of the vodka adds an element of smoke to the cocktail that brings complexity. Enjoy it with a spring or summer brunch.
Ingredients
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- 1½ smoky blended Scotch
- 2 to 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 3 to 4 dashes of tabasco
- Pinch black pepper
- Pinch salt (or smoked salt)
- Ice
- Celery stalk for garnish
Instructions
- In a pint glass, combine the lemon juice, tomato juice, Scotch, Worcestershire sauce, tabasco, black pepper, and salt.
- Roll the drink between two pint glasses (rolling involves pouring it back and forth from glass to glass to mix).
- Pour into a pint glass or collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with the celery stalk.
10. Godfather
The Godfather is a classic Scotch cocktail that's the perfect mix of Scotch and sweet amaretto.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces blended Scotch
- ¼ ounce amaretto
- Ice
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, combine the Scotch and amaretto.
- Add ice and stir to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
11. Hot Buttered Scotch
Traditional hot buttered rum is a delicious winter warmer, and Scotch adds an extra layer of smoky complexity. You can mix up a batch of traditional hot buttered rum batter and add Scotch in the place of rum, or you can make it by the mug.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ ounce brown sugar simple syrup
- Splash of vanilla extract
- ¾ ounce heavy cream
- 1½ ounces blended Scotch
- Boiling water
- Freshly grated nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
- In a mug, combine the butter, brown sugar, vanilla, heavy cream, and Scotch.
- Fill the mug up with hot water. Stir.
- Garnish with the grated nutmeg.
12. Scotch Julep
Using a balanced blended Scotch in a mint julep adds an extra layer of flavor and complexity to this spring and summertime popular whiskey drink.
Ingredients
- 10 mint leaves
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces blended Scotch
- Finely crushed ice
- Splash of soda water
- Mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- In a julep cup, muddle the mint leaves with the simple syrup.
- Add the Scotch.
- Fill the cup completely with finely crushed ice. Stir until the outside of the cup frosts.
- Mound the ice over the top of the cup. Add a splash of soda water.
- Garnish with mint sprigs.
13. Bobby Burns
Named for the Scottish poet Robert Burns, this cocktail is a blend of Scotch, sweet vermouth, and Benedictine.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces single malt Scotch
- 1½ ounces sweet vermouth
- ¾ ounce Benedictine
- Ice
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the Scotch, vermouth, and Benedictine.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass. Garnish with the lemon twist.
14. Presbyterian
Find religion with this easy and tasty classic Scotch mixed drink that's a simple combo of Scotch and ginger ale (or, for a more gingery taste, ginger beer). This is a light take on Scotch that's perfect for warmer weather.
Ingredients
- Ice
- 2 ounces blended Scotch
- 3 ounces ginger ale
- 3 ounces club soda
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Add the Scotch, ginger ale, and club soda. Stir.
15. The Modern
Not to be outdone by the old fashioned, the modern is a newer and delicious take on Scotch.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 barspoon simple syrup
- Dash orange flavored cocktail bitters
- 1½ ounces blended Scotch
- 1½ ounces sloe gin
- Dash absinthe
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, simple syrup, orange bitters, Scotch, sloe gin, and absinthe.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass. Garnish with a cherry.
Classic Cocktails Made With Scotch
While Scotch is delicious neat or on the rocks for sipping, you can also enjoy it every season in delicious Scotch cocktails. Try these classic cocktails with Scotch whisky. You're sure to become a Scotch lover.
