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Although many scotch whisky drinkers enjoy their tipple neat or with a dash of water, there are countless cocktail recipes out there worth sampling. We’ve put together a list of the top 7 scotch whisky cocktails you need to try, featuring some old favorites and a few future classics.

Become a master mixologist at home with these essential and easy to make scotch cocktail recipes.

1: Rob Roy

The Rob Roy is a Scotch Manhattan. Classic Manhattan cocktails are made with American whiskies like rye or bourbon so, to make a Rob Roy, you simply switch this out for a Scotch.

The Rob Roy is believed to date back to around 1894, when it was invented by a bartender at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. It was named after an operetta being staged in New York at the time, which told the story of a Scottish folk hero named Robert Roy MacGregor.

In The Savoy Cocktail Book, published in 1930, author Harry Craddock explains that the Rob Roy was traditionally drunk by Scots on November 30th to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day. But, given the drink’s supposed US origin, most people take this with a pinch of salt – and enjoy the cocktail all year round!

Ingredients

·         2 ounces scotch whisky

·         ¾ ounce sweet vermouth

·         2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters

·         A cocktail cherry to garnish

Method

Stir the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherry to finish.

2: Scotch Sour

A simple twist on the whisky sour, this version uses Scotch in favor of bourbon. It can be tweaked to suit your personal tastes; you can make this with just 2 ingredients instead, omitting the sugar syrup and egg whites for a sharper finish.

Ingredients

·         1 ½ ounces scotch whisky

·         ¾ ounces lemon juice, freshly squeezed

·         ½ ounce sugar syrup

·         ½ ounce egg whites (optional)

Method

Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and mix well with ice. Strain into a lowball glass with ice and serve.

3: Bobby Burns

This popular scotch cocktail is similar to a Rob Roy, but with the herbal flavors of Bénédictine. And, unlike the Rob Roy, it uses equal parts scotch and vermouth.

The ‘Baby Burns,’ as it was initially known, first appeared in a book titled Fancy Drinks, published by the Bishop & Babcock company in 1902. Later, the same recipe featured in The Savoy Cocktail Book, but was re-named as an homage to the Scottish poet Robert Burns.

Ingredients

·         1 ounce scotch whisky

·         1 ounce sweet vermouth

·         ½ ounce Bénédictine

·         Lemon peel to garnish

Method

Stir the scotch, vermouth and Bénédictine with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

4: Blood & Sand

A true scotch whisky classic, the Blood and Sand made its debut in The Savoy Cocktail Book, though little is known about its origins beyond this.

Named after Rudolph Valentino’s film of the same name, the Blood and Sand cocktail has a sweetness that will appeal to those who don’t usually drink scotch – but it’s loved by those who do, too.

Ingredients

·         ¾ ounce scotch whisky

·         ¾ ounce sweet vermouth

·         ¾ ounce cherry brandy

·         ¾ ounce orange juice

·         Orange peel to garnish

Method

Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass or coupe glass. Garnish with orange peel to serve.

5: The Godfather

The Godfather rose to prominence in the 1970s, and it’s thought to have been named after the famous film of the same name. It’s also said that Marlon Brando – who plays mafia head Don Vito Corleone in the film – favored the drink.

It’s made with just 2 ingredients: whisky and amaretto. The amaretto adds a sweet flavor, though measurements can be tweaked to suit personal tastes.

Ingredients

·         2 ounces scotch whisky

·         ½ ounce amaretto

Method

Stir the ingredients with ice and strain into a lowball glass.

6: Mamie Taylor

Named after a famous opera singer, the Mamie Taylor is considered to be the predecessor to the Moscow Mule, which uses vodka in place of whisky.

The singer – actually named Mayme Taylor – was extremely popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the time, it was fairly commonplace to name cocktails after entertainers, and though the true origin of the Mamie Taylor isn’t certified, it’s thought to have been created after a barman couldn’t fulfil the singer’s original order of Claret Lemonade.

After Prohibition, the Mamie Taylor struggled to regain the popularity it had once enjoyed. But, thanks to a renewed interest in classic whisky cocktails, it’s once again become a well-known and much-loved drink.

Ingredients

·         2 ounces scotch whisky

·         ¾ ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed

·         Chilled ginger beer or ginger ale

·         A lime wedge to garnish

Method

Pour the scotch and lime juice into a highball glass, and top with ginger beer or ginger ale. Stir and serve with a lime wedge.

7: Scotch & Soda

This simple scotch cocktail recipe is a real classic. The ratio of whisky to soda can be adapted based on personal preference, so it’s a real crowd pleaser if you’re looking for something easy to whip up.

Just as still water can enhance the flavor of whisky, so too does soda water; the idea is to water down the scotch without ruining the taste.

Ingredients

·         2 ounces scotch whisky

·         4 ounces soda water (more or less can be added, depending on personal tastes)

Method

Add ice to a highball glass and pour in the scotch. Top up with the soda water and stir.

 

Whether you’re hosting an event and want to impress your guests, or feel like upgrading your evening tipple, these simple scotch cocktails are sure to be a winner.