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 every season.
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, add ice, lime juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and scotch.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange slice and cherry.
Egg White Variation
You can also add a frothy foam to this by adding an egg white. Don't add the ice. Instead, dry shake without ice for about 30 seconds to foam the egg whites, and then add the ice and shake again to chill.
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
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, muddle sugar cube, water, bitters, and orange wedge.
- Add ice and scotch.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with cherry.
Variation
Replace the Angostura with smoked cinnamon bitters to enhance the smoke flavor and add a hint of spice.
Rusty Nail
The rusty nail is a simple combination of blended Scotch and Drambuie, and 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, ice, Drambuie, and scotch.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon wedge or peel.
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 martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, orange juice, vermouth, cherry liqueur, and scotch.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Scotch Collins
The Tom Collins is a popular gin drink, and this scotch counterpart is no exception. It's a fizz, 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, add ice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and scotch.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into collins glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Rob Roy
The Rob Roy is the scotch version of the famous Manhattan cocktail. To make this Rob Roy drink recipe, you'll need blended scotch, sweet vermouth, cocktail bitters, ice, and a cherry for garnish.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces scotch
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- 3 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, scotch, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cherry.
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.
Ingredients
- 3 slices fresh ginger root
- 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 gingerroot with simple syrup.
- Add ice, lemon juice, and scotch.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Pour single-malt over the back of a spoon to float on the top of the drink.
Scotch Toddy
There's nothing better than a hot toddy for cold winter days or cool autumn weather. 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
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In a mug, add tea, honey, lemon juice, and scotch.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
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 and depth.
Ingredients
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- 1½ ounces blended scotch
- 2 to 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 3 to 4 dashes tabasco
- Pinch black pepper
- Pinch salt
- Ice
- Celery stalk for garnish
Instructions
- In a pint glass, add ice, lemon juice, tomato juice, scotch, Worcestershire sauce, tabasco, black pepper, and salt.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or pint glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with celery stalk.
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, add ice, scotch, and amaretto.
- Stir to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
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
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In mug, add butter, brown sugar, vanilla, heavy cream, and scotch.
- Top off with hot water.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with grated nutmeg.
Scotch Julep
Using a balanced blended scotch in a mint julep adds an extra layer of flavor and complexity to this spring and summer 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 mint leaves with simple syrup.
- Add crushed ice and scotch.
- Stir until the outside of the cup frosts.
- Mound the ice over the top of the cup.
- Add splash of soda water.
- Garnish with mint sprigs.
Bobby Burns
Named for the Scottish poet Robert Burns, this cocktail is a smooth blend of scotch, sweet vermouth, and Bénédictine.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces single malt acotch
- 1½ ounces sweet vermouth
- ¾ ounce Bénédictine
- Ice
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, scotch, vermouth, and Bénédictine.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon twist.
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.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces blended scotch
- 3 ounces ginger ale
- 3 ounces club soda
- Ice
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, scotch, ginger ale, and club soda.
- Stir to mix.
The Modern
Not to be outdone by the traditional old-fashioned, the modern is a newer and delicious take on scotch in a timeless cocktail.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 bar spoon simple syrup
- Dash orange flavored cocktail bitters
- 1½ ounces blended scotch
- 1½ ounces sloe gin
- Dash absinthe
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lemon juice, simple syrup, orange bitters, scotch, sloe gin, and absinthe.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cherry.
Smoky Martini
Here's a martini where gin and scotch intertwine to deliver a smooth yet smokey experience.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce scotch
- Ice
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, and scotch.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon twist, if desired.
Mamie Taylor
The Mamie Taylor is a close cousin of the Presbyterian but doesn't hold back on the ginger flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces scotch
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, scotch, and lime juice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Stir gently to mix.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
Smoked Rose
No roses were harmed in the creation of this cocktail, as the rose part comes from the charred rosemary garnish.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces scotch
- ½ ounce green chartreuse
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Charred rosemary sprig for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, scotch, green chartreuse, and simple syrup.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with charred rosemary sprig, if desired.
Affinity
Few things in life are better than a well-balanced, smokey cocktail made with equal proportions.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce scotch
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 ounce dry vermouth
- 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, scotch, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Rusty Compass
Although this recipe calls for the cocktail to be served over ice, you can dress it up and just as acceptably serve it in a chilled martini glass or coupe. The recipe also calls for Drambuie, a Scotch whisky liqueur made with honey and herbs; in a pinch you can use Bénédictine or whiskey with a splash of honey.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces scotch
- ¾ ounce Drambuie
- ½ ounce cherry liqueur
- Ice
- Orange ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, scotch, Drambuie, and cherry liqueur.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange ribbon.
South by Southwest
Don't be fooled by the name; this cocktail is a Negroni riff that uses scotch as the spirit.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce scotch
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, scotch, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Paris Between the Wars
The name of the cocktail might be a mouthful, but the first sip will realize this cocktail is actually pretty easygoing. If you prefer your drinks in a highball, serve this without the prosecco and top off with dry hard cider instead.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce scotch
- ¾ ounce Campari
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Prosecco to top off
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass, such as a Champange flute or Nick and Nora glass.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, scotch, Campari, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Campbeltown
This cocktail demands a high-quality top-shelf scotch aged at least 10 years, however, a moderately priced bottle will do just as well.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces scotch
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- ½ ounce green chartreuse
- Ice
- Cocktail cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, scotch, cherry liqueur, and green chartreuse.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cocktail cherry.
Sin Cyn
Another scotch cocktail with equal parts, the cocktail relies on Cynar, a bitter Italian apéritif with earthy and herbaceous notes, with just a touch of sweetness.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce scotch
- 1 ounce Cynar
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Orange peel and cocktail cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, scotch, Cynar, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange peel and cocktail cherry.
Classic Cocktails Made With Scotch
While scotch is delicious neat or on the rocks for sipping, you can also enjoy it in delicious classic cocktails scotch every season, such as the blood and sand cocktail. So bring a taste of Scotland to your mixed drinks with tasty scotch cocktails. Next, treat yourself to some notable whiskey mixed drinks.
