Sweet, sour or zesty, these classic whiskey cocktails deserve a spot in your repertoire this World Whiskey Day on 20 May.  

Old-Fashioned  

Serves 2 • Total Time 10 Min  

Ingredients 

2 tsp sugar  
6 dashes bitters  
4 tsp water  
6 ice cubes  
¼ cup whiskey  
2 orange wedges or twists  

Method

1. Add sugar, bitters and water to two glasses. 
2. Use a cocktail muddler to mix until sugar dissolves. 
3. Add ice and whiskey. 
4. Stir, and finish off with orange wedges. 

Chef’s Tip
To make a simple syrup, dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1 cup water. Boil for 3 minutes, remove from  heat and cool. Store in a sealed jar for two weeks.

Whiskey Sour  

Serves 2 • Total Time 10 Min  

Ingredients

½ cup whiskey  
¼ cup lemon juice  
2 Tbsp simple syrup  
1 Tbsp egg white  
2 orange peel twists  
6 maraschino cherries  

Method

1. Add whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to cocktail shaker. 
2. Shake for 30 seconds, and strain into cold glasses. 
3. Garnish with orange peel and maraschino cherries. 

Mint Julep  

Serves 2 • Total Time 10 Min  

Ingredients

12 mint sprigs, plus extra to garnish 
2 Tbsp simple syrup  
¾ cup bourbon  
4 cups crushed ice lemon slices, to garnish  

Method

1. Divide mint and simple syrup between two glasses. 
2. Use a cocktail muddler or pestle and mortar to crush mint leaves, no stalks, and sugar together to release mint’s aroma. 
3. Add bourbon to both glasses, stir and fill with crushed ice. 
4. To serve, top with extra mint sprig. 

Foodie Fact 
In Scotland, Canada and Japan, distillers call their tot ‘whisky’ – take note, that’s without an `e’. ‘Whiskey’ is distilled and drunk by the Irish and the Americans. 

Words by Sjaan Van Der Ploeg 
Photography: Fresh Living Magazine