Whiskey
What is Whiskey?
Whiskey is a distilled spirit made from fermented grain mash, including combinations of wheat, corn, barley, and rye. What defines whiskey is its aging process in wooden containers (usually charred oak barrels) and its minimum alcohol content of 40% ABV, though the specific grains used, distillation methods, and aging requirements vary significantly between different styles like Bourbon, Scotch, Irish, and Rye whiskey. The grain bill, distillation proof, barrel entry proof, and aging time all contribute to whiskey's complex flavor profile, ranging from sweet and vanilla-forward to spicy and smoky.
Featured Recipes
Double, Double Toil & Trouble
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Aberfeldy 12 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- .5 oz Ardbeg 10 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch
- .5 oz Ancho Reyes Liqueur
- 2 oz spiced apple cider
- 1 oz lemon juice
- .5 oz grenadine, we recommend Liber & Co.
- Ginger Beer
- Crushed ice
Directions:
- Shake the first 6 ingredients with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds or so.
- Pour into a tall glass filled with crushed ice.
- Pour ginger beer over top. Stir gently.
- Garnish with any of a cinammon stick, star anise, orange wheel
The Dark Heart
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Put one large ice cube in a rocks glass and add absinthe.
- In a mixing glass add remaining ingredients and stir to chill.
- Strain absinthe out of serving glass reserving the ice and fill with the stirred cocktail.
Fig Old-Fashioned
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir for 20 seconds until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a lemon or orange peel, or with a fresh fig.
Mango Whiskey Sour
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Chinola Mango Liqueur
- 1.5 oz Whiskey
- 0.75 oz Lemon Juice
- 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
Directions:
- Nothing easier! Shake ingredients with ice.
- Strain over fresh ice into rocks glass.
- Garnish as you wish. An orange twist and a cherry might be nice!
Board Shorts
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake hard for 10 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled rocks glass.
- Garnish with pineapple fronds, lemon wedge, and a Luxardo cherry.
Board Shorts
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake hard for 10 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled rocks glass.
- Garnish with pineapple fronds, lemon wedge, and a Luxardo cherry.
The Pantomimist
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Stir all ingredients with ice until very cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish with an orange wedge or twist.
The Slow Swivel
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. George Dickel Bottled in Bond
- .5 oz Hayman’s Sloe Gin
- . 5 oz Campari
- .5 oz Chinola
- 1.75 oz lemon soda or sparkling lemonade
Directions:
- Add a large amount of ice to a large glass
- Pour all ingredients over the ice and give it a swirl.
- Top off with lemon soda or sparkling lemonade.
The Right Stuff
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake for 10 seconds.
- Strain over ice into a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
The Gold
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Stir all ingredients with ice.
- Strain into a chilled couple glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Learn More About Whiskey
What are the different types of Whiskey?
Whiskey splits into major categories based on where it's made and what grains go into the mash bill, with each region's laws and traditions creating distinctly different drinking experiences. American whiskeys like bourbon (at least 51% corn) and rye (at least 51% rye) bring sweet vanilla and spicy heat respectively, while Scotch whisky ranges from light and grassy Lowland single malts to smoky, peated Islay expressions that taste like a campfire in a glass. Irish whiskey typically offers smooth, approachable flavors thanks to triple distillation, Canadian whisky tends toward lighter, more mixable profiles, and Japanese whisky borrows Scottish techniques while adding meticulous attention to detail that creates incredibly refined and balanced spirits.
How is Whiskey made?
Whiskey production starts with a mash of grains like corn, wheat, rye, or barley that gets mixed with water and yeast to ferment into a low-alcohol wash. This fermented liquid then goes through distillation - typically twice in pot stills or continuously in column stills - to concentrate the alcohol and develop flavor compounds. The clear, high-proof spirit that emerges gets aged in wooden barrels (usually charred oak) where it picks up color, tannins, and complex flavors over months or years.
What does Whiskey taste like? What does Whiskey bring to a cocktail?
Whiskey delivers a complex spectrum of flavors that range from sweet vanilla and caramel notes in bourbon to smoky peat and maritime brine in Scotch, with rye whiskeys adding spicy pepper kicks and Irish varieties offering smooth honey undertones. The grain bill, aging process, and distillation methods create everything from light and floral profiles to rich, oaky powerhouses with hints of dried fruit, nuts, and warm baking spices. In cocktails, whiskey provides a robust backbone that can anchor sweet ingredients like simple syrup and vermouth while standing up to bold mixers like ginger beer or citrus, making it incredibly versatile for both spirit-forward classics like the Old Fashioned and refreshing highballs.
How do you drink Whiskey? In what kind of cocktails does Whiskey shine?
Whiskey works beautifully neat, on the rocks, or with just a splash of water to open up those complex flavors hiding inside the bottle. The spirit truly comes alive in classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan, where its bold character can stand up to bitters and vermouth without getting lost. From the smoky depths of a Penicillin to the refreshing simplicity of a Whiskey Sour, this versatile spirit adapts to nearly any cocktail style while maintaining its distinctive personality.
What are fun ways to drink Whiskey?
Absolutely, whiskey makes killer jello shots – just substitute half the cold water with your favorite bourbon or rye for grown-up party treats that pack a punch. You can freeze whiskey cocktails like Old Fashioneds or Whiskey Sours into popsicles for a sophisticated summer cool-down, though the alcohol will keep them from freezing completely solid. Whiskey shines in desserts too, from bourbon pecan pie and whiskey bread pudding to Irish coffee tiramisu, where its vanilla and caramel notes complement sweet flavors beautifully.
How has Whiskey been depicted in culture?
Whiskey has long served as a symbol of rugged individualism and rebellion in American culture, from the moonshine runners of Prohibition to the hard-drinking cowboys of Western films. Literature and cinema frequently use whiskey as a shorthand for both celebration and despair—think of the triumphant toast in a saloon or the lonely figure nursing a glass at a dimly lit bar. Music has particularly embraced whiskey as a muse, with countless country, blues, and rock songs celebrating its ability to both dull pain and amplify joy, cementing its place as the drink of choice for outlaws, poets, and anyone looking to add a little fire to their story.
Nutritional Information
Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 64-70 calories
Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 0 grams
Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 0 grams
Typically Gluten Free: Yes
While whiskey is distilled from grains that contain gluten (wheat, barley, rye), the distillation process removes gluten proteins, making most whiskeys safe for those with gluten sensitivities. However, some whiskeys may have gluten-containing additives introduced after distillation. Always check detailed product information and consult with manufacturers to confirm gluten-free status if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.
Scrolled this far? Your reward? Whiskey Trivia!
- The U.S. government once sold whiskey as medicine during Prohibition. From 1920 to 1933, you could legally buy whiskey at pharmacies with a doctor's prescription. The government issued special medicinal whiskey licenses to distilleries, and doctors could prescribe a pint every ten days for ailments ranging from depression to indigestion. Walgreens grew from 20 stores to over 500 during Prohibition partly thanks to this loophole.
- Jack Daniel's wasn't actually the first registered distillery in America. Despite what the marketing suggests, Jack Daniel's registered as distillery number 16 in Tennessee, not number 1 nationally. The famous "Old No. 7" on their label refers to their tax district number, not their registration order. The real first registered distillery belonged to George Washington at Mount Vernon in 1797.
- Japanese whisky masters learned their craft by working in Scotland, then improved it with bamboo charcoal filtering. Masataka Taketsuru studied chemistry and worked at Scottish distilleries in the 1910s before returning to Japan. He brought Scottish techniques but adapted them using local ingredients and adding a final filtration through bamboo charcoal, creating a distinctly smoother profile that's now winning international awards left and right.
- The angel's share in hot climates can reach 10% per year, compared to Scotland's 2%. In places like India and Taiwan, whisky evaporates from barrels so quickly that what would age 12 years in Scotland might be completely gone in a decade. That's why tropical whiskies often taste much older than their actual age – they're concentrating faster due to rapid evaporation and intense heat cycling.
- There's a whiskey aging in space right now. In 2011, samples of Ardbeg whisky and oak compounds were sent to the International Space Station to study how zero gravity affects the aging process. After returning to Earth in 2014, tasters found the space-aged whisky had dramatically different flavor compounds – more antiseptic notes and less smoky character than its Earth-bound twin.
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