Mixers To Try With Whiskey
Whiskey is a complex liquor. To make it, distillers start with grain mash that they allow to ferment before aging the liquid in wooden casks. The types of grains, as well as the aging process, are largely what impart whiskey's complex flavor profile. As the Houston Chronicle points out, the profile can even include food-based elements such as vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
While many people think of whiskey as a standalone drink, and a sometimes harsh one at that, it can also serve as the basis for flavorful cocktails. Continue reading to find out what some of the best mixers are for whiskey.
Lemon Juice and Sugar Syrup
A mix made out of sugar syrup and lemon juice sits at the center of a popular whiskey drink, the whiskey sour. The lemon imparts tart citrus flavors that the sugar rounds off and complements. This mix is ideal for rye and Canadian whiskey. Those styles tend to feature a dry, spicy flavor. The sour mix stands up to those strong flavors while also imparting some sweetness.
Ginger Beer and Lime
A popular vodka drink is the Moscow mule. However, the mixer components of the drink, ginger beer and lime, work well with certain whiskeys, too. Both bourbon and Irish whiskey tend to be heavy, slightly sweet spirits. The spiciness of the ginger beer adds depth, while lime juice makes the cocktail lighter and more refreshing. The carbonation from the ginger beer adds to the freshness.
Lemon-Lime Soda
Another refreshing drink is the seven and seven, which traditionally consists of 7-Up and Seagram's 7 Crown Whiskey. However, you can use any rye or Canadian whiskey for its spice and dryness. Likewise, any carbonated lemon-lime soda will create both the effervescence and the sweet-sour profile.
Coffee, Cream, and Brown Sugar Syrup
Irish coffee is a popular drink in cold weather. While many people make it with Irish cream liqueur, you get a more nuanced drink if you use straight whiskey. In this case, you simulate the creamy aspect of the liqueur with actual cream and brown sugar syrup, which adds another dimension. Coffee and Irish whiskey with the cream mixer features a blend of spicy and sweet.
Sweet Vermouth and Bitters
Vermouth is a wine flavored with botanicals. It can taste either sweet or bitter. It's also the main additive for a classic whiskey cocktail, the Manhattan. You want to use sweet vermouth so that you get that honied taste and add bitters for another flavor profile. Rye and Canadian whiskey are good for this drink so you also add a spicy complexity to the drink.
Buy a bottle of whiskey at the local liquor store and experiment with different flavor profiles to make a unique drink.