Whiskey Cocktails

Cocktails Made with Irish Whiskey

Although Irish whiskey was once widespread, the spirit seems largely to have been consumed on its own, and appears in relatively few classic cocktail recipes. There are few Irish whiskey–based cocktails in the cocktail cannon for the opposite reason that there are few Scotch whisky drinks. Whereas the smoky, peaty flavors of Scotch can overpower a drink, the softness of Irish whiskey can easily get lost in it.

In preparation for an Irish whiskey–heavy menu at Dead Rabbit Tavern, Sean Muldoon dug through numerous vintage bar guides, finding very few results. "I only came across maybe 25 Irish whiskey–based cocktails; some of them work, and others don't, and those that do are mainly Irish variations on a Manhattan," Muldoon says, noting the Tipperary, made with green Chartreuse, as one of the more appealing variations. With no deep well of classics to draw from, Muldoon is getting creative. Another drink that may be featured at Dead Rabbit Tavern is the Lamb's Wool, an original drink made with a purée of spiced, baked apple, Irish whiskey and oyster stout.

The Celtic and the British join together in Cameron’s Kick, a memorable classic that first appears in the Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930. It’s a strange combination of Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, lemon juice and Orgeat, a French almond-flavored syrup. You’ll want to stick with a blended Scotch for this one, as the smokier single malts will tempt you to add more Orgeat.

Another memorable classic in which Irish whiskey appears is the Blackthorne, made with vermouth and absinthe.

At 15 Romolo, Josie says the bartenders have been tinkering with Irish whiskey and have found how well its gentle, grain-rich flavor works with bitter herbal liqueurs and apricot and cherry liqueurs, such as in the Wilde Heart, a drink made with Black Bush, Cherry Heering and an Italian amaro that was recently featured at the bar.

Here's a list of some drinks made with Irish Whiskey:

Homemade Irish Cream
Irish Coffee
Irish Whiskey Ginger Toddy - hot toddy with lemon and ginger beer
Bushmills Irish Punch - served hot

Served Straight-up
Cameron's Kick (classic) - Irish whiskey paired with blended scotch along with lemon juice and orgeat
Blackthorne (classic) - with vermouth and absinthe - when Robert Vermeire first published the recipe (Cocktails, How to Mix Them, 1922), he refered to it as "a very old cocktail," and attributed it to New Orleans bartender Harry Johnson. His recipe called for 1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey, 1 1/2 ounces dry vermouth, 1/2 teaspoon absinthe, 3 dashes Angostura/aromatic bitters. This version of the drink is quite dry. Harry JohnsonGary Regan's modern verion: 2 oz Irish whiskey, 1 oz Italian (sweet) vermouth, bitters to taste, absinthe to taste. The blackthorn tree is the traditional wood for Irish walking sticks.
Tipperary Cocktail - Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, Chartreuse
Irish Blond Cocktail - Irish whiskey, curacao, sherry, orange bitters
The Emerald - essentially a Manhattan made with Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth and orange bitters in place of Angostura
Irish Eyes - Irish whiskey, green creme de menthe, cream, Maraschino cherry

On the Rocks
Black Nail - Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey and Irish Mist liqueur

Long Drinks
The Copywriter - Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, lemon juice, honey syrup, seltzer
Irish Buck/Blarney Stone - Irish whiskey, ginger ale or beer, with lime juice and garnish