How to make whisky taste even better

We think our whisky tastes great on its own. Blended to perfection by our master blenders, our smooth, sweet scotch has won a bunch of awards. But if you feel like the classic whisky burn has got you grimacing, stick around. There’s plenty of ways to drink whisky, and we’re fans of them all.

Whisky is a porous spirit. Meaning that whatever you add will impact its flavour. Often reducing the alcoholic strength and elevating its light, honeyed notes. 

From adding ice to making fruity cocktails, you can combine whisky with anything. 

Here’s our favourite ways to make whisky taste even better.

Pour in a mixer

Whisky is great on its own. But if you fancy a lighter drink, or one that lasts a little longer, adding a mixer is going to be right up your alley. This can be fizzy sodas, fruity juices or anything you can get your hands on. If it works for you, it works.

Try classic combos like whisky and coke, a whisky tonic or scotch and soda. Or add a summery twist with scotch and coconut water and whisky ice tea. Whether you’re looking to add sweetness, lightness or pure bubbles, there’s plenty of soft drinks that work.

Find more whisky mixers to try with Ballantine’s.

Mix with other drinks

If whisky isn’t your go-to beverage, that’s totally fine. But don’t put the bottle to the back of the cupboard yet. Because your favourite drink might just be whisky’s best companion.

First up – the lager lovers. Did you know that whisky and beer are a top tier match? They’re made from the same ingredients, so it makes sense when you think about it. The most common combo is the Boilermaker (a shot of scotch dropped in a pint) but our Berry Beer cocktail is another great invention. Fruity, fizzy and light, it’s the ultimate beer and whisky mix.

Whisky is also a good friend of wine. Whilst very different from one another, these two liquids work surprisingly well together. Take the New York Sour for example. This red wine and whisky cocktail is a warming favourite. Then there’s our take on the classic French 75 and Spritz My Way, both made with Prosecco.

As long as you do it responsibly, there’s no reason why you can’t mix your usual with whisky.

Make it a cocktail

Whisky’s been used in cocktails for centuries. In fact the oldest known cocktail has whisky at its core; none other than the Old Fashioned. This one’s a great shout if you like the smooth, spiced sweetness of whisky. A dash of bitters muddled with sugar elevates the natural flavours for an easy sipping serve.

There’s plenty more classic whisky drinks from the Sazerac and Boulevardier (try this one if you like a Negroni), to the Whisky Sour, another cocktail that dates back over 150 years. Make them the traditional way or put on your own spin mixing up ingredients to create drinks like the Cherry Whisky Sour or Apple Cider Old Fashioned.

But don’t stop there. Whisky is super versatile, so you really can mix it with anything. Trust us, we’ve tried. From grapefruit to sriracha sauce, to coffee and green tea, we’ve made an epic drink with almost every ingredient. So don’t be afraid to get creative.