Scotch Whisky Cocktails

Aug 19, 2025

When thinking about Whisky cocktails, it’s easy to get sucked into thinking about spirit-forward serves like the classics, the Roy Roy or Bobby Burns.

These have their place and are delicious, but with some experimentation, you’ll find that Scotch and particularly Blended Scotch Whisky, such as the Johnnie Walker Black Label range, provides a versatile backbone for any number of flavours and drink styles.

Johnnie Walker Black Label is a blend of over 30 whiskies from the four corners of Scotland, all aged for a minimum of 12 years. It’s this complexity and balance that lends itself perfectly to mixing. You can choose to accentuate the malty cereal notes from the Malted Barley, fruity esters from fermentation or the woody, baking spice notes that come from the oak barrels used for maturation. The layer of smoke present in the Johnnie Walker Black label will add an extra layer of complexity, whatever direction you choose to take your cocktail.

Johnnie Walker Double Black comes from the same DNA as Johnnie Walker Black Label, but it leans into the smoky single malts within the blend before being aged in heavily charred barrels. Its taste profile is led by deep smouldering smoke and will act as a bold base spirit when used in cocktails.

Johnnie Walker Black Ruby is the newest addition to the family, launching last year, and is the sweetest, fruitiest expression of Johnnie Walker to date. Johnnie Walker Black Ruby is perfect in cocktails that feature berries and is the ideal bottle to reach for if you want to convert a guest who is “Whisky curious”.

Johnnie Walker Creamy Highball
 
45 ml Johnnie Walker Black Label
45 ml Cold Brew Concentrate
100 ml Cream Soda

Add the ingredients to a tall glass packed with ice and stir briefly to combine.
Garnish with Lemon Wedge

Approx 1.4 Std Drinks

Whisky Smash

Half a Blood Orange Sliced
Quarter of a Lemon Sliced
45 ml Johnnie Walker Black Label
15 ml Vanilla Syrup

Add the fruit slices to your cocktail shaker and muddle, then follow with the remaining ingredients.
Shake with ice and “open pour” the drink, ice and fruit into your glass.
Top up with ice if needed and garnish with a Blood Orange slice.

Approx 1.4 Std Drinks

Double Derby
 
45 ml Johnnie Walker Double Black
15 ml Honey Syrup
30 ml Grapefruit Juice
5 ml Italian Amaro
15 ml Egg white (or vegan Alternative)

Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake to emulsify the egg white. Add ice and shake again. Double strain into a chilled coupette and garnish with cracked pink peppercorns.

Approx 1.4 Std Drinks

Ruby Strawberry

45 ml Johnnie Walker Black Ruby
20 ml Lemon Juice
15 ml Strawberry Syrup
5 ml Crème de Mure

Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a rock glass and top with crushed ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and half a strawberry.

Approx 1.4 Std Drinks

Key Takeaways
-    Blended Scotch Whisky is an underrated yet versatile base for cocktail creation.
-    Experiment substituting Whisky in classic cocktails and work from there. You’ll be surprised how often it works!

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