8 Best Summer Whiskey Cocktails Every Gentleman Should Try (Part 1)

Whiskey from bourbon and rye to scotch, Irish, Canadian and Japanese––isn’t only for cold weather. But when you’re sick of beer, where do you turn for refreshment? This is why we have created the ultimate list of quintessential summer whiskey drinks for any gentleman. You won’t go wrong with these 8 manly summer whiskey cocktails.

Whiskey Smash

A whiskey smash derives its name from the muddling action that goes on between the sugar, lemon, and fresh mint leaves. The citrus-and-mint combination gives it a great flavor.

Ingredients

• 3 lemon wedges
• 2 ounces bourbon
• 3/4 ounce simple syrup
• 4-6 mint leaves

How to Make a Whiskey Smash

1. Pour the simple syrup, lemon wedges, and mint leaves into a cocktail shaker.
2. Smash them with a muddler (or the handle of a wooden spoon).
3. Pour in the whiskey.
4. Shake well.
5. Double strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice.
6. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Apple Whisky Cocktail

A refreshing cocktail with just the right amount of tart giving it a delicious taste.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces bourbon
• 1 1/4 ounces fresh apple juice
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice

How to Make an Apple Whisky Cocktail

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass over ice.
4. Garnish with an apple slice.

Mint Julep

A light and refreshing classic summer cocktail. It's also the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby, which has helped propel the cocktail's popularity.

Ingredients

• 1/4 ounce simple syrup
• 8 mint leaves
• 2 ounces Kentucky bourbon whiskey or another high-end brand.
• Garnish: mint sprig

How to Make a Mint Julep

1. In a Julep cup or rocks glass, lightly muddle the mint and syrup.
2. Add the bourbon and pack tightly with crushed ice.
3. Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside.
4. Top with more crushed ice to form an ice dome and garnish with a mint sprig

Old Pal

The Old Pal is a Negroni variation for people who prefer whiskey to gin. It’s a great drink for sipping while sitting out on the deck on a summer evening.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
• 3/4 ounce dry vermouth
• 3/4 ounce Campari

How to Make an Old pal

1. Combine all ingredients in a pint glass 2/3  full of ice 
2. Stir until well chilled, about 20 seconds
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe.
4.  Garnish with a lemon twist.

Whiskey Sour

One of the best cocktails for the modern gentleman. It’s simple and sophisticated at the same time. We love it so much that we did a whole post just about it! Read it here.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces ​whiskey
• 3/4 ounces ​lemon juice (fresh)
• 3/4 ounce ​simple syrup
• 1 egg white

How to Make a Whiskey sour

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
2. Dry shake vigorously
3. Add ice cubes
4. Shake for at least 30 seconds to ensure all the ingredients mix properly
5. Strain into an old fashioned glass with ice cubes
6. Garnish with a slice of orange or lemon wedge.

Northern Buck

Canadian whiskeys it’s used as the base for countless cocktail recipes across Northern America. It’s not a surprise Crown Royal, made by Diageo is the second-best-selling whiskey in the United States, behind Jack Daniel's. (New York Times)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
• 3/4  ounces fresh lime juice
• 3 ounces ginger beer
• Lime wheel
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters 

How to Make a Northern Buck

1. Add Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Whisky and lime juice into a shaker with ice
2. Shake well and strain into a highball glass over fresh ice
3. Add the Angostura bitters, and top with the ginger beer.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel and mint sprig.

Whiskey Highball

The classic whiskey highball cocktail offers a refreshing way to drink your favorite whiskey (bourbon, Canadian, or rye). If you use an Irish whiskey you’ll have a drink called the Irish Buck.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
• 6 ounces ginger ale or soda water

How to Make a Whiskey Highball

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Fill a highball glass with ice.
3. Pour the whiskey into the glass.
4. Top with soda water if you want to appreciate the complexity of whiskey with no sweetness.
5. Use ginger ale which has sweet tones that provide a more diverse and balanced drink.
6. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Hole-in-One

The vermouth combined with the orange bitters and just a touch of lemon juice – brings out the fruity notes in the scotch, but very subtly.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces scotch
• 3/4 ounce dry vermouth
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 dash of orange bitters

How to Make a Hole-in-One

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Add in the whiskey, dry vermouth, lemon juice, and one dash of orange bitters.
3. Shake until chilled. 
4. Strain into a cocktail glass.
5. Garnish with the lemon wedge

Final Thoughts

Gentlemen, summer isn’t the best time of the year for no reason. Our advice to you is to take advantage of the nice warm weather and enjoy some of these fine manly cocktails. You won’t regret it!

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