Become a Whisky Drinker: A Guide to Hosting a Whisky Cocktail Party
Forget your G&Ts, whisky is the new tipple of choice. If your friends aren’t converted whisky drinkers yet, then introduce them to this exquisite spirit with a whisky cocktail party. For a night full of delicious drinks and fantastic food pairings, discover our guide to how to host a whisky cocktail party and encourage your friends to fall in love with whisky.
How to Host a Whisky Cocktail Party
Whisky is the perfect spirit for a cocktail party because it is so versatile, not only is it delicious neat, but it is also great alcohol base for many different cocktails. Decide whether you will be chief cocktail maker or whether your party will have a touch of DIY. Before you get your glad rags on and get ready to party, follow our tips to ensure that your event goes smoothly.
Create the Perfect Ambience
Creating the perfect ambience is key when hosting a party. Curate a playlist that is upbeat yet ideal for background noise – save the power ballads for later in the evening. The right music sets the tone for the party, if the music is off then the vibe will not be as good.
Lighting is also super important when hosting an event. Avoid harsh, bright overhead lighting and instead opt for warmer lowlighting. Stick to the whisky theme and make use of your old whisky bottles buy turning them into candles or adding fairy lights. Dot your homemade whisky candles around to create a warm atmosphere that is perfectly in keeping with the theme.
Consider using Pinterest to find some inspiration for how you want your party to look and feel. Check out some whisky drinker party inspiration and start a vision board to help you create the perfect party.
Food
You can’t host an event – especially one that involves drinking copious amounts of whisky, without some nibbles. Make it easy for yourself and prep the food beforehand so that all you have to worry about is topping up your fellow whisky drinkers’ drinks. Whisky pairs beautifully with cheese, smoked and roasted meats, so opt for a charcuterie board so that your guests can graze as they’re enjoying their cocktails. Simply arrange your variety of cheeses and meats on a board, adding nuts, olives, sundried tomatoes and whatever else you fancy. Don’t forget the carbs – add bread and crackers to serve with the board and of course no party is complete without crisps and dip. Finally, always make sure you have back-up food in case the party goes on for longer than expected.
Gather the Utensils
Make sure you have all the utensils you require to make the cocktails and have them set out ready for your guests to arrive. The number of cocktail shakers you need is dependent on whether you are hosting a DIY cocktail evening or not.
Whisky Cocktail Checklist
Full cocktail shaker kit. This includes a stainless-steel tumbler, a glass tumbler, a jigger, spoon, and strainer.
Glasses. Make sure you have enough glasses in a mixture of styles. From your classic Old Fashioned whisky glass to a coupe and martini glass, check which cocktails you are preparing so that you can choose your glasses accordingly.
Ingredients. Plan ahead and choose the cocktails you will serve in advance so that you have all of the correct ingredients.
Ice. Ice is so important for a party and when you think you have enough, buy a few more extra bags. Not only do you need ice to fill the glasses, but you also use it whilst mixing your cocktails, so make sure you are fully prepared and have plenty in the freezer.
Cocktail Ideas
Now for the fun part: cocktail making. Make cocktails that whisky drinkers and whisky newbies alike will enjoy. Also make sure to reserve a bottle of whisky for those who prefer to drink it neat.
When making cocktails, choose up to three that are sure to be crowd pleasers so that you don’t overstretch yourself. Classic cocktails are always a winner because they have been carefully concocted to complement the taste of whisky, so make sure to include at least one of those. Of course, you can always branch out and create more unique cocktail blends.
Check out our cocktail recommendations below.
Whisky Sour
A whisky classic, whisky drinkers and whisky novices alike will fall in love with this delicious cocktail.
Ingredients
60ml whisky
25ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
15ml simple syrup
15ml egg white (optional)
Angostura bitters for garnish
Method
(Serves 1)
Add whisky, lemon juice, syrup and egg white to a shaker and shake without ice until the blend is combined. Add ice and shake again until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass before adding a couple of drops of the bitters on top for garnish.
You can always make this into a Berry Whisky Sour. Simply muddle a large handful of your chosen berries and add to your mixture. Alternatively, you could use another citrus fruit. Grapefruit works well with this recipe; all you have to do is swap out the lemon juice.
Whisky Mule
This combination is easy to make for a larger group and totally delicious. A traditional Moscow Mule includes vodka, however, ginger pairs so beautifully with whisky that this is a truly winning mix. If you’re a new whisky drinker and a fan of the classic vodka-based drink, then this might just convert you to being a fully-fledged whisky drinker.
Ingredients
60ml whisky
30ml lime juice
60-120ml ginger beer
2-3 drops of Angostura bitters
Mint for garnish
Method
(Serves 1)
Fill your Moscow Mule copper mug (a must-have) with ice and pour in the whisky and fresh lime juice. Top with ginger beer and add the dashes of bitter, finishing by adding mint as a garnish.
Old Fashioned
This classic cocktail is as simple as it gets. Less of a sweet mix, this cocktail really lets the whisky do the talking. Simple to make and a favourite amongst whisky drinkers, an Old Fashioned is the perfect whisky cocktail to have on your menu.
Ingredients
60ml whisky
Orange slice
2 tsp sugar syrup or 1 tsp granulated sugar
1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
Splash of water
Maraschino cherry
Method
Add the sugar or sugar syrup, bitters and a splash of water to the tumbler and give it a good mix. Fill your glass with ice and the whisky. Add the mix from your tumbler and stir. Finish with the orange rind and a cherry if you wish.
Tasty Whisky Cocktail
This whisky cocktail is rich and indulgent, with an added zing. Grenadine and crème de cacao are the secret ingredients in this sweet, party favourite whisky drink.
Ingredients
60ml whisky
60ml crème de cacao
60ml lemon juice
2 dashes of grenadine
4 tsp golden caster sugar
Orange slice
Method
Add all the ingredients to your cocktail shaker with ice. Shake together and then either pour into a martini glass or pour over ice in a tall glass. Add the orange slice for garnish.
Check out some more easy cocktail ideas which will inspire you to become a whisky drinker.
The most important thing to remember when hosting a party is to have fun. If you’re having fun, then your guests will have fun. Set the ambience, get the food prepared and keep the drinks flowing and by the end of the evening you have just converted your friends to become whisky drinkers.
