I’m Adam, and I like to mix Islay whisky.
To some people, this would be a shocking confession. A revelation that betrayed a lack of taste and respect for a spirit held in reverence by many.
But it’s my opinion that single malt Scotch whisky and peated whisky are perfectly acceptable, even often magnificent, cocktail ingredients. I do not subscribe to the idea that they are for sipping only and that it’s sacrilege to do anything else with them.
The appetite to mix and play with whisky has grown rapidly in recent years, with people acknowledging just how fun whisky can be. Islay whisky is robust and characterful enough to stand up in any serve and enhance the other elements around it. From the Penicillin to the Smoky Cokey, there’s a small but sensational array of drinks that make fine use of the island’s greatest export.
The humble Highball is beautiful with smoky whisky
Mix it up
Not sure where to start? We highly recommend the Highball. Partly because it’s so darn simple. Take a glass. Slug in your whisky. Add ice. Top it up with your chosen mixer. Stir it. Voilà. Try to mess that up.
The Highball lets you tailor your whisky to your taste. Want classic Islay like a Laphroaig 10 Year Old? Go for it. Some spice and fruit for something sherried? It’s yours. Just a hint of smoke from a blend like Johnnie Walker Black Label? Right away.
It works for several reasons. You’re not masking the character of the whisky. You’re lengthening it. The minerality accentuates the salinity. The dilution ramps up the smokiness. It’s the Highball heightening effect.
Then there are the doors you can open. Of course, you should enjoy whisky the way you want, but putting single malt on a pedestal has its drawbacks. Whisky cocktails are an access point. The people who say, “I had Jack Daniel’s once as a teenager and didn’t like it, so now I don’t like whisky”, are just primed to be turned onto the joys of great whisky.
Do yourself a favour and try the Penicillin cocktail
Bust the myth and share the love
And Islay whisky is, more often than not, great whisky. But it can be challenging on its own at first. There’s no harm in showing people a different way into whisky. Surely we ultimately want to encourage people to join in this magnificent world of flavour and fun? Not act as the overbearing bouncers at the door of deliciousness.
Pop it in a long, refreshing serve and they’ll soon be saying how much they enjoy it. They might even look at you in astonishment when you tell them that whisky is the base ingredient. “But I don’t even like whisky!”. Oh, but you do. You just didn’t know it yet. You’re welcome.
Don’t be afraid to mix Islay whisky.
