7 Essential Whiskey Cocktails

Before you can build a house, you need a solid foundation. The same is true for making great drinks. While there are thousands of whiskey cocktail recipes out there, a select few stand as the undisputed classics—the seven essential pillars that every home bartender should master. These aren't just random recipes; they are the timeless icons that have defined cocktail culture for over a century. Learning them gives you more than just a list of drinks; it gives you the confidence and the core techniques to make almost any whiskey cocktail you can imagine, using bottles that don't break the bank.

This guide is your blueprint to mastering those seven essentials. We've broken down each one, from the bold and simple Old Fashioned to the elegant Manhattan and the perfectly balanced Whiskey Sour. For each cocktail, you'll find a little bit of history, the definitive recipe, and the pro-tips that make all the difference—like why you stir one but shake another. Consider this your official training ground for becoming the go-to cocktail expert among your friends. Let's start mixing.