Whisky Cocktails - A dram on the rocks or an adventurous whisky cocktail, how do you drink the nation’s favourite tipple?

Whisky aficionados across the globe have noticed a shift in attitude towards the famous amber nectar. While anything other than water or ice used to raise an eyebrow, many drinkers are now enjoying a more contemporary take on the classic dram. 

Speyside distillers are moving with the times, and many of them regularly create bespoke cocktails using their world-renowned products. To truly appreciate a single malt, experts advise that a dash of water will release the flavours; however many different elements of a whisky can emerge with a clever melange of cocktail ingredients. 

Whether it’s a fruity sherry flavoured dram, or a smooth vanilla bourbon malt, the experts know exactly which ingredients will create a whisky marriage made in heaven.

Visitors to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which takes place from May 1 – May 6 2013, will be able to taste the key ingredients in some of the most popular whisky cocktails, and also get ideas on how they can be incorporated into cocktails.

Those who are not lucky enough to have tickets for this year’s Festival can try these classics from some of Speyside’s top distilleries at home – perhaps while plotting their visit to the 2014 event.

Glen Grant - The Distiller’s Dream Ingredients: 4cl/1oz Glen Grant Appletizer (Sparkling apple juice) Method: Fill up with sparkling apple juice Serve in a long drink glass on ice
Glen Moray - The Gallow Hill Flip Ingredients: 50ml Glen Moray Chardonnay Cask-Matured 25ml Black Isle Porter 1 tsp Taylor’s Velvet Falernum 1 tsp Scottish Honey 1 tsp Vanilla Syrup 1 Whole Egg Method Shake all ingredients first without ice to emulsify egg, then with ice to chill/dilute. Garnish: All-spice dusting with chocolate twirl Glass: Goblet
Glenfiddich - Morning Glory Fizz Ingredients: 50 ml Glenfiddich 12 year old 20 ml fresh lemon juice 25 ml sugar syrup 20 ml fresh egg white 5 ml Absinthe Method 1. Add all ingredients except soda to shaker. 2. Add fresh ice and shake it hard. 3. Once shaken strain into glass. 4. Add fresh ice to glass, leave space for soda. 5. Add dash of soda to bring drink to top. Garnish: Orange Wheel.