Bizzy Izzy Highball and 16 Other Great Rye Whiskey Cocktails
If I could choose only one category of drink recipes, I might choose rye cocktails. Rye whiskey has a peppery bite (and often high enough proof) to cut through a drink and help it shine. You can get great rye without spending top dollar, and it pairs well with a wide range of other ingredients. Below, you’ll find essential classic rye whiskey cocktails, plus lesser-known riffs that I love to stir (or shake) for friends. Grab a bottle and some glassware and join me for happy hour.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne1/17Bizzy Izzy Highball
One great thing about rye whiskey cocktails is that they’re a way of sipping history. This forgotten cocktail, made with rye, fresh pineapple juice, nutty sherry, and lemon, first appeared in a 1917 book.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton. Glassware by Riedel.2/17Manhattan
Many rye cocktails riff on this classic, but the original is still worth drinking. It’s also a great way of trying different ryes and brands of sweet vermouth.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert3/17Amethyst Sour
This refreshing, full-flavored twist on the whiskey sour adds blueberries—plus a touch of amaro and funky rum.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert4/17Whiskey Daisy
If you’ve had a margarita before, you know the daisy, which is a family of sour drinks sweetened with liqueur instead of just sugar. This one uses rye instead of tequila, and it’s such a great easy whiskey cocktail.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton5/17Sazerac
Herbsaint became the go-to move for this drink when absinthe was outlawed, but feel free to rinse the glass with absinthe if you have it on hand. It's one of the many iconic classic cocktails of New Orleans.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton6/17Old-Fashioned
You hardly need a recipe to make this old-school cocktail. But it’s worth remembering the next time you have a new bottle of whiskey to try.
Photo by Paul H. Christian, Food Styling by Michele Figliuolo7/17Vieux Carré
Named for the French Quarter of New Orleans, this classic cocktail is boozy and complex in flavor. It’s made with rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, and Bénédictine, an herbal liqueur that’s sweetened with a touch of honey.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell9/17Scotchy Boulevardiers for a Crowd
The boulevardier is sometimes called a cool-season negroni; this big-batch version has a touch of scotch alongside the rye for smoky flavor.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton15/17Clarified Pumpkin Spice Latte Milk Punch
Now you see it, now you don’t. This punch has all the flavor of a PSL—and it calls for a whole can of pumpkin purée—but the final drink glows translucent gold.
