How to Make A Perfect Whiskey Cocktail—and 15 Recipes to Get You Inspired

Munich-based bar owner and whiskey expert Stefan Gabányi recently published a new edition of Schumann's Whiskey Lexicon, which he first wrote in 1996, as he says whiskey is evolving and growing in popularity like never before.

"It's a bit of a phenomenon as you usually have a generational gap with spirits—no one wants to drink what their parents are drinking," says Gabányi. "Now there are so many young people drinking it and many more women too, which has especially changed things for whiskey in terms of quality." He notes the innovation and availability of whiskey across the world, particularly when it comes to products from the U.S. and Japan, has made the nearly 700-year-old spirit as modern and vibrant as ever.

"There are so many different characters, aromas, and styles of whiskey these days that only rum can compare, but you don't have as refined of an image of rum yet as you do with whiskey," says Gabányi. "It used to be that scotch was this macho drink for the rich and bourbon was for the poor, but all that has changed, especially as there are now thousands of producers, and America has really done a lot with bourbon to make both appealing to a wide range of people." Some of his favorite American whiskey brands include Knob Creek and Michter's, while he says to keep tabs on a burgeoning German whiskey label, St. Killian. And if you're wanting to explore more whiskey from where the spirit began, Scotland, pick up a bottle of Springbank.

Gabányi says making a perfect whiskey cocktail is all about balance and power. His drinking establishment, Bar Gabányi, puts twists on classic cocktails, like the Manhattan, which he says is a great example of a balanced yet powerful whiskey cocktail, thanks to the addition of vermouth and bitters. He says as craft cocktails have become more popular over the years, whiskey is the perfect spirit to experiment with because it's so versatile and pairs with an abundance of herbs and house-made essences. Get inspired to craft a classic or imaginative whiskey cocktail of your own with these fabulous recipes.