A Caribbean Mai Tai, and 5 other cocktails for whisky beginners.

I've always wanted to enjoy whisky.

My partner loves it; has ever since we met.

While I'd love to sit down with him and enjoy his drink of choice (I feel silly we don't already), I haven't got into it just yet and I think I've figured out why.

For as long as I can remember, there's been a stereotype that whisky is a man's alcohol; a 'boy's club' drink of choice.

Do you envision middle-aged white men sipping it on the rocks, surrounded by leather armchairs and cigar smoke? I used to.

Whisky brand The Glenlivet is on a mission to break the stereotype of the traditional whisky drinker. 

Embodying the modern-day whisky drinker, brand ambassador, Anna Paquin (True Blood), is taking a stand for everyone who likes to challenge the unwritten rules of whisky and drink theirs however they like, regardless of who they are. 

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A post shared by Anna Hélène Paquin (@_annapaquin)

The brand has even broken the Google search algorithm to broaden representation within the alcohol category. 

If you search 'whisky drinker' on Google Images, you'll no longer see an array of old white men, but instead, a colourful montage of real, diverse whisky drinkers in 2022.

With Anna as my inspiration, I'm going to become a whisky drinker this year - but I'm going to need to work my way up to it.

Watch: The Glenlivet #BreakTheStereotype. Post continues below. 

Before I challenge those stereotypes and become another modern-day whisky drinker - preferably on the rocks with my partner - I'm starting out slowly with whisky cocktails. (Because everything goes down smoother with some sugar in it.)

If you're looking to get into whisky too, join me, and start out with these five whisky cocktails.

From a Caribbean Mai Tai to a whisky tonic, here are six cocktails whisky beginners are going to want to try.

1. Caribbean Mai Tai.

Always drink responsibly. Image: The Glenlivet.

Ingredients:

• 50ml The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve
• 25ml pineapple juice
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Peach sparkling water

Method:

1. Build all ingredients over ice in a glass.

2. Top with peach sparkling water.

3. Enjoy!

2. The Glenlivet Royale.

Always drink responsibly. Image: The Glenlivet.

Ingredients:

• 35ml The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
• 15ml lemon juice
• 15ml honey water
• 80ml champagne
• Lemon twist

Method:

1. Pour The Glenlivet 12, lemon juice and honey water into a chilled flute.

2. Top with champagne, stir and garnish with a lemon twist.

3. Enjoy!

3. The Glenlivet and Tonic.

Always drink responsibly. Image: The Glenlivet.

Ingredients:

• 50ml The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve
• 20ml lemon juice 
• 25ml golden ginger syrup 
• 120ml tonic water (can be substituted with soda water)
• 1 teaspoon ginger root (for the syrup)

Method:

1. Peel a teaspoon of ginger root and blend the peeled ginger in a food processor. 

2. The juice should be stirred with an equal volume of golden syrup, until it is thoroughly combined.

3. Stir together The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, lemon juice and golden ginger syrup in a tall glass with cubed ice.

4. Top up with tonic water.

5. Garnish with a sliced ginger and pieces of crystallised ginger.

6. Enjoy!

4. Apple Cinnamon Spritz.

Always drink responsibly. Image: The Glenlivet.

Ingredients:

• 30ml The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
• 50ml apple cider
• 25ml simple syrup
• 1 large pinch ground cinnamon
• 75ml brut sparkling wine or champagne
• Apple slices, lemon round and cinnamon stick (for garnish)
• Ice cubes

Method:

1. Pour the apple cider, The Glenlivet 12 Year Old and simple syrup into the bottom of a wine glass.

2. Sprinkle with the cinnamon, add ice, and stir to combine until well chilled.

3. Top with sparkling wine, garnish with apple slices, lemon, and cinnamon stick and serve immediately.

4. Enjoy!

5. Orchard Shelter.

Always drink responsibly. Image: The Glenlivet.

Ingredients:

• 40ml The Glenlivet 12 year old
• 12.5ml fig liqueur
• 10ml pear eau de vie
• 2 dashes Peychaud bitters
• 10ml lemon juice
• 10ml egg white/vegan foamer

Method:

1. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake without ice to build a bubble matrix with the egg white. 

2. Once a frothy texture has been achieved add ice and shake hard to chill. 

3. Strain into a chilled coupette and garnish with a quarter of a ripe fig.

4. Enjoy!

6. Spiced Spey Coffee.

Always drink responsibly. Image: Glenlivet.

Ingredients:

• 40ml The Glenlivet 12 year old
• 15ml liquid chocolate
• 10ml simple syrup
• 75ml Americano coffee/ strong filter coffee
• 1 small pinch cayenne pepper
• 40ml lightly whipped double cream

Method:

1. Warm a small wine glass with boiling water. 

2. Pour out the hot water. 

3. Mix the chocolate, whisky, coffee, syrup and cayenne pepper together in a heated glass. 

4. Gently pour the cream over the back of a spoon to create a creamy layer. 

5. Garnish with chocolate shavings, adding another small pinch of cayenne pepper.

6. Enjoy!

Which whisky cocktail will you be making first? Tell us in the comments below.

The Glenlivet continues to break traditions, set new standards and move things forward. #BreakTheStereotype by trying their whisky for yourself and  discover the full range here. 

Always drink responsibly.

Feature Image: Mamamia/The Glenlivet.