What happens if you mix wine and whiskey?

Depending on how much you know or don't know about how whisky is manufactured (outside of the US, at least! ), the concepts of wine and whiskey are likely to evoke very different feelings.

This flavor combination may raise a few questions in the eyes of the uninformed, but as a glance at the most well-known scotch whiskeys will show, wine and sherry flavors are present in a wide variety of spirits!

It is usual to impart aromas like those of dried fruits, cask spice, and sweetness from brown sugar using sherry and, occasionally, wine barrels.

To create a variety of wine and scotch whisky brands cocktails, from revered classics like the New York sour to more creative concoctions with sea buckthorn, we can employ this flavor profile—the union of cask and distillate.

A RETRO CLASSIC: SOUR NEW YORK

One of the most well-liked cocktails and a favorite way to enjoy whiskey, the sour has several renowned versions.

One such drink is the New York Sour, which began in the 1880s and has recently experienced a surge in popularity. It was initially invented as the Continental Sour.

The drink itself is a short float, but it has the odd twist of red wine added for the float component, creating a bold flavor combination and an eye-catching statement.

For the ingredients, we like Rye of scotch whisky brands because it pairs well with the fruity flavors of red wine thanks to its spicy-sweet undertones. Go with the Rye of your choice and select a wine with a prominent fruity profile and little to no tannin or oak flavor.

Ingredients

• two ounces of fine rye whiskey

• fresh lemon juice, 1 ounce

• Simple syrup, 1/2 ounce

• dry red wine, 112 ounces

Instructions

1. All ingredients except the red wine should be placed in a cocktail shaker with ice and rapidly shaken.

2. Put a strainer over ice in a glass.

3. Pour the red wine slowly into the mirror over the back of a spoon to make it float.

ONE FOR THE COLDER DAYS: WINE-BASED CRANBERRY

The classic flavors of cranberry and red wine, which we can all associate with the holidays, make this cocktail ideal for any winter event, but it would be a big hit at a Thanksgiving or Christmas gift-giving!

Since this dish focuses on fruit and spice, we chose rye whiskey and a glass of red wine with traditional sweeter stone fruit flavors to go with the cranberry.

Speaking of cranberries, this is a cocktail fit for a special occasion, so there isn't any cranberry juice used. Instead, you'll make a reduction syrup by mixing wine and cranberries; don't worry, we'll explain how in the advice below!

Ingredients

• 1.5 ounces of rye whiskey

• 1/2 cup brandy

• cranberry red wine reduction syrup, 1/3 oz.

• One splash of your preferred flavored or fragrant bitters

• Orange bitters, one dash

Instructions

1. Your cranberry reduction is ready; set it aside.

2. Shake the contents in a cocktail shaker well after adding them all.

3. Pour into a glass that has one sizable ice cube inside.

Tips

To make the syrup, combine the cranberry sauce, turbinado sugar, and twice as much red wine in a saucepan. When the liquid has reduced, strain it into a container to get rid of any more significant cranberry pieces, then store it until you're ready to use it in your cocktails!