Three perfect whiskey cocktails | How to Drink

People ask me all the time about my "favorite" drink or the best drink I've ever had, I started answering that in my video about the best rum drinks, now let's do whiskey.

Improved Whiskey Cocktail:
In a mixing glass
.25 oz. -or- 8 ml. Simple Syrup
2 dashes of Boker's Bitters (or your preferred bitters)
.25 oz. -or- 8 ml. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
2 oz. -or- 60 ml. Rittenhouse Rye
1 dash of absinthe
Add ice and stir
Strain into glass
Garnish with lemon peel

Whiskey Sour:
In Shaker
1 oz. -or- 30 ml. Lemon Juice
.75 oz. -or- 22 ml. Simple Syrup (.5 oz to 1 oz is fine - sweeten to your taste)
2 oz. -or- 60 ml. Whiskey - I used All Points West Malt and Grain Pot Still Whiskey
1 Egg White
Dry Shake
Add ice and shake
Strain into glass
Garnish with a few dashes of Peychaud's Bitters

Slowly but surely, I'm starting a mailing list so that I'm not fully dependent on YT's algorithmized notifications system. If you'll sign up, I promise not to abuse your generosity, or sell your info to anyone. It's over on the blog right here:

Halekulani Cocktail:
.5 oz. -or- 15 ml. Lime Juice
.5 oz. -or- 15 ml. Orange Juice
.5 oz. -or- 15 ml. Pineapple Juice
.25 oz -or- 8 ml. Demerara Simple Syrup
1.5 oz -or- 45 ml. Barrel-proof Bourbon (I used Noah's Mill - Bookers also good)
1 - 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Crack ice into the shaker, shake and strain
Garnish with Pineapple fronds

Incredibly Awesome People who make this show possible!

Shelby Benton
Dennis Groome
Aditya Choksi
Whiskey Tribe
Thomas D Choate
William Madrid
Erik Språng
Nicholas Tsotakos
Bradley Cronk
James Evans
Adam Doyle
Bill
Todd Swain
Kimber Guzik
Richard Rappuhn
Affable Kraut
Olivia
Jeff Lewis
Huyen Tue Dao
Jacob Pizzuto
Lee M Geller
Alex Bertrand
Christopher
Daniel Batson
Magnus Gezelius
Charles Armstrong
Christy Rusk
James Ives
That One Guy
Anne Burns
TsubasaAkari
Richard Trimble
Stacy Ferguson
Sean Makiney
Jeremy Samuels
Marcus
Sarah Chapin
Brandon Mayotte
Adam Van Ost Schrot
Marcus Larsson
Keegan Two Crow
Joshua Church
Kira Metoyer
Manuel Fihman
Kevin Hogan
Heather Briana
Ronald Wolcott

Written & Directed by: Greg
Written by: Greg
Edited by: Sarie Moscato
Produced by: Meredith Engstrom & Stefano Pennisi & Greg
Cinematography by: Greg
Created by: Greg

[howtodrink]

Here's the links, and another thank you to Barfly for sponsoring this one:

[AWACS_Snowblind]

I continue to tell my friends "it's basically Binging with Babish, but for alcoholics". I consider it a compliment lol

[RhettShull]

I just need to say, this is hands down one of the best channels on YouTube. Greg your work is top notch and I’ve learned so much over the past few years. Thank you!

[kalebmaskill]

Hey Greg, during the pandemic, a lot of bars in my area survived by selling non perishable cocktails that were batched in mason jars or liter bottles or whatever was convenient. You should do a video on some non perishable batched cocktails you can just keep on the fridge and pour, I’d love to see your take on some of those.

[tjh__]

This series has transcended drinking and should be called How To Greg.

[dreamingwolf]

When I was still bartending, I would always try to convince my regulars to at least try their go-to cocktails with a higher end spirit. A cocktail done with a topshelf bottle is like the acoustic version of your favorite hard rock song. You get to experience all of those ton3s and notes and chords with a drawn out. haunting quality that the original can drown out or fly right past.
If you love a particular cocktail, you owe it to yourself to try it with topshelf Quality spirits, 100%.

[benjaminvalin]

This channel is such a refreshing and positive bit of content

[bombshellblonde]

Making old fashioneds due to laziness might be one of the most relatable things I've ever heard lol. Also, look at you snagging a BARFLY sponsorship! After so long recommending them! Congrats man

[artirony]

I was in Hawaii recently and was able to actually get my hands on the original spirit used in the Halekulani, okolehao (a spirit made of cane sugar and ti root), and the difference between the bourbon and okolehao versions is mindblowing. Its a shame that okolehao is so hard to come by because the drink is vastly improved by it.

[wafflesthewookiee]

I know you’ve said before there were a lot of terrible cocktails created during the Disco era, ever thought about trying to improve/balance them?

[leavinglamancha]

I don’t know what got me to watch this more, the fact that I watch all your videos, the fact that whiskey is my favorite, or the fact that your eyes are absolutely amazingly mesmerizing in that screengrab, and drew me in.
“Oh sure, that drinks on fire. You know what else is? Greg’s eyes.”

[befuddled]

So when you decide to open your own bar, please realize that you will need enough acreage for the living accommodations to satisfy the legions of patrons willing to live adjacent to your establishment. Been a follower for years, and I am simply enthralled by so many of the cocktails you feature. You have a truly great channel my friend!

[wraggal]

You talk about grassy and herbal notes a lot, I'd love to see a set of drinks using actual herbs, like a basil episode, a thyme episode etc

[jpark]

love the show Greg!! One thing you said I'd argue with: i wouldn't say Maraschino tastes "absolutely nothing" like cherries. I would say that's accurate if you're specifically referring to those atomic red Maraschino cherries, but I actually think Maraschino liqueur has a really compelling, almost almond-cherry taste to it. It's the kind of funky, nutty cherry taste that I recommend everyone try because it works so brilliantly in cocktails. Anyways, just wanted to add my 2 cents here and say keep up the great work!

[adrienpiette]

This channel is such a treat. You got history, science and comedy. And Greg brings it all in with his charm and Nerdiness.

[masonchapple]

This episode came out at the perfect time! (A bit of backstory first) I don't drink alcohol due to religious reasons, but before the pandemic I worked at a dinner theater where I was taught to mix drinks. I started watching this channel to understand the drinks better so I could better serve guests, and I fell in love with mixing the drinks and this channel. I have tried making my own mocktail variations on drinks, and I finally managed to get hold of a non-alcoholic bourbon this week! So now I will definitely try the latter two drinks and will see if I can find a way to do something similar to the first.

[StrewthStoatPirate]

Greg briefly turned into the Swedish Chef when sipping that Tiki drink.

[inuyasha]

That was an interesting cut during the whiskey sour pour where you had a second strainer and then it was just not their in the pouring shot. I had to double take on that

[javonkestler]

You’re the man. I’ve learned to enjoy prohibition cocktails because of your videos!

[ARSZLB]

“bring them to the yard” the tasting notes are one of my favorite parts of every HTD episode 🤣

i hope i get to chill and have a IWC with Greg one day, i would LOVE to meet the guy!