Fancy Whiskey Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/27/21
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean Michael Johnson
Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Two glasses of fancy whiskey cocktail, with orange twist

The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
178 Calories
0g Fat
7g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 178
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 8mg 41%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 14mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Whiskey fans who like to mix it up with other ingredients can enjoy their favorite spirit in style with this blended whiskey cocktail with a hint of fruit. Like its whiskey 'martini' counterparts, the Manhattan and Algonquin, the fancy whiskey is a great way to display your favorite whiskey in an up drink. It's simple, but it's also versatile, with room for variations.

If you like, choose a Canadian whiskey for a smooth "fancy" or a Scotch for a smoky-tasting "fancy." If you don't fancy those options, imagine, if you will, bourbon instead. The range of bourbons that are available can provide you with endless opportunities to experiment with flavors that suit you. Once you find the whiskey that works for your taste buds, it's likely that you'll be hooked on this easy, elegant drink.

"The Fancy Whiskey cocktail was a well-known vehicle for gomme syrup, and a go-to after prohibition. The adjective “Fancy” was used to describe cocktails with orange liqueur and syrup, and the style of glass served in. This recipe wraps any whiskey chosen in subtle decadence without washing out the character of the brown spirit." —Sean Johnson

The Fancy Whiskey Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Fancy whiskey cocktail ingredients

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the whiskey, triple sec, sugar, and bitters. Fill with ice cubes.

    Whiskey, triple sec, sugar, and bitters in a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  3. Shake well.

    Shake the cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Strain the cocktail into a glass

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  5. Garnish with an orange or lemon twist. Serve and enjoy.

    Fancy Whiskey Cocktails in a glasses

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Variation

There's a variation on this recipe that you might find enjoyable. It uses a syrup for the sweetener instead of superfine sugar, and an orange-flavored liqueur. The premise is the same for both cocktails and you might find that one works better with a particular whiskey than the other. Try it, and see what you like best.

To make: Mix 2 ounces whiskey with 1/4 to 1/2 ounce gomme syrup or rich simple syrup, 2 dashes bitters, and 1/4 to 1/2 ounces orange-flavored liqueur. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

How Strong Are the Fancy Whiskey Cocktails?

Cocktails like the Fancy Whiskey that are made almost entirely of liquor may look fancy but they are often as strong as the average shot drink. This is no exception and the average Fancy Whiskey has an alcohol content of 30 percent ABV (60 proof). It's best to keep this in mind and pace yourself or this fancy drink could lead to a not-so-fancy morning.