It’s true that many people (especially purists) like to drink their whiskey neat. But it’s also true that this isn’t really the only way to enjoy the Johnnie Walker Red Label. That’s because it was actually meant for mixed drinks in the first place. Besides, Red Label is eminently affordable—you really don’t want to use your Blue Label for cocktails.
Now that this issue has been settled—we will use the Red Label for cocktails—the next issue is deciding how to mix it. That’s where the fun begins, because the truth is that there are lots of options! So get your highball and tall glasses ready, and invest in a jigger, and let’s begin.
JWRL with Ginger Ale
This one is basic, so much so that some Red Label promo packages already include the ginger ale.
- Get a highball glass and fill it with ice.
- Put in about 50 ml of Red Label.
- Add about 150 ml of ginger ale and stir.
- Garnish the drink with a wedge of lime.
JWRL with Soda
Whiskey and soda is also a well-known drink, and with Red Label it’s excellent.
- Get a tall glass and fill it with ice.
- Pour in 50 ml of Red Label.
- Add 125 ml of soda water and stir.
- Garnish with 2 wedges of orange, or a wedge of lime.
JWRL with Cola
Another classic is whiskey and cola, and the taste is sublime when you use Red instead of some generically cheap whiskey.
- Get a highball glass and fill it with ice.
- Pour in about 50 ml of Red Label.
- Now add about 125 ml of cola and stir.
- Garnish it with a wedge of lime.
JWRL with Green Tea
Is whiskey healthy? With green tea, it’s probably healthier! Also, the delicate tannins in the green tea can really highlight the rich peaty flavor of the JWRL. It’s not very common, so it’s often a delightful surprise.
- Get a highball glass and fill it with ice.
- Put in just 25 ml of Red Label and stir it a bit.
- Add 100 ml of green tea.
- Garnish the drink with a wedge of lemon.
Whiskey Ginger
Another whiskey and ginger drink? Well, this one is different, as it’s got just a bit of lime juice to make it more interesting.
- Get a highball glass and fill it with ice.
- Put in 25 ml of Red Label.
- Add about 100 ml of ginger ale.
- Then finish off with 10 ml of lime juice, and stir.
- Garnish it with a wedge of lime.
Red Label and Ginger plus Cranberry Juice
If you haven’t had this before, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how well the sharp fruitiness of cranberry juice mixes with the familiar whiskey and ginger ale mix. This is easier to make because you just use equal amounts of each element.
- Get a tall glass and fill it with ice.
- Put in 50 ml of Red Label.
- Add 50 ml of ginger ale.
- Put in 50 ml of cranberry juice, and stir a bit.
- Garnish the drink with a wedge of lime.
Red Label and OJ
It’s a wonder why this isn’t more popular, as it’s really easy to make. The citrus tang of the orange juice can really accentuate the delicate fruity hints in the Red Label.
- Get a tall glass and fill it with ice.
- Put in 50 ml of Red Label.
- Add 125 ml of orange juice and stir.
- Garnish the drink with a twist or a slice of orange.
Red Label with Jasmine Tea
The two flavors perfectly balance one another, with the base jasmine bringing out the peaty complexity of the whiskey.
- Get a highball glass and fill it with ice.
- Put in 50 ml of Red Label and stir.
- Top it off with 100 ml of jasmine tea.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Red Label Whiskey Sour
Younger adults may have heard old-timers ask for whiskey sour in a bar, but what is it? Well, it does need a fair number of ingredients, but the resulting taste explains why it’s a classic.
- This time, get a shaker and fill it with ice.
- Put in 50 ml of Red Label
- Add 25 ml of lemon juice.
- Put in 17.5 ml of sugar syrup.
- Add a dash of angostura bitters.
- Put in 1 egg white.
- Shake the entire mix very well with the shaker, until the shaker feels cold.
- Use a cocktail strainer and strain the mix into a short glass.
- Garnish the drink with a lemon wedge.
These are just some of the more well-known examples, but who says you can’t experiment on your own? What recipes have you discovered for yourself? Experimenting with Johnnie Walker Red Label is certainly fun!
