Best scotch whisky cocktails to drink in summer

Suns out, shaker out. It’s summer cocktail season! This year, swap your clear spirits for the sweet, spiced smoothness of scotch whisky. Our beloved golden liquid is the base for some of the best seasonal serves, and we’ve got a ton of scotch summer cocktails for you to try.

Whether you’re sipping poolside, hosting a garden party, getting the BBQ on or simply fancy a refreshing drink on a warm evening, we’ve got you covered. Here are the best summer cocktails.

Coco Breeze

Sail away this summer with the coconut flavours of our Coco Breeze cocktail. This tropical drink is reminiscent of palm lined seafronts and sandy shores, made extra fruity with The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve. Our smooth scotch whisky is part finished in barrels that previously held Caribbean rum for a serious tropical twist.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve	50 ml
Coconut Water	200 ml
Lime and Orange Peel (for Garnish)

METHOD

Pour ingredients over ice into a highball glass.
Stir and garnish with lime and orange twists.

Whisky Smash

A Whisky Smash is the ultimate whisky summer cocktail. The sublime mix of fresh lemon, mint leaves and smooth, spiced scotch is unbeatable. Stick to the OG Whisky Smash recipe or make up a variation of this classic cocktail. Swap lemons for pineapple in our Piña Colada inspired Pineapple Smash cocktail or double up on the mint with our tea infused Mint Smash.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve	60 ml
Lemon Juice	25 ml
Sugar Syrup	15 ml
Mint Leaves	8

METHOD

Add all ingredients (including Mint Leaves) to a cocktail shaker with Cubed Ice.
Shake.
Double Strain into Rocks Glass over Cubed Ice.
Garnish with a Sprig of Mint.
Serve.

Scotch Lime Smash

Bring on beach day, we’ve got a cocktail to suit. This simple yet summery scotch and lime drink is super easy to make, whisking you away to an exotic destination in minutes. It’s got coconut, lime, mint and sugar syrup, the perfect combination for The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve whisky.

the glenlivet caribbean reserve pineapple lime smash whisky cocktail

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve	60 ml
Lemon Juice	25 ml
Sugar Syrup	15 ml
Mint Leaves	8

METHOD

Add all ingredients (including Mint Leaves) to a cocktail shaker with Cubed Ice.
Shake.
Double Strain into Rocks Glass over Cubed Ice.
Garnish with a Sprig of Mint.
Serve.

Punch Fresco

Got the gang over? Hosting the summer BBQ? We’ve got your drinks covered. Meet Punch Fresco, a watermelon whisky cocktail that’ll please any crowd. The sweet, syrupy fruit blends wonderfully with The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve – garnish with a slice of watermelon for extra host points.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve	75 ml
Watermelon Chunks	4
Watermelon Juice (Alternative to Watermelon Chunks)	75 ml
Sugar Cane or Agave	1 tsp
Tajin (for Garnish)

METHOD

Muddle all ingredients.
Add ice.
Garnish with mint and watermelon slice.
Optional garnish: Rim of Tajin.

Tartan Tiki

If you love a Mai Tai, you’ll love a Tartan Tiki. This party fave is essentially a Mai Tai with whisky, making it extra smooth, extra sweet and extra summery. Add in pineapple juice, peach sparkling water and two dashes of bitters for a bit of bite, and voila! It’s a Caribbean inspired cocktail hour.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve	50 ml
Pineapple Juice	25 ml
Angostura Bitters	2 dashes
Peach Sparkling Water

METHOD

Build all ingredients over ice in a glass.
Top with peach sparkling water.

Japanese Summer

Heading east, this Japanese whisky cocktail is inspired by the summers of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Chilled loose leaf sencha tea makes the base, stirred with lime, red berries and fizz for an elegantly served drink. The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve adds zesty and creamy sweetness, bringing out the cocktail’s blossom and bergamot notes.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve	40 ml
Sencha and Red Berries Cold Brew Tea	35 ml
Lime Sherbet	10 ml
Soda Water	55 ml
Red Berries on Stem for Garnish

Loose Leaf Sencha and Red Berries Tea (for the Tea)	5 g

METHOD

Add fresh ice cubes to a highball or double walled glass.
Pour cold brew sencha and red berries tea, lime sherbet and The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve into the glass.
Top with soda water and stir lightly to incorporate the ingredients.
Garnish with red berries on stem.

Caribbean Fire

Make a drink that packs a punch with Caribbean Fire, a spicy whisky cocktail inspired by the scorching days of summer. Inspired by the classic Bloody Mary, we’ve added a smoking hot, tropical twist perfect for sipping under the sun.

the glenlivet the caribbean smoky whisky cocktail

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve	50 ml
Pineapple Juice	25 ml
Smokin’ Hot Pistols Hot Sauce	2 tsp
Lime Juice	15 ml
Agave Nectar	10 ml
Pink Grapefruit Soda (to top)

METHOD

Shake all ingredients (apart from the Pink Grapefruit Soda) and strain into a tall glass over Cubed Ice.
Top with Pink Grapefruit Soda and stir lightly.
Top with more ice if required and garnish with Pineapple Leaves, a Pineapple Wedge and a thin slice of Red Chilli.

Grain and Cane

Inspired by our friends in Speyside, this raspberry whisky cocktail is a true Scottish celebration. Use fresh berries from Scotland from a truly authentic taste, then shake with The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, sugar syrup, lemon juice and a dash of balsamic vinegar for acidity. The whisky and raspberry combo also happens to be the star Cranachan, Scotland’s most famous dessert.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve Whisky	50 ml
Fresh Raspberries	5
Lemon Juice	15 ml
White Balsamic Vinegar	5 ml
Simple Syrup	15 ml

METHOD

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain over crushed ice in a highball glass.
Garnish with fresh raspberries and a grind of black pepper.

Carnivale

If you like your drinks light and refreshing, then Carnivale may well be your perfect serve. The simple mix of whisky with coconut water and a dash of bitters makes for a soft, smooth highball that’s perfect for sipping all summer long. Got guests? Stir together enough for a few rounds in a pitcher or punch bowl.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve Whisky	50 ml
Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice	10 ml
Coconut Water	120 ml
Amargo Chuncho	1 dash(es)

METHOD

Add The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, fresh lime and coconut water to a highball glass half full of crushed ice and stir.
Fill the glass with crushed ice, taking care not to bring the level of the liquid up too high.
Dash with the Amargo Chuncho bitters.

Grapefruit Paloma

Love grapefruit? Good. You’ll be a fan of the Grapefruit Paloma. This take on a Mexican classic is a real crowd pleaser, packed with fruity flavours, zest and refreshing sweetness. Shake up grapefruit juice, fresh lime and sugar syrup with The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve to get summer ready.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz

Ingredients	Unit
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve	50 ml
Grapefruit Juice	45 ml
Lime Juice	10 ml
Sugar Syrup	15 ml

METHOD

Shake the Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, grapefruit juice, lime juice and sugar syrup together.
Strain into highball filled with ice and top with soda water.
Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

Peterhead Harbour

Take a break from basking in the rays and pour a Peterhead Harbour. Inspired by Japanese bars, this whisky melon cocktail is delicately flavoured and wonderfully fruity. No shakers needed here, this drink can be built in the glass for an even easier serve.