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11 whisky picnic drink ideas to step up your picnic cocktail game

Whether you’re heading to a picnic, hosting a garden party, or simply looking for a reason to open a new bottle of your favourite scotch – be sure to try these easy picnic drinks that will wow your guests through warm summer days and long evenings.

Spend less time in the bar and more time enjoying the fun with these simple to make but seriously delicious whisky picnic cocktails and mixes. There are summer drinks ideas to please the whole party, from fruity sippers to fizzy highballs.

Our hot tip: stock up on fresh garnishes to really impress your guests! Even better, pick them from your very own cocktail herb garden.

Whisky Smash

The whisky smash is as classic and refreshing as a picnic cocktail can be. Mixing fresh lemon and mint with sugar and scotch, it’s deliciously smooth and summery.  Add your twist on this classic recipe with our shortlist of the best whisky smash variations.

the-glenlivet-scotch-whisky-smash-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

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

Mint Julep

Mix up a batch of this minty cocktail and your friends will be eternally grateful. The whisky julep is a simple yet satisfying drink made with, you guessed it, a handful of muddled fresh mint. Add berries, citrus fruit or ginger for extra flavour.

the glenlivet captains reserve captains quarter whisky julep

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve
60 ml
Fresh Red Apple Juice
30 ml
Green Cardamom Syrup
15 ml
Poire William
7.5 ml
Mint for Garnish
Cardamom pods for Garnish

METHOD

  1. Build and churn in a julep tin.
  2. Garnish with mint sprigs and cardamom pods.

Punch Fresco

Where there’s a picnic, there’s punch! Give your guests something to talk about with this help yourself watermelon whisky cocktail. The sweet watermelon and agave muddle wonderfully with our slightly tropical scotch, The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve. Serve it punch style in a drinks dispenser or get creative with a carved watermelon bowl.

the glenlivet caribbean reserve punch fresco whisky cocktail

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

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

Carnivale

Summer days call for summer flavours. And if your picnic coincides with a heatwave, you’ll want this recipe to hand. Get tropical with this scotch and coconut water cocktail. Perfect for cooling off in the shade and beachy picnics.

the glenlivet carnivale whisky cocktail

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

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

METHOD

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

Full Scottish

If you’re going full on British picnic then you’ll need a drink to match. Meet our whisky marmalade cocktail, a drink Paddington Bear would be proud of. It’s sweet, sour and seriously delicious. The ultimate drink to sip with a sandwich.

the glenlivet 15 year old full scottish marmalade whisky cocktail

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old
50 ml
Lemon Juice
20 ml
White Port or Ruby Port
15 ml
Simple Syrup
5 ml
Orange Marmalade
15 ml

METHOD

  1. Place all ingredients (including the marmalade) in a cocktail shaker and shake hard.
  2. Strain into a whisky tumbler filled with cubed ice.
  3. Garnish with thin strips of orange zest similar to the ones found in marmalade.

French 75

Got something to celebrate? Picnics can be as casual or dressy as you please. And this cocktails for the latter. Pour a round of whisky French 75s into your best glasses for a fabulous garden party. The scotch and champagne mix is perfect for toasting to friendship, occasions or simply just because!

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
35 ml
Lemon Juice
15 ml
Honey Water
15 ml
Champagne
80 ml
Lemon Twist

METHOD

  1. Pour The Glenlivet 12, lemon juice and honey water into a chilled flute.
  2. Top with champagne, stir and garnish with a lemon twist.

Elderflower Collins

This elderflower highball is a must-have picnic drink. Bursting with bubbles and a light, floral flavour, it’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Make sure to bring enough for top ups – we’re willing to bet it’ll be in high demand.

Elderflower Collins The Glenlivet

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet Founders Reserve
50 ml
Elderflower Cordial
10 ml
Lemon Juice
5 ml
Soda
Top up with

METHOD

  1. Build in glass.
  2. Garnish with cucumber ribbon.

Grain and Cane

Summer picnics aren’t complete without some rich, red berries. We’re serving ours in the form of our raspberry whisky cocktail, the Grain and Cane. Made with fresh fruits, lemon and a touch of vinegar to balance out the sweetness, this Scottish inspired drink is a must for any sunshine filled soirees.

the glenlivet founders reserve grain and cane whisky cocktails

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

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

METHOD

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

Grapefruit Paloma

Take a walk on the sour side with this grapefruit whisky cocktail. The Grapefruit Paloma is citrus lovers dream, made with fresh juice, lime and smooth sweet scotch to balance out the bitterness.

the glenlivet grapefruit paloma whisky cocktail

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

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

Scotch and Soda

You can’t go wrong with this simple combo. Scotch and soda drink might only have two ingredients but it’s a picnic cocktail that is quick to make and great to drink. Pour, sip and relax!

the glenlivet founder's reserve scotch and soda cocktail

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet Founders Reserve
150 ml
Soda
150 ml
Lemon Peel

METHOD

  1. Fill your glass full with ice.
  2. Add whisky and top with soda.
  3. Garnish with lemon wheel.

Get more inspiration with our collection of whisky cocktails. Here you’ll find more recipes using The Glenlivet including our favourite 2 ingredient whisky drinks as well as guides to hosting an outdoor garden party