Whether you’re looking to keep the flame alive with a long-term love or want to impress on a first date, a well-prepared whiskey cocktail is your one-way ticket to romance. There’s something about the timelessness of whiskey, blended with exotic and carefully-selected mixers and flavors, that hits right to the heart and gets your pulse going. Having a few classic and contemporary whiskey cocktails in your repertoire is a must for all budding Casanovas out there!

Here at BruMate, we understand the importance of the finer details and the impact that going the extra mile can make. That’s why we put so much care and attention into our range of beautiful and effective whiskey glasses and wine glasses - because we know that those extra little flourishes of style and distinction can make all the difference. This week, we’ve perfected seven whiskey cocktails that have a distinct air of romance about them and pack in the kinds of flavors that are sure to get you and your lucky partner in the mood for love!

The Black Ship

1 ½ ounces Japanese whiskey

1 ounce pomegranate juice

¼ ounce port

1 tsp lemon juice

Garnish: Lemon peel

Our Top Whisky Tip: Suntory Whisky 

Make no mistake, if you want to impress with your adventurous spirit and knowledge of the contemporary whiskey scene, then Japanese spirits are the bottles to reach for! This whiskey was inspired by Matthew Perry (no, not that Matthew Perry) - a 19th-century explorer and commodore who made his name sailing to Japan. This cocktail is traditionally served in a timeless martini glass, but we think it looks every bit as perfect in your BruMate cocktail or whiskey glass.

To make, simply add all of the ingredients to your trusty cocktail shaker with plenty of ice, give it a good mix, then strain and serve. It’s the ideal starter drink for a night of romance!

'Rol 'n' Rye Twist

1 ½ ounces Aperol

1 ½ ounces rye whiskey

Club soda to top

Garnish: Orange wheel

Our Top Whiskey Tip: Rittenhouse 

First dates can be difficult to navigate, but if you’re hosting a new love interest at your home, then this simple, quick, and highly impressive cocktail works great as a seductive ice breaker!

As you’ve probably worked out from the title, this cocktail is based upon a quality rye whiskey - the perfect spirit for providing that spicy and peppery finish. The great thing about this choice of cocktail for your date night is that it’s really quick and easy to prepare (ideal for a last-minute dash when you need to make a big impact!). All it takes is for you to prepare the ingredients, add the Aperol and whiskey to the glass, and top up with club soda before garnishing with an orange twist. The result? A cocktail that tastes and good as it looks and which shows off your charm and sophistication from the very first sip!

The Witty Retort

2 ounces rye whiskey

½ ounce Amaro Averna

½ fresh lemon juice

½ ounce ginger simple syrup

Garnish: Orange twist

Our Top Whisky Tip: Old Overholt

This cocktail doesn’t just have a fabulous name - it also looks and tastes amazing, and never fails to bring a spicy, zesty dimension to your date that both parties will love. Sure, it contains a couple of ingredients that you might not already have in your home bar setup… but when it comes to making a big impression, it’s always worth putting in the extra effort!

This cocktail is ideal for those who aren’t opposed to spicy flavors; the combination of rye whiskey and ginger syrup is always a winner, and this cocktail was invented to pay homage to a number of spicy classics by Dan Saltzstein of the New York Times. It’s made by shaking the ingredients together with lots of ice, then straining into your glass. The result is a delightfully spicy drink with a bitter flourish that cocktail fans are guaranteed to fall in love with. 

Bourbon Double Chocolate Egg Cream

3 tbsp chocolate syrup

½ cup chocolate milk, chilled

½ oz bourbon

½ tsp vanilla extract

1 cup sparkling water, chilled

Our Top Whiskey Tip: Buffalo Trace

Nothing gets eyelashes fluttering and hearts pumping quite like chocolate, and this decidedly grown-up chocolate cocktail is the perfect choice for date night!

The combination of milk and whiskey isn’t to everyone’s taste, but this is a cocktail that’s well worth trying, as it shows a mastery of balance and texture that really is hard to beat. We’d recommend mixing up the syrup, bourbon, milk, and vanilla first, and then slowly adding the sparkling water as you’re whisking. This will allow you to achieve the perfect foaming top layer. An absolute winner!

Apple Pie ‘n’ Whiskey 

1 ounce cinnamon whiskey

1 ounce vanilla vodka

4-ounce apple cider

Garnish: Cinnamon sticks

Our Top Whiskey Tip: Any Cinnamon Whiskey 

Romantic nights in usually hit their climax with dessert, and if you can combine the great flavors of a classic dessert with a delicious cocktail, you’re onto a winner. This simple little cocktail packs a delicious sweetness and spiciness that immediately tastes like a classy homemade apple pie. And, it’s so easy to make - just shake everything up for a few minutes and serve over ice. Drinkers with a sweet tooth might like to add a brown sugar rim to their cocktail for that extra flourish!

The Marriage of Figaro

To make the Fig Bourbon:

1 bottle of bourbon

¼ lb of figs

To make the Cocktail:

1 ounce of fig-infused bourbon

1 ounce bourbon

1 ounce Cardamaro

1 teaspoon allspice dram

Garnish: Lemon twist

Our Top Whiskey Tip: Four Roses

Greatness always arises from experimentation and thinking outside the box, and this is as true for romance as it is for mixology!

This cocktail really takes a bit of preparation and advance planning, but if you stick with it and put the effort in, the results are mind-blowing. It will take a week to prepare your delicious sticky fig-infused bourbon, but it’s an easy process - just decant your whiskey into a glass jar that can be tightly sealed, and drop in your figs before putting it away for seven days. Give it a stir every day or so to extract that delicious flavor. 

On your date night, be sure to strain your fig whiskey thoroughly through a muslin cotton cloth, then add your other ingredients to your mixer. Shake with ice, then pour carefully into your glass. It’s a taste sensation that never fails to make an impact, and you’ll be left with plenty of fig bourbon - and bourbon-infused figs - to experiment with when it comes to your whiskey innovations. Perfect!

The Ancient Orkney Chapel

2 ounces single malt scotch

¼ ounce Lustau Amontillado Sherry

¼ ounce sugar cane syrup

¼ ounce Grand Marnier

½ ounce Dolin dry vermouth

Our Top Whisky Tip: Lagavulin 

Scotch Single Malt purists would gasp in horror at the idea of mixing their favorite whiskey with anything other than a single ice cube. We respectfully disagree. In fact, many classic cocktails call for the inclusion of Scotland’s finest export. 

This cocktail definitely makes a strong case for including single malt in your recipes, and it’s a truly delicious and delightful little number that shows off your sophisticated side. It’s also very easy to make - just mix, stir, and strain the ingredients into your glass. 

That’s it: seven whiskey cocktails that are perfect for date night. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!