Trying to win someone over who doesn’t like whiskey. Drop your best cocktails that make whiskey drinkable (and maybe even likable).
Smash-style cocktails with mint and fruit help a lot. I make a peach bourbon smash in the summer that wins people over every time.
Penicillin all the way. The ginger and honey mellow it out and the smoky float makes it feel grown-up without being harsh.
Try a Boulevardier. It’s like a Negroni but with bourbon instead of gin. Still bitter and balanced, but less burny.
Honestly just start with a highball. Whiskey + soda + lemon. Crisp and simple. A good bourbon makes all the difference.
Whiskey Sours are my go-to conversion drink. Use lemon juice, simple syrup, and a good bourbon like Woodford Reserve.
If they like coffee, Irish Coffee is a sleeper move. Add brown sugar and whipped cream and it’s basically dessert.
Old Fashioneds can work IF you tweak them. Try less whiskey, more orange bitters, and a big-ass ice cube.
Don’t sleep on a whiskey mule. Ginger beer hides the harshness, and a splash of lime ties it together.
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Let’s be real, some people just hate whiskey. In that case I switch to rum or reposado tequila and call it a win.