Still Spirits nailed it — if you love whisky and hate fluff, this one’s for you.

September 8, 2025

How to Make a Spiced Whiskey Sour That Tastes Like It Came Straight Outta the Highlands

A warming winter classic meets shed-side precision, no bartending degree required

There’s something quietly powerful about handing a mate a drink you made yourself — one that kicks with the fire of whisky but smooths out with spice and sweetness. This isn’t your pub-standard pour or a premix wrapped in plastic. This is bold, balanced, and brewed in your own backyard. And with a good Still Spirits Spiced Whiskey Liqueur Essence at your side, you don’t need decades of distilling experience to make it shine.

The payoff? A spiced whiskey sour so rich and nostalgic it might just eclipse your store-bought favourites.

The Shortcut That Doesn’t Feel Like One

The hero of our story: Still Spirits Spiced Whiskey Liqueur Essence. It's a Scottish-inspired mix that blends deep whisky warmth with delicate honey and herbal notes. You simply add it to a neutral base spirit (like vodka), and suddenly you’ve got the backbone for a next-level whiskey sour — no still required.

This essence is gluten-free, full-bodied, and incredibly easy to use. You’re not cutting corners — you’re cutting through the noise. No fancy bitters to source, no weeks of infusion, no bulk-bottle compromise. Just authentic depth with none of the fuss.

Building Your Drink: The Spiced Whiskey Sour

The Ingredients

45ml Spiced Whiskey Liqueur (prepared with Still Spirits Spiced Whiskey Essence)
30ml fresh lemon juice
10ml sugar syrup
1 egg white (optional, for texture)
Ice cubes
Fresh nutmeg or cinnamon for garnish

The Method

Combine your spiced whiskey liqueur, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and (if you’re game) egg white in a shaker. Dry shake (no ice) for 15 seconds to froth everything up.
Add ice and shake again, hard, until the shaker feels frosty — around 20 seconds.
Strain into a chilled rocks glass over fresh ice or serve up in a coupe if you prefer it neat.
Sprinkle a touch of grated nutmeg or a cinnamon stick on top, then sit back and have a sip. That’s the sort of richness that hangs around.

How It Hits (and Why You’ll Make It Again)

“At first sip, it’s warm and punchy — then the spice and honey notes mellow it out. It’s one of those drinks that feels a bit nostalgic and a bit adventurous all at once.” — Candeece, Homebrew Lead at Strathalbyn H Hardware

The beauty of a spiced whiskey sour lies in the contrast. You've got acidity versus sweetness, spirit versus softness. It’s winter in a glass, but in a way that feels sessionable — not sleepy.

And thanks to essence-backed spirits, you're not spending hours waiting for infusions or tweaks to kick in. You’re enjoying your evening, not babysitting brew time.

Customise It Like a Seasoned Shed-Tender

If you're the kind who likes to tinker, here are a few ways to tailor it to your taste:

Smoked Sea Salt Rim: Add a salty, smoky edge to cut through the sweetness.
Swap citrus: Use blood orange or finger lime instead of lemon for unique tartness.
Chilli twist: Slice a fresh red chilli into your syrup for a little kick at the end.
Add barrel character: Finish with a few drops of oak extract or steep your mixture with oak chips overnight.

All of these work beautifully with the foundation built by Still Spirits Spiced Whiskey Liqueur Essence, which is designed to stand up to experimentation.

Other Gear That Makes Life Easier

If you’re regularly making your own spirits or liqueurs, pairing the right tools with your flavourings saves time and boosts flavour clarity. Here’s what we rate for the job:

Spirit filters: For cleaner, smoother vodka bases before adding your liqueur essences.
Measuring beakers and shot glasses: For precision mixing—yes, 5ml can matter.
Flavouring pouches & glass bottles: Store your batched liqueur properly. Glass holds taste better and adds polish to your gifting game.
Heat pads or belts: For a consistent temp if you're running a fermentation setup under colder sheds.

If you’re local, pop in and we’ll line you up with exactly what works for your setup. No fluff, no pressure — just tools that get the job done well.

The Real Win: Pride in the Pour

It’s not just about what ends up in the glass. It’s about that quiet grin when your mate sips it and says, “Wait — you made this?”

You didn’t just make a drink. You made a moment. One that tastes like nights on the verandah, good conversation, and something worth doing again. That’s what keeps us brewing, blending, making — not the brag, but the buzz of doing it right.

So next time the weather turns or the crew’s coming over, give this a go. You won’t miss the bottled stuff. And odds are, they’ll be asking when you’re making another batch.

Catch you in the shed,
— Candeece