The Best Way to Make a Spiced Whiskey Sour at Home

April 3, 2025

Spice Up Your Whisky Sour: A Bold Twist Beer Lovers Can Appreciate

Let me set the scene. It's Saturday afternoon. The kids are happily distracted (for now), your backyard feels like a little slice of peace, and you're eyeing that bottle of neutral spirit with the itch to craft something special—something *yours.* You toss around a few ideas, then it hits you. What if a classic could have a cheeky kick? Meet your new go-to cocktail: the Spiced Whiskey Sour.

This isn’t just a casual mix-and-pour kind of story. It’s the perfect example of why DIY drink making goes beyond saving a trip to the bottle-o. It’s about having a hands-on part in every sip. And when done right? You’ll be the one bringing “the good stuff” to your next BBQ catch-up or Friday wind-down.

The Classic Whiskey Sour, Reimagined

First, credit where credit’s due. The traditional Whiskey Sour has held its ground as a no-nonsense cocktail for over a century. Tangy lemon. Smooth whisky. A touch of sugar. That’s it. Simple, tasty, and comforting. But if you’re like me, once you've nailed the basics, you crave a signature blend.

This is where the Still Spirits Spiced Whiskey Liqueur Essence steps into the limelight. This little bottle of Scottish magic transforms your neutral spirit into a full-bodied, spiced whisky liqueur with rich herbal and honey notes. And yes, it’s gluten-free for anyone watching their diet. Just mix with vodka, and you've got spirit with depth and warmth—ready for cocktails or corners by the fire.

Why Adding Spice Wins Big Points

If you’ve been brewing at home for a while, chances are you’ve already flirted with botanical infusions or played around with ingredients. This is the ultimate shortcut to that depth without needing to learn distillation from scratch. Here’s why the spiced twist is worth your time:

Richer Flavour: That underlying honey balances out the lemon beautifully. Like whisky’s version of adding cinnamon to your apple pie.
Flexibility: Whether served over ice, neat, or shaken into a cocktail, it stands strong without overpowering your blend.
Simplicity: No distiller’s license required. It’s made to work with what you already have—like that clean base vodka sitting patiently in your cupboard.

Candeece’s Spiced Whiskey Sour Recipe

Here's how I make it at home. Simple, satisfying, and dangerously repeatable (you’ve been warned):

60ml of your homemade spiced whisky (using Still Spirits Spiced Whiskey Liqueur Essence)
30ml fresh lemon juice
15ml sugar syrup (1 part white sugar, 1 part water, dissolved and cooled)
Ice cubes

Steps:

Add lemon juice, sugar syrup, and the spiced whisky to a shaker filled with ice.
Shake until chilled. You’ll hear it—that lovely muffled thudding. That’s how you know it’s working.
Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with fresh ice.
Optional but brilliant: top with a dash of bitters. Garnish with orange peel or a maraschino cherry for that “I mean business” finish.

Why It Hits the Right Notes for Homebrewers

You already have the eye for taste and craft—that balance between trial and triumph. Turning neutral spirits into show-stopping infusions isn’t far off from perfecting a lager or sour. It’s just a different brush on the same canvas. The Spiced Whiskey Liqueur Essence is a great example of the kind of product built with you in mind. Tailored for home use, easy to incorporate into your brewing toolkit, and satisfying from start to glass.

I like to think of this cocktail as the brewer’s answer to creativity after sunset. It hits that sweet spot between effort and ease. You’re using something you made. You’re personalising a drink. And when you hand it over with that proud smirk—you know the one—it comes with a story, too.

Bottle Your Signature, Not Just the Brew

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I just want my drinks to taste like mine,” this is how you get there. It’s playful, it’s layered, and it doesn’t need all the bells and whistles or an elaborate home bar. Just nestle this essence into your pantry and you’re ready whenever mood or mates call for something flavourful with a bit of clout.

And one extra tip? Label your spiced creation like you do your beer bottles. Date it. Write a name. Document those little tweaks. Before you know it, you’ll have a collection of cocktail creations that bring nearly as much bragging rights as your bottling bucket setup.

Cheers to handcrafted flavour, kitchen confidence, and the kind of cocktail that hugs you as warmly as your best fleece jumper.

Talk soon,

Candeece