Whisky liqueur is the sweeter, smoother and more charismatic cousin of whisky. The best whisky liqueurs deliver a variety of delicious flavours such as honey, vanilla and fruits for those that enjoy the sweeter things in life.
Whether in a cocktail, shot or a sipper.. if you usually find neat whisky too strong, smoky or spicy, the smoother and sweeter profile of whiskey liqueur may become your new go-to tipple.
Best Whisky Liqueurs
The best whisky liqueurs blend whisky with various ingredients such as honey, vanilla and fruits to ensure each has its unique flavour profile.
1. Old Pulteney Stroma Whisky Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: Old Pulteney
- ABV: 35% (70 Proof)
- Country: Scotland
- Colour: Dark Copper
Review
The Pulteney Distillery opened in 1829 on the northern shores of Scotland in the small maritime town of Wick. Being a maritime town, the distillery uses this to its advantage by letting its whisky breathe in the sea air!
Old Pulteney Stroma Whisky Liqueur is made with a blend of their awarded Malt whiskies and a variety of lighter malts. The whisky is sweetened with distilled sugar syrup.
On The Nose
Aromas of toffee, caramel and subtle hints of rich dried fruit.
On The Palate
Spicy and sweet whisky flavours on the palate with a smooth dark caramel bite on the finish.
Best Served
Old Pulteney Stroma Whisky Liqueur is best served neat over ice and will also certainly liven up an old-fashioned.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. Drambuie Honeyed Whisky Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: Drambuie
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Scotland
- Colour: Dark Gold
Review
Created for Bonnie Prince Charlie in the mid-18th century, Drambuie is among the oldest whisky liqueur brands in Scotland, with their exact recipe being closely guarded.
Sweet heather honey, fragrant herbs, and various spices create the spicy sweetness in Drambuie Honeyed Whisky liqueur. This is added to a blend of the finest aged Scotch whiskies from the Isle of Skye.
On The Nose
Aromas of whisky-soaked dried fruits and sweet honey tones.
On The Palate
Sweet caramelised orange spice upfront, with rich honey and dried fruits emerging mid-palate. A smooth malted whisky finish with a touch of vanilla and honey throughout.
Best Served
Drambuie Whisky Liqueur is best served neat with ice or as an additional flavoursome ingredient to create a Drambuie Espresso Martini.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Wild Turkey American Honey
Overview
- Distiller: Wild Turkey
- ABV: 35.5% (70.1 Proof)
- Country: USA
- Colour: Golden Amber
Review
Master Distiller Jimmy Russell wanted to create a smooth liqueur with a modern twist, and Wild Turkey American Honey resulted. This golden liqueur is soft and sweet yet maintains a unique rye boldness.
Wild Turkey American Honey is made with traditional rye whiskey blended with pure honey and spices to create a delightful, sweet, smooth whiskey liqueur.
On The Nose
Rich honey with a hint of mint and spicy rye on the nose.
On The Palate
A sweet floral honey opening, becoming spicier mid-palate. Oak and Bourbon break through nicely for a tasty honeyed-whisky finish.
Best Served
Wild Turkey American Honey is best served chilled, over ice, or in an American Honey Storm cocktail.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey
Overview
- Distiller: Jack Daniel’s
- ABV: 35% (70 Proof)
- Country: USA
- Colour: Light Gold
Review
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey was created in 2011 and was the distilleries first flavoured whiskey. The success of the Tennessee Honey liqueur is said to have inspired a whole new generation of Jack Daniels drinkers.
Jack Daniels first crafts an in-house spiced honey liqueur. The honey spice liqueur is masterfully blended with a generous amount of their famous Old No:7 Tennessee whiskey and a touch more honey.
On The Nose
Honeyed vanilla and caramel aromas with delightful hints of orange and oak.
On The Palate
Honey-soaked peach/apricot flavours that become slightly spicier mid-palate. The finish reveals vanilla and more honey that’s deliciously smooth and sweet.
Best Served
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey is best served neat on the rocks with a mint garnish. Add Tennessee Honey to an Old Fashioned for a sweeter version of that classic whiskey cocktail.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: Fireball Whisky
- ABV: 33% (66 Proof)
- Country: Canada
- Colour: Amber
Review
The original story of Fireball whisky is that a bartender added cinnamon to Canadian whisky to warm up from an arctic blast that had hit the region.
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Liqueur is made with Canadian whisky flavoured with spicy cinnamon. The liqueur is sweetened with pure cane sugar equivalent to 0.38 oz per shot.
On The Nose
Strong cinnamon, burnt sugar and rich whisky essence.
On The Palate
Cinnamon and sweet vanilla on the opening, hints of pepper and nice cinnamon burn mid-palate. The finish reveals dark sugar and spice with a nice kick.
Best Served
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Liqueur is best served as a shot or on the rocks. Add Fireball Cinnamon to a Washington Apple Cocktail for a spicy refresher.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. Shanky’s Whip Black Irish Whiskey Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: Shanky and Sherman
- ABV: 33% (66 Proof)
- Country: Ireland
- Colour: Dark Amber
Review
Shanky’s Whip Black Irish Whiskey Liqueur is created by Shanky and Sherman in Cavan County in Ireland.
The story has it that Mr Shanky did not enjoy the burn of Irish whiskey or the texture of Irish Whiskey Cream, but he loved stout. So, he combined them, and Shanky’s Whip Black Irish Whiskey Liqueur was born.
Creamy caramel is added to aged Irish pot-stilled whiskey to turn it into Black Irish Whiskey. Vanilla and Irish spirits are blended perfectly with the Black Irish Whiskey to create Shanky’s Whip Black Irish Whiskey Liqueur.
On The Nose
Creamy sweet vanilla butter on the nose with a delightful spicy essence.
On The Palate
Creamy toffee syrup and soft Irish whiskey on the palate with plenty of smooth vanilla throughout.
Best Served
Shanky’s Whip Black Irish Whiskey Liqueur is ideal to be served with cola. Alternately drop a shot of Shanky’s whip into a glass of Guinness Stout for a Short and Stout.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. Glayva Scotch Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: Glayva
- ABV: 35% (70 Proof)
- Country: Scotland
- Colour: Deep Amber
Review
Ronald Morrison, a local wine merchant, created Glayva on the Port Leith docks in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1947. Morrison wanted to reward his loyal customers with a liqueur that could warm them in the cold winter weather.
Glayva Scotch Liqueur is a selection of the finest aged Scottish malt whiskies carefully infused with cinnamon, honey, and delicious Mediterranean tangerines.
On the Nose
Smooth honey and cinnamon on the nose with slight citrus zest and mild spice.
On The Palate
Sweet honey and zesty tangerine on the opening with a cinnamon-spiced mid-palate. The finish is smooth, with a cheeky Scotch whisky kick.
Best Served
Enjoy Glayva Scotch Liqueur neat, on the rocks with a slice of orange.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Ingrid’s Top Pick
Drambuie Honeyed Whisky Liqueur
Due to its smooth whisky tones soothed by heather honey, dried fruits and aromatic cooking spices, my top pick is Drambuie Honeyed Whisky Liqueur.
Enjoy neat over ice, or in any whisky-based cocktail when the honey will add some welcome sweetness.
Whisky Liqueur Q&A
What Is A Whisky Liqueur?
A whisky liqueur is a spirit made with whisky (whiskey) as a base spirit and then flavoured with sugar-based syrup or vegetable sugar and other ingredients such as honey, vanilla, fruits and sweet spices.
Difference Between Whisky And Whisky Liqueur?
Whisky is made by distilling grains or malt in a still, and water is added to the spirit to lower the alcohol content to an appropriate ABV. Whisky liqueur uses this whisky as its base spirit and introduces sweeter ingredients such as honey, vanilla, fruits and sweet spices.
Conclusion
The best whisky liqueurs all use whisky as their foundation, but each has its own combination of soothing ingredients to ensure a softer and sweeter interpretation of neat whisky.
Also Read: 6 Best Glenmorangie Whiskies Cask-Aged To Perfection
I found that whisky liqueur is a smoother take on whisky and can be enjoyed on its own, as a shot, or add it to your favourite cocktail for a sweet kick. Don’t forget to check out my article on How To Correctly Taste Whisky!
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
