Whiskey and Orange Juice

Whiskey and orange juice are an ideal pairing! This 2-ingredient cocktail is a casual and refreshing way to make a whiskey drink.

Do you have a bottle of JO? It turns out that its sweet and tangy taste makes it one of the most ideal cocktail mixers. One of our favorite ways to turn this into a cocktail: whiskey and orange juice! This 2-ingredient cocktail tastes like a real drink, especially when you spice it up with some bitter cocktail shakes. The citrus notes perfectly complement any type of whisky, whether bourbon, rye or Irish whiskey.

Why mix whiskey and orange juice?

Why mix whiskey and orange juice? Orange juice is a fantastic cocktail mix due to its tangy flavor and slightly sweet finish. Pair it with whiskey and the citrus notes are perfect for a powerful whisky. It’s subtly reminiscent of a classic whiskey sour (although this whiskey soda is an even closer 2-ingredient version!).

This drink is similar to a whiskey screwdriver but with less orange juice than the norm to make it a cocktail. They use a 3:2 ratio. This is how we like to mix whiskey and orange juice:

• Mix 3 parts orange juice with 2 parts whiskey.
• Add a few dashes of bitters cocktail.
• Mix in a glass with ice. Garnish and serve!

More great whiskey mixers? Go to What to Mix with Whisky.

Bitter cocktails are optional but recommended

Bitter cocktails go perfectly with whiskey and orange juice. In fact, we even love to put a few drops in sparkling water and call it a mocktail. They’re not required, but we like to use them here:

• Bitter cocktails add herbal intrigue to every sip! They’re made from dozens of herbs, fruits, seeds, and other botanicals, so they add a delicious nuance to the flavor.
• That makes it an improvised Old Fashioned Orange. Whiskey is associated with bitter cocktails at the Old Fashioned, so it’s a nice nod to this classic drink.

Clear ice is a statement

Whiskey and Orange Juice is a casual drink that you can make in 2 minutes, so you might not be trying to make a style statement. But to make it fancier, use clear ice! Clear ice is clear and not cloudy like ice on a tray. You can cut it into large cubes, which are great for lowball drinks. Here are two ways to do this:

• Do it yourself with a small cooler. Go to How to make transparent ice.
• Use a clear ice machine! We tried this transparent ice maker and it works well: it’s also smaller and easier to put in a freezer.

Whiskey Orange Juice Variation: the Ward 8!

Another whiskey and orange juice cocktail? District 8! Ward 8 is a classic cocktail, invented in 1898, combining rye whiskey with orange juice. Add sweet orange juice and bright red grenadine for added sweetness and color, and it’s a super balanced and intriguing drink! Although rye whiskey is used, you can use any style of whiskey you like. Head over to this Ward 8 cocktail recipe.

More orange juice cocktails

Orange juice is one of our best cocktail mixers: especially for 2-ingredient vodka drinks and tequila drinks! Try these delicious orange juice cocktail recipes: