Best Substitutes for Whisky

Out of Whisky? Here are the best alternatives that work in cocktail recipes.

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Original Ingredient

Whisky

Other 40.00% ABV Warm, malty nose with caramel, dried fruit, oak, and subtle grain. Palate is smooth with baking spice, honey, and spirit warmth. Medium, warming finish with gentle complexity and heat.

Recommended Substitutes

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Scotch

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Blended Scotch

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Irish Whiskey

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Whiskey

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

General Substitution Tips

  • Match the alcohol level: a 40% spirit needs a similarly strong replacement or adjust volume.
  • For liqueurs, dilute spirits + simple syrup can replicate sweetness and proof.
  • Citrus substitutions: lemon and lime are mostly interchangeable at a 1:1 ratio.
  • For bitters, Angostura is the most neutral substitute for most other aromatic bitters.