Turmeric And Whiskey: A Combination That Blends Beautifully
Image Credit: Freepik

This bright orange spice is commonly used in Indian and Asian cooking. It has an earthy, slightly bitter flavour that pairs so nicely with the sweetness of whisky and other spirits. The health benefits of turmeric are impressive too - it's loaded with antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.   

Some popular turmeric cocktail recipes combine it with whiskey or bourbon, citrus juice, honey or maple syrup, and ginger. Turmeric also blends beautifully into tropical cocktails with pineapple juice, coconut milk, or rum. Or keep it simple with just turmeric, honey, and soda water for a zero-proof option. 

Turmeric Syrup 

Making turmeric syrup is super easy!  

Ingredients: 

  1. 1/2 cup water 
  2. 1/2 cup sugar 
  3. 1 teaspoon ground fresh turmeric.  

Method: 

  1. Put the water, sugar, and turmeric in a saucepan. Heat it up over low heat. Keep stirring until the sugar melts.  
  2. Let it simmer for 5 more minutes. Then take it off the heat.  
  3. When it cools down, strain out any chunks of turmeric.  
  4. Pour the syrup into a closed container. It will keep for 1 month at room temperature. Or keep it in the fridge for up to 6 months. 

Go on and try for yourself. Just remember to start small with the turmeric until you get the flavour balance right. Your taste buds will thank you! 

Turmeric Whiskey Sour 

Ingredients: 

  1. 3/4 cup whiskey 
  2. 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice 
  3. 1/2 cup fresh lime juice 
  4. 1/2 cup turmeric syrup 
  5. Cherries for garnish 
  6. Rosemary for garnish 

Method: 

  1. Mix the whiskey, lemon juice, lime juice, and turmeric syrup together in a glass.  
  2. Stir it up. Put some ice cubes in a cocktail shaker.  
  3. Pour the drink mixture into the shaker until it's about 2/3 full. Shake it for 30 seconds.  
  4. Pour into glasses with ice. Add a cherry or some rosemary on top to make it look fancy! Drink up and enjoy this refreshing cocktail!  

Image credit: Freepik

Golden Turmeric Old Fashioned 

Ingredients: 

  1. 60 ml of your favourite whisky 
  2. 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder 
  3. 1 sugar cube 
  4. 2-3 drops of bitters 
  5. Orange peel for decoration 
  6. Ice cubes  

Method: 

  1. Put the sugar cube in a glass. Add a few drops of water and mash it up.  
  2. Next, sprinkle in the turmeric and mix it with sugary water. Now pour 60 ml of whisky into the glass. 
  3. Drop in some ice cubes. Stir it all up for 30 seconds until it's well mixed. 
  4. Pour your cocktail through a strainer into another glass with one big ice cube.  
  5. Add 2-3 drops of bitters on top. Twist up a piece of orange peel to decorate your drink. 

Image credit: Freepik

Ginger Turmeric Pot Of Gold 

Ingredients: 

  1. 45 ml The Whistler Double Oaked Irish Whiskey 
  2. 22 ml The Whistler Irish Honey Whiskey 
  3. 15 ml ginger turmeric simple syrup 
  4. 22 ml lemon juice 
  5. 1 egg white 
  6. Edible gold flakes (for garnish) 

Method: 

  1. First, add everything except the ice. Shake vigorously until frothy and foamy - this "dry shake" is the secret to a smooth, silky texture.  
  2. Then fill your shaker with ice and shake again until thoroughly chilled.  
  3. Finally, gently strain your wintry elixir over fresh ice into a glass.  
  4. Top with glittering edible gold for a festive gilded glow. Sip and savour the velvety flavours.  

Golden Hot Toddy  

Ingredients: 

  1. 60 ml of your favourite whisky 
  2. 200 ml of hot water 
  3. 1 tablespoon of honey 
  4. 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder 
  5. 1 cinnamon stick 
  6. 3 cloves 
  7. 1 lemon slice 

Image credit: Freepik

Method: 

  1. Pour the whisky and hot water into a mug. Add the honey and turmeric powder too. Stir it up until the honey dissolves.  
  2. Drop in the cinnamon stick and cloves. Let them hang out for a few minutes to release their flavours. 
  3. Fish out the cinnamon and cloves - their work is done!  
  4. Add a fun lemon slice on the rim.  
  5. Give it one final stir and it's ready to sip! The whisky, honey, and spices come together for a warm, cozy drink. 

Turmeric Twist 

Let's make a fun drink! The honey and lemon brighten up the whiskey, and the bubbly rose wine makes this cocktail extra festive. 

Ingredients: 

  1. 1.5 parts The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old whiskey 
  2. 3/4-part turmeric honey syrup 
  3. 3/4-part fresh lemon juice 
  4. 2 parts Mumm Napa Brut Rose sparkling wine 

Image credit: Freepik

Method: 

  1. Put the whiskey, honey syrup, and lemon juice into a shaker. Shake it up to mix everything together. 
  2. Next, pour the mixture through a strainer into a wine glass filled with ice cubes. This gets rid of any bits of ice or fruit. 
  3. Carefully pour the sparkling wine over the back of a spoon so it gently floats on top of the drink. This creates a pretty pink layer on top.  

Also read: Boozy Winter: Classic Whisky Cocktails You Can’t Miss

A Boy Named Sue 

Ingredients:

  1. 30 ml Johnnie Walker Black Label blended scotch 
  2. 15 ml the Black Grouse blended scotch 
  3. 15 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice 
  4. 22.5 ml turmeric simple syrup 
  5. 1 egg white
  6. 7.5 ml heavy cream
  7. 90 ml soda water
  8. Sumac powder to garnish.

Method: 

  1. Put all the ingredients except the soda water into a shaker. Shake it hard without ice. This mixes the flavours. 
  2. Now add ice and shake it again. Keep shaking until it gets very cold. 
  3. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a tall glass filled with fresh ice cubes. This strains out any pieces of ice or fruit. 
  4. Top it off with some bubbly soda water. The bubbles make it extra refreshing. 
  5. Sprinkle a little sumac powder on top. This adds a nice fruity taste.