The Hands-Down Best Juice To Mix With Peanut Butter Whiskey

Maybe you have already learned how to order scotch and other whiskies like a pro, but the art of mixing drinks at home is something else entirely. You need to understand the flavor profile of the alcoholic base of a cocktail in order to pick a good mixer and flavorings, while also having a sense of how it should be served, considering elements such as glassware and the type of ice. That being said, mixing a drink doesn't always have to be serious, nor does it have to be complicated. If you want a fun whiskey drink that your party guests likely haven't tried before, skip the super-fancy stuff and go for a pour of peanut butter whiskey.

This category of flavored whiskey adds a splash of nostalgia to any cocktail, creating a drink that is grown-up, but recalls childhood snacks. Popular brands include Skrewball and Sheep Dog. If you're not sure how to make a drink with this unusual ingredient, one of the most clever ways to use it is also one of the easiest. Create a cocktail based on a tried and true combination: peanut butter and jelly. To add a fruity component to the whiskey, your best bet is cranberry juice, which adds tartness to balance out the sweetness of the peanut butter flavor. You barely need any other ingredients to create this unusually delicious cocktail.

Peanut butter whiskey is usually made by infusing peanut butter flavoring into a classic barley and corn whiskey, resulting in a drink with an intensely nutty aroma, a creamy mouthfeel, and a peanut butter taste that verges on the sweet side, with notes of caramel. The bright and boldly acidic flavor of cranberry juice cuts through the candy-like characteristics of the whiskey. For a quick, easy, and delicious drink, all you need to do is add a splash of cranberry juice to your usual pour of whiskey, then serve it by using a few easy tips that make the cocktail even better.

Whether or not you normally prefer your whiskey neat, you'll probably want to try this drink on the rocks. The sweetness of the peanut butter whiskey can come off as syrupy at room temperature, so for something a little more refreshing, chill your glasses in advance and throw a large cube of ice into each one. Since the zesty flavor of oranges pairs perfectly with both cranberry and peanut butter, a twist of an orange peel makes for an ideal garnish to fancy things up just a bit.

Once you have your peanut butter whiskey and cranberry juice cocktail ready to go, try serving it with equally playful and nostalgic snacks to really impress your guests with little extra effort. Since this cocktail has both sweet and savory notes, you can match salty bites like pretzels and potato chips with sweet treats, such as homemade peanut butter cups with bourbon or just a simple selection of cookies. Or, stick to the original inspiration and make miniature peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to accompany your drinks.

After you've tried peanut butter whiskey with juice, there are plenty of other cocktail combinations to try that will also satisfy a PB&J craving. While cranberry juice is ideal, you can experiment with other fruit juices, like tart cherry juice. For an international spin, pour in some of the French raspberry liqueur Chambord, which is almost like a boozy version of raspberry jam. You can even make a peanut butter and jelly old-fashioned by shaking the whiskey and Chambord with simple syrup and ice and garnishing with a maraschino cherry.