How to Make the Best Whiskey and Coke

Here’s how to make the best whiskey and Coke! Use any type of whiskey (or bourbon) for the ultimate easy cocktail.

The whiskey and Coke has to be the easiest whiskey cocktail, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting. This variation on the popular rum and Coke might even be better than the original.

The notes of vanilla and oak in the whiskey give the right amount of nuance and spicy finish to the sweet, caramelly cola, and it takes just 2 minutes to pour into a glass.

There are a few tricks to getting it perfect, though. Here’s how to make the very best whiskey and Coke, a cocktail that tastes greater than the sum of its parts.

A little history

The whiskey and Coke is a variation on the rum and Coke, which is itself a variation on the Cuba Libre. This easy highball cocktail of rum, cola, and lime was born in Cuba in the early 1900s, but versions of it started to appear in the U.S. by about 1907.

At that time, it was most common to see it as a Jack and Coke (with Jack Daniel’s) or a bourbon and Coke with whatever bourbon was available.

Sure, you can make a whiskey or bourbon and Coke by pouring together whatever quantities you’d like of whiskey and cola, but for the best version of this drink, I have a few tips.

Getting your ratios right

My top tip for making the best whiskey and Coke is to use the right ratio! Often, restaurants mix up a version of this drink that’s too heavy on the Coke. Use the right ratio to get just the right flavor combination. Here it is:

• 2 ounces whiskey or bourbon to 4 ounces cola =
• 1 part whiskey to 2 parts cola

The easiest cocktails are those that have the ingredients right in the name, and this one does not disappoint! Some of the most iconic cocktails are just two ingredients, like the vodka cranberry and the gin and tonic. The bourbon and Coke blend the best of whiskey and cola to perfectly complement each other.

Add citrus!

Most recipes for this one don’t call for lemon or lime, but I find that drinks with cola benefit from some citrus! The acidity from the lemon cuts through the sweetness of the cola.

Squeeze in the juice from the lemon before you add it to the drink, and it makes the flavor much more interesting. You can also use lime for a similar effect, which makes it similar to the Cuba Libre.

Choosing your whiskey

The great thing about a whiskey and Coke is that you can use literally any whiskey or bourbon. Coca-Cola has such a strong flavor that it easily overpowers the alcohol.

Of course, my top cocktail rule for all 200+ of my cocktail recipes is this: the better the alcohol, the better the drink!

To make a truly great whiskey and Coke, here are a few types of whiskey and bourbons I’d recommend:

• Bulleit Bourbon
• Crown Royal (Canadian whisky)
• Dewars Scotch Whisky
• Makers Mark

Add clear ice for visual appeal

If you really want to go all out, here’s what to do: make clear ice! Clear ice is artisan-style ice that’s crystal clear instead of cloudy, like normal ice. It makes your drink look like you got it at a fancy bar! You can cut the clear ice into large blocks or fancy organic shapes.

It’s easy to make clear ice at home. All you need is a small cooler and 24 hours.

Cocktail variations

There are so many ways to mix up an easy cocktail with cola! If you’re a sucker for this easy combination, here are a few more ideas to add to your arsenal. You can use the same whiskey and Coke ratio from above, unless noted. Here they are:

• Rum for rum and Coke
• Jack Daniels for Jack and Coke
• Red wine for a Kalimotxo (Use equal parts wine and Coke.)
• Gin for gin and Coke
• Tequila for tequila and Coke
• Vodka for vodka and Coke
• Crown Royal for Crown and Coke
• Hennessy for Hennessy and Coke (use 1.5 ounces Hennessy to 4 ounces Coke)

Want more great whiskey mixers? Go to What to Mix with Whiskey.

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More whiskey drinks

There are so many great whiskey drinks and bourbon cocktails to try! Here are some of my favorites:

• Classic Mint Julep
• Classic Old Fashioned
• Paper Plane Cocktail
• Whiskey Smash
• Whiskey Sour