Celebrating Scotland’s Whisky Festivals with a Perfect Cocktail Lineup!
May is the month when Scotland’s whisky festivals are in full swing! So far, I’ve enjoyed the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, Stirling Whisky Festival, Campbeltown Whisky Festival, and Feis Ile, which wraps up this weekend. But there’s plenty more to come, including Whisky Fringe Edinburgh, Edinburgh Whisky Festival, Dornoch Whisky Festival, and Glasgow Whisky Festival, along with a host of smaller, hidden-gem events in between.
Scotland is the home of whisky, so to celebrate these incredible festivals, I’ve chosen my top three whiskies to craft the perfect lineup of my favourite whisky cocktails:
Speyburn Whisky (Speyside) – Smooth, elegant, and rich with honeyed malt flavours
Glen Scotia (Campbeltown) – Bold and complex, with deep maritime influences
Ardbeg Wee Beastie – Bold, heavily peated and intense smoky character.
Each of these Scottish whiskies brings something unique to the table—perfect for mixing up bold, flavourful cocktails for the Summer.
A Speyburn Colada
Speyburn Rum Cask Finish is packed with buttery pastry and peach leading to tropical fruits, soft caramel, delicate cinnamon and fresh vanilla. Add this Rum Cask to your cocktail and you’ll elevate you Pina Colada to something more complex and irresistibly smooth.
INGREDIENTS
- Speyburn Rum Cask
- 100ml Pineapple Juice
- 50ml coconut cream
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 10ml honey
- Ice
- Pineapple slice and a cherry for garnish
METHOD
- Add whisky, pineapple juice, coconut cream, lime juice, and honey into a blender.
- Toss in a handful of ice and blend until smooth & frothy.
- Pour into a chilled glass and garnish with pineapple slice & cherry.
- Sip & enjoy the tropical whisky twist!
A Glen Scotia Double Old Fashioned
Glen Scotia Double Cask is packed with fruit, vanilla caramel, and a hint of salinity of the nose. There’s plenty of caramel, icing sugar, some oil and herbaceous notes on the palate that finish with sherry tones and a gentle spice. This whisky brings out the best qualities of an Old Fashioned, making each sip more rich whilst staying true to the cocktail’s classic roots.
INGREDIENTS
- 50 ml Glen Scotia Double Cask
- 10ml simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes of orange Bitters or a splash of PX sherry
- Ice
- Orange peel & maraschino cherry for garnish
METHOD
- Muddle the sugar cube, bitters, and a splash of water in a rocks glass until dissolved.
- Add ice and pour in the whisky.
- Stir gently for about 30 seconds to chill and combine flavours.
- Express the oils from an orange peel over the glass and drop it in for garnish.
- Sip & enjoy the smooth, balanced beauty of an Old Fashioned!
Ardbeg Wee Beastie Penicillin
A monster of a whisky and this one’s all about the smoky peatiness but there’s plenty of flavour packed in. You’ll pick up candied orange, salted caramel, orange, black pepper, liquorice and plenty of smoke. With its peat-forward character, sweet citrus contrast, and spiced depth, Ardbeg Wee Beastie elevates the Penicillin cocktail, turning it into a smoky, sophisticated masterpiece.
INGREDIENTS
- 60ml Ardbeg Wee Beastie
- 20ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml honey
- Ice
- Fresh ginger slice for garnish
METHOD
- Add 50ml whisky, lemon juice, and honey into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Pour the remainder of the whisky on top by pouring gently over the back of a spoon.
- Garnish with a slice of fresh ginger.
- Sip and enjoy the sweet, smoky, and spicy perfection!
No matter which cocktail you go for, serve it up in your favourite glass—whether you’re mixing for yourself, friends, or family. Don’t forget the garnish and a touch of flair—after all, whisky is meant to be enjoyed, not just sipped and of course never boring!
Slainte!
Adele Conn “TartanSpoon”