Skip to main content

It’s World Whiskey Day—Need We Say More?

manual podcast beards booze bacon four bourbon month ftr
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The title really says it all. It’s World Whiskey Day, so we here at The Manual put together a list of the whiskies we’re drinking to celebrate the day. If you haven’t tried the spirits on this list yet, there is literally no better day than today to do so!

Austin ParkerWhistle Pig Rye Whiskey

Recommended Videos

I was introduced to it as a celebratory drink after climbing 11,900 Mt. Nebo in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains in the middle of winter earlier this year. It’s been my go to whiskey ever since.

Miles BranmanHigh West Double Rye

Brad BorqueAberlour A’bunadh

It’s a cask strength highland scotch with a huge, bold impact. Notes of sherry, raisins, and chocolate dominate the palette, with a creamy, heavy finish.

Ian SchwamTalisker

Drew PrindleDel Bac Dorado

Crazy single malt from Arizona that’s smoked over mesquite instead of peat. Gives it a wildly different but also distinctly familiar flavor that’s lovely on the rocks.

Also, Old Scout Single Barrel.

Fantastic cask-strength bourbon. A bit boozy for sipping neat or on the rocks, but the flavor profile is lovely for bourbon-based cocktails. 

RelatedWhiskey Wild: 3 Unique and Delicious Spirits

Katie DickensBerkshire Mountain Distillery Corn Whiskey

Christopher BlomquistMaker’s Mark.

It’s an always reliable basis for a delicious Manhattan on a chilly night. 

Elizabeth DahlWoodford Reserve Rye

I’ve only recently discovered ryes and this one is flavorful, spicy, maybe even best suited for fall and winter, but doesn’t set your throat of fire.

Sam Slaughter:  Royal Brackla 16

I love the sherry notes on this one, it’s perfect for sipping and celebrating.

Also: Templeton Rye

One of my go-to rye whiskies, this is a standard in my liquor cabinet for any rye-based cocktail I want to make.

And one more: Four Roses Single Barrel 

The finish is what gets me on this one. It lingers in the best way, leaving the light spice notes to play around long after you’ve sipped.

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
Firestone Walker teases new film on pro female surfer
A top surfer on highs, lows, and mental health
Surfer Lakey Peterson.

Firestone Walker has been dabbling in the filmmaking world as of late. The west coast brewery, via its sporty 805 Beer label, just dropped a trailer for an upcoming film it created. Titled Making Waves, the movie spotlights pro surfer Lakey Peterson and the ups and down of her remarkable career chasing waves.

A bit of a comeback story, the film touches on Peterson just missing out on the cut for the Olympic surfing team. Her inspiring resilience is on full display and currently, the seventh ranked surfer in the circuit. The Santa Barbara native, now 30, has been a pro since 2012.

Read more
A cocktail to toast the Houston Rodeo from Beyoncé’s whisky brand
Welcome the 2025 Houston Rodeo with this honey, ginger, and whisky drink
Texas Buckiin'

With the 2025 Houston Rodeo on the cards for next month, rodeo fans are getting ready -- and preparing cocktails too. One on-theme suggestion comes from SirDavis, the whisky brand founded by Houston native Beyoncé, which has created an easy to mix drink that's perfect for enjoying the spectacle.

Combining classic flavors of whisky, lemon juice, and honey, then adding a good splash of ginger beer for length and flavor turns this from something heavily boozy to more of a casual, easy sipper that's good for a relaxed drink without too high ABV. And if you make the honey syrup in advance, you can whip up one of these drinks or even a batch of them quickly and easily.

Read more
Pick your preferred Margarita: spicy, sharp, caffeinated, or classic
There's a Margarita to suit every palate
The Original Margarita

This weekend sees National Margarita Day, and if you fancy raising a glass to this beloved cocktail then you've got plenty of options. You'll find Margaritas in both frozen and non-frozen versions, and if you've only ever had a happy hour pre-batched frozen Margarita from a machine in a dive bar, then it's well worth trying the non-frozen version. With quality spirits and fresh citrus juice, the drink is clear, classy, and perfectly balanced.

As for ingredients, practically anything goes here too. While Margaritas might vary with the fruits, garnishes, and even spirits that they use, with mezcal being a popular alternative to tequila, one thing that almost all Margarita variations have in common is the use of triple sec.

Read more