Because whisky’s neat but cocktails are better. By Jonathan White.

The first ever International Scotch Day is upon us and while we’re all for celebrating with a dram of the nation’s finest we think you can do better than a taking a nip, whichever way you take it – neat, with a splash of water or over ice. That’s why we’ve taken a look back through our archives for cocktails that give the water of life a new lease of life.

Behold, six of the best scotch concoctions to get you thinking or at least drinking in interesting ways about Scotland’s finest export – Sean Connery, salmon, The Proclaimers and President Donald Trump’s maw included.

By the way, if you like scotch then make sure to subscribe and get the next issue of DRiNK Magazine where Dave Broom will tell all on what’s going on with the category.

Coffee & Cigarettes
Thomas Waugh (of Death & Company) spices up a caffeine hit with smoky scotch and Mexican mole.

Coffee & Cigarettes
Jayce Kadyschuk takes Islay whisky all the way to Colombia in this cold-brew and chocolate concoction.

The Blue Bell Boy
Blended scotch comes home to roost in a cocktail that mixes things up with the addition of blue cheese ice cream – from the twisted mind of Yao Lu.

A Crocodile Dilemma
Yao Lu’s college philosophy class bares its teeth in a smoky, savoury Sazerac.

Third Night in Taipei
Aged single malts meet their match in barrel-aged cocktail sticks and go down in a blaze of glory courtesy of Aaron Feder. Bonus: you get Gaz Regan’s take on it.

#Bananadaiquiri? 
You could easily make a hash of a drink where fermented banana cordial takes on smoky Islay whisky. Instead, Zach Luther makes a hashtag of it.