The Flavored Whiskey You Should Be Mixing With Coke - Tasting Table

"Combining whiskey and Coke undeniably makes for one great cocktail. In fact, some people even prefer it over the more common rum and Coke. But if you fall into the category of reaching for whiskey and Coke, you'll want to know about ways to upgrade the drink to make it even more memorable. One way to make it better? Use vanilla-flavored whiskey, such as Jim Beam Vanilla, instead."

"There's a reason that Coca-Cola has a vanilla flavor option - the natural sweetness of the vanilla fits in perfectly with the saccharine nature of the soda. Since the vanilla is infused into the whiskey, you're guaranteed to have that sweet flavor without having to include a ton of Coke - in other words, you can make yourself a stronger drink that doesn't taste like the alcohol is overpowering the other flavors."

"Once you've discovered the brilliance of vanilla-flavored whiskey and Coke, you may be wondering if there are other drinks to mix with said whiskey - and the answer is a resounding yes. First of all, sticking with the Coke combination, you could swap out the classic Coke for Coca-Cola Cherry - cherry and vanilla is already a classic combo, which is only enriched by the flavor of whiskey."

Vanilla-flavored whiskey pairs naturally with Coca-Cola because vanilla's sweetness complements the soda's saccharine profile. Infusing vanilla into the whiskey delivers sweet flavor without needing large amounts of Coke, enabling a stronger cocktail that remains balanced and less alcohol-forward. Vanilla whiskey provides a smoother mouthfeel than mixing regular whiskey with Coca-Cola Vanilla. Alternatives include using Coca-Cola Cherry to enhance cherry-vanilla synergy, substituting seltzer or flavored seltzer for carbonation without extra sweetness, and replacing bourbon with vanilla whiskey in a peach whiskey smash to create a dessert-like cocktail.

Read at Tasting Table