Most whiskey fans prefer to drink their liquor or choice straight, or at least in the form of simple cocktails like the Old Fashioned. No need for bells and whistles with whiskey—if you like the flavor, you want to savor it.

That’s not to say that there aren’t a whole host of fantastic whiskey cocktails out there. You might just have to look a little harder. In fact, chances are you’ve had one or two of them. Whiskey comes in a bit under the radar with a morning creation of its own (the famous Irish Coffee), as well as the Mint Julep, well known for its longstanding association with the Kentucky Derby.

Whiskey drinks are a real opportunity to show off your creative side. No matter which cocktail you’re making, that prominent whiskey flavor is going to be the focal point around which all other flavors revolve. You can’t mask it, and if you’re a whiskey lover, you don’t want to. Whiskey cocktails are all about accentuating the flavors that are already there, and, as you’ll see in the following pages, that can be done in a variety of different ways.