Whiskey and Orange Juice

Whiskey and orange juice is a surprisingly delicious 2-ingredient cocktail that tastes bright and refreshing with no effort. Here’s the best ratio and a few ways to make it your own!

Got a bottle of OJ? Turns out, its sweet tart flavor makes it one of the most ideal cocktail mixers around. One of my favorite ways to turn it into a cocktail: whiskey and orange juice!

This 2 ingredient cocktail tastes like a legit drink, especially if you use my trick and step it up with a few shakes of cocktail bitters. The citrus notes compliment any type of whiskey perfectly, whether it’s bourbon, rye, or Irish whiskey!

How To Mix Whiskey and Orange Juice

Why mix whiskey and orange juice? Orange juice is a fantastic cocktail mixer because of its tart flavor and lightly sweet finish. Combine it with whiskey and the citrus notes are the perfect fit to bold whiskey. It’s subtly reminiscent of a classic Whiskey Sour (though this Whiskey Lemonade is an even closer 2-ingredient version!).

This drink is similar to a Whiskey Screwdriver, but it has less OJ than the standard, to make it more like a cocktail. You’ll use a ratio of 3:2. Here’s how we like to mix whiskey and orange juice:

Mix 3 parts orange juice with 2 parts whiskey.
Add a few dashes cocktail bitters.
Stir together in a glass with ice. Garnish and serve!

More great whiskey mixers? Go to What to Mix with Whiskey.

Best Whiskey To Use

One of the best things about this drink is how it works with really any type of whiskey you have on hand. Here’s a quick guide:

Bourbon makes the drink slightly sweeter and rounder. It’s the most crowd-pleasing option.
Rye whiskey gives the drink spicier notes. (See my Quick Guide to Rye Whiskey for bottle recommendations.)
Irish whiskey makes the smoothest version: it’s great for people who are newer to whiskey. Jameson is the most popular brand.
Canadian whisky also works here, like Crown Royal. It has spicier notes and notes of vanilla and brown sugar.

Why Cocktail Bitters Are Worth It

Cocktail bitters are perfect to pair with whiskey and orange juice. In fact, we love even shaking a few dashes into soda water and calling it a mocktail. They’re not required, but here’s why we like to use them here:

Cocktail bitters add herbal intrigue to each sip. They’re made with dozens of herbs, fruits, seeds and other botanicals, so they add a delicious nuance to the flavor.
It makes it a makeshift orange Old Fashioned. Whiskey is famously paired with cocktail bitters in the Old Fashioned, so it’s a nice nod to that classic drink.

Step It Up With Clear Ice

The Whiskey and Orange Juice is a laid-back drink you can make in 2 minutes, so you might not be trying to make a statement with styling. But to make it fancy, use clear ice!

Clear ice is crystal clear instead of cloudy like ice from a tray. You can cut it into large cubes that are perfect for lowball drinks. Go to How to Make Clear Ice, or try a clear ice maker.

A Whiskey + OJ Variation: The Ward 8

Another cocktail that uses whiskey and orange juice is the Ward 8, a classic cocktail invented in 1898 that pairs rye whiskey with orange juice. Add sweet orange juice and bright red grenadine for sweetness and color, and it’s a super balanced and intriguing drink! While it uses rye whiskey, you can use any type of whiskey you like.

More Orange Juice Cocktails to Try

Orange juice is one of our top cocktail mixers: especially for 2 ingredient vodka drinks and tequila drinks! Try these tasty orange juice cocktail recipes:

Try Tequila Sunrise or Tequila and Orange Juice
Make a Classic Screwdriver, or it’s zany cousin the Harvey Wallbanger
Mix it with peach schnapps for a Fuzzy Navel
Grab rum for Rum and Orange Juice or Brass Monkey
Grab cranberry and vodka for a Madras
Mix it with Campari for a Garibaldi