The 2-Ingredient Jack Daniel's Cocktail That's Creamy And Comforting

The Jack and Coke is the quintessential Jack Daniel's drink that arguably anyone who's ever stepped into a bar is familiar with. But if you're feeling more adventurous, there's another JD-based beverage worth a try, and not just because it has a cooler name. The Jack Knife is a delicious, simple combination of Baileys Irish Cream and — you guessed it — Jack Daniel's whiskey. It's super easy to make too, since literally all you need to do is add equal parts of each. Since cream can be a fairly forgiving ingredient, you won't make any whiskey cocktail mistakes if you opt for shaken over stirred or choose it served up in a stemmed glass versus in a rocks glass over ice; it's customizable to your preferences.

While some bottles of Jack Daniel's are definitely better than others in terms of quality, all you need for this cocktail is the original Old. No. 7. And, while the cocktail calls for Baileys, you can definitely use any Irish cream of your choice. You could theoretically use any Tennessee whiskey or blended whiskey of your choice too, but Jack Daniel's is in the name, after all. Besides, you don't want to change the flavors too much. Speaking of flavors, this one is a treat. It's not exactly a sessionable sipper since it's on the rich side, but the Irish cream's unique bouquet of cocoa, vanilla, and caramel flavors play nicely with the more woody side of these notes found in the Jack Daniel's.

Because the Jack Knife is such a simple cocktail (and some would hesitate to even call it a cocktail, since it only has two ingredients), you have a great foundation for adding other ingredients and fun twists. For example, if you wanted to lean into the Irish cream's dessert vibes, you could serve the drink poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you're a fan of sweet chocolate cocktails, you could also drizzle some chocolate sauce around the inside of the glass before adding your ice and boozy ingredients. Nutmeg and cocoa powder also make for great rim dustings. Garnishes can be anything from cherries or raspberries to actual pieces of chocolate.

Of course, if that sounds too sweet for you, you can always play up the whiskey's woody molasses and dark fruit undertones. Cinnamon can help with this, either as a rim or a cinnamon stick garnish. And while citrus juice would be too much at odds with the cream, thanks to its acidity, orange peel would add a touch of delicious contrast. If you're daring and maybe have some guests you want to impress, you could upgrade to a flaming, clove-studded orange twist for a warmer, spicier accoutrement (just be sure to practice first!). You can always try playing around with other types of Jack Daniel's, too; for an extra boozy bite, choose something from the 100-proof Bonded Series; meanwhile, flavored varieties like Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey or Fire (cinnamon), which are closer to liqueurs, would accentuate the Baileys' sweetness.