Peanut Butter Whiskey: Brands, Recipes & Cocktail Ideas

Peanut butter whiskey is a delightful, dessert-like spirit that works beautifully on its own and in a wide range of cocktails. Below you’ll find an easy method to make homemade peanut butter whiskey using the fat-washing technique, plus several cocktail ideas to showcase it. If you prefer a ready-made bottle, many commercial options exist — popular examples include Ole Smoky, Skrewball, Sheep Dog and others — and they work well in the same recipes.

This article describes the simple fat-washing method to infuse peanut butter flavor into whiskey. The result is a rich, nutty spirit that mixes into cocktails or can be enjoyed neat over ice.

Why this recipe works

The fat-washing process extracts the aromatic, fatty flavor compounds from real peanut butter and transfers them into the alcohol while removing the solids and excess oil. The finished peanut butter whiskey carries a pronounced peanut aroma and flavor without the gritty solids. This homemade approach is flexible: you can increase sweetness or adjust the intensity by altering the peanut butter type or adding a small amount of sugar.

Once you understand fat washing, it becomes a versatile technique for adding subtle savory or nutty notes to other spirits, from bacon- or butter-washed bourbon to olive-oil–washed gin.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whiskey or bourbon: Use a bottle you enjoy drinking; the base spirit will influence final character.
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened, unsalted natural peanut butter: This yields the purest peanut butter flavor. Use a sweetened peanut butter or add 1–2 tablespoons granulated sugar if you prefer a sweeter finish.
• Optional: 1–2 tablespoons white granulated sugar, if you want a sweeter, more liqueur-like result.

Instructions to make peanut butter whiskey

1. Thoroughly stir the natural peanut butter so the oil and solids are fully incorporated.
2. Pour 1 cup of whiskey into a clean bowl.
3. Scoop the peanut butter into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for about 30 seconds to loosen the oil and release aroma.
4. Combine the warmed peanut butter with the whiskey and stir vigorously until mixed. If using sugar, dissolve it into the mixture now.
5. The liquid will appear cloudy. Cover and let the mixture sit at room temperature for about 4 hours so solids begin to separate.
6. After settling, most peanut butter solids will sink to the bottom. Place a nut milk bag, fine cheesecloth or several layers of coffee filter over a clean bowl and pour the mixture through to strain out the bulk of solids.
7. Gently squeeze the nut milk bag to extract additional liquid, taking care to leave most solids behind.
8. Cover the strained liquid and freeze it overnight. Freezing causes the remaining fat to solidify and separate from the spirit.
9. Remove from the freezer and skim off the solidified fat from the top with a slotted spoon. There may still be a cloudy appearance—repeat straining through the nut milk bag or cheesecloth and refreeze if needed.
10. Continue skimming and straining until the whiskey is clear and free of visible fat or solids. Store the finished peanut butter whiskey in the refrigerator and use within a few weeks for best flavor.

Peanut butter whiskey drinks

Homemade peanut butter whiskey shines in creamy, chocolate-forward cocktails and dessert-style drinks. Below are a few easy recipes and serving ideas to get you started.

Peanut Butter Cup Cocktail

• 2 oz peanut butter whiskey
• 1.5 oz chocolate liqueur (for example, Godiva)
• 0.5 oz half-and-half or cream
• Shake with ice, strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a chocolate rim and a peanut butter cup.

Peanut Butter Whiskey Milkshake

• 4 oz peanut butter whiskey
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 3 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 3–4 ice cubes
• Blend until smooth. Drizzle chocolate syrup and garnish with a peanut butter cup or chocolate shavings.

Peanut Butter Whiskey Shot

• 2 oz peanut butter whiskey
• Shake over ice and strain into a shot glass. Garnish the rim with chocolate syrup and serve with a peanut butter cup.

Peanut Butter Jelly Shot

• 1 oz peanut butter whiskey
• 0.5 oz raspberry liqueur (such as Chambord)
• Shake with ice and serve in a chilled shot glass for a peanut-butter-and-jelly flavor profile.

Best peanut butter whiskey

Many brands now offer peanut butter–flavored whiskey. Personal favorites mentioned by enthusiasts include Ole Smoky and Sheep Dog, and other brands like Skrewball, SQRRL, Hard Truth Distillery, Rams Point, Revel Stoke and Bird Dog are also commonly found. If you’re curious, try a small bottle from a few producers to compare flavor, sweetness and proof.

About fat washing

Fat washing is the method of infusing a spirit with the aroma and flavor of an oily ingredient, then removing the fat by chilling and skimming off solidified oil. It’s a creative bartending technique used to make bacon-washed bourbon, butter-washed rum and many other flavored spirits, and it’s exactly the approach used here to create peanut butter whiskey using real peanut butter.

FAQ and tips

• Is there real peanut butter in commercial peanut butter whiskeys? Commercial recipes are proprietary, but many companies reproduce a peanut butter flavor profile through natural flavoring or infusion. This guide shows how to make a version using real peanut butter.
• What proof are peanut butter whiskeys? Proof varies by brand; many are around 70 proof (35% ABV), though some are stronger or weaker.
• Can you freeze peanut butter whiskey? Straight whiskey will not fully freeze because of its alcohol content, but chilling or partial slush freezing is possible. During fat washing you freeze the mixture to solidify and separate fat, not to freeze the spirit solid.
• How long does homemade peanut butter whiskey last? Store it refrigerated and use within a few weeks for the best flavor. There is no strict expiration, but clarity and aroma are best sooner rather than later.
• Expert tip: Use a fine nut milk bag or several layers of cheesecloth for best filtration. Be patient with straining and skimming — multiple cycles produce a clearer, cleaner-tasting final product.

Looking for other cocktails?

• Smoked Old Fashioned
• Godiva Chocolate Martini
• Espresso Martini with Baileys
• Baileys Cocktail

If you try this peanut butter whiskey, experiment with proportions and sweetness to find the balance you enjoy. It’s a fun, flavorful project that opens a lot of possibilities for creative cocktails and dessert-style drinks.