Burns night is upon us! 25th of January is the birthday of Scotland’s own ‘Shakespeare’: Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns. This ‘Scottish bard’ was responsible for many books and poems including Auld Lang Syne. He is celebrated every year on this date, usually by eating Haggis with neeps and tatties and drinking Scotch whisky in some form, while his words are read out before the meal to ‘address the Haggis’. Here are three great Scotch whisky cocktails to try on Burns night 2022.
The Rob Roy
Rob Roy (full name Robert MacGregor ) was an infamous, red-headed, Highland outlaw with a reputation as the Scottish Robin Hood. His fame was fanned by Sir Walter Scott’s novel Rob Roy in 1818 and in the poems of William Wordsworth. This cocktail exists however because it was dreamed up at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan by a barman to celebrate the opening of the Rob Roy operetta in 1984.
Ingredients
50ml Scotch Whisky (I’m using Glen Marnoch Highland Single Malt - £16.99 from Aldi)
30ml Sweet Vermouth
Dash Angostura bitters
Method
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir and strain into a coup glass.Garnish with an orange twist or maraschino cherry.
Smoky Whisky Sour
For this whisky sour, it can only be Scotch whisky from the Island of Islay, just west of mainland Scotland where the peat used to dry the barley imparts that classic, smoky, peaty flavour. Ardbeg is set right by the water and prides itself on its quirky range of peaty whiskies named after myths and legends a lot of the time! If you’re a bit put off by using egg white, you can simply leave it out. It’s there to add a silky, creamy texture.
Ingredients
50ml Islay Scotch Whisky (I’m using Ardbeg 10 year old)
25ml Fresh Lemon Juice
15ml Simple Syrup
1 Egg white (optional)
Bitters for colour
Orange or lemon peel for garnish
Method
Add the Scotch, lemon juice and egg white if you are using it into a shaker with ice and shake for around 30 seconds. Strain and pour into a rocks glass over ice. If you have foam, add a dash of bitters for colour. Mix the sugar and lemon very evenly for the best effect.
World of Zing Leather and Walnut Manhattan
World of Zing were allegedly the pioneers of bottled cocktails, founded and crafted by Pritesh Moody from Sunday Brunch. A Manhattan is traditionally whisky, with sweet vermouth and bitters like the Rob Roy above. Rye whiskey is more usually used but it works particularly well with blended Scotch whisky too, such as the Johnnie Walker here. This handcrafted blend features Johnnie Walker Black Label, Rosso Vermouth, Walnut Bitters, Walnut Liqueur and Tannic Tincture. ABV: 28% Look out for their Easter ones too! Hot Cross Bun-Hattan and Chocolate Orange Negroni
Find it for £15 from www.worldofzing.com, RRP from £15.00