Like lots of the most basic cocktails, the Manhattan is an easy drink composed of solely three elements. Whereas it has been made with the identical easy mix of rye whisky, vermouth, and bitters for over a century, the bottom recipe has been riffed lots of of occasions, with mixologists generally experimenting with the sort of vermouth and different occasions including new liquors fully. What’s much less frequent is altering the rye, the drink’s signature aspect, to make one thing utterly new.

The Rob Roy is the Manhattan variant you will have by no means heard of — that’s, except you’re a fan of Scotch whisky. Comparable in construct, the Rob Roy makes use of blended Scotch, vermouth, and bitters stirred right into a easy, layered drink. The distinction is palpable: Scotch whisky is a a lot stronger, smokier, and extra peaty spirit than spicy, simple rye. The result’s a drink that’s musky and a bit of smoky, with an earthiness that’s offset by candy vermouth and bitters. In our 3-ingredient Rob Roy recipe developed with Michelle McGlinn, the bitters used are Peychaud’s, a Creole mix with notes of anise. This easy cocktail is layered with taste and excellent for these searching for a novel variation to a basic Manhattan — or anybody who merely has some further Scotch readily available.

For this Rob Roy, you will solely want a blended Scotch whisky, a candy (pink, rouge, or rosso) vermouth, and Peychaud’s bitters. If you do not have Peychaud’s, Angostura bitters will work and can add a basic citrus taste.

Chill a stemmed glass by filling it with ice and chilly water. Put aside.

Fill a mixing glass with ice.

Add the Scotch whisky, vermouth, and bitters and stir gently till simply chilled, about 10 stirs.

Empty the cocktail glass, then pressure the cocktail into the chilled glass.

If desired, garnish with orange peel and a Luxardo cherry and serve.

Understanding which Scotch to make use of in a Rob Roy first begins with figuring out the distinction between blended and single malt whiskies. A single malt, which is mixed with malts all from one distillery, often has a extra distinct, sharp taste, and is usually higher saved for sipping on the rocks slightly than combined with different spirits that could be overpowered by it. Blended whiskies, that are blended from a number of sources of malts and infrequently even grains, have a softer, smoother taste that works effectively in cocktails. When purchasing for Scotch for a Rob Roy, first begin your search among the many blended whiskies.

Even with narrowing your selections to only blended whisky, there are nonetheless many choices to select from. A preferred, low-cost possibility is Johnnie Walker Black, favored amongst Scotch lovers for its distinct, smoky peated taste. Peat is a taste Scotch is understood for, and Johnnie Walker does effectively, however should you like much less peat, you would possibly wish to go for a smoother, extra vanilla-forward whisky like Monkey Shoulder, which ranks extremely amongst Scotch whiskies — even amongst single malts. With each, the vermouth and bitters will current otherwise, the vermouth changing into a stronger taste in opposition to the mellow Monkey Shoulder. When you’ve got a very attention-grabbing vermouth or a set of bitters you’d prefer to strive, we suggest utilizing a blended Scotch like Monkey Shoulder to raised spotlight these flavors.

Bitters are the salt and pepper of the cocktail world; they act as a seasoning, both bringing out the flavors of the cocktail or complementing them. An infused extract, a bottle of bitters affords a small taste that may form a cocktail in an enormous method. One model you will have heard of is Angostura, which is an orange-and-clove infused extract that provides spicy, citrusy notes to bourbon, rye, gin, and even rum cocktails. Peychaud’s, alternatively, is anise and cherry ahead, bringing a sweeter dimension to drinks.

Peychaud’s bitters are generally known as Creole bitters and are related to New Orleans, the place they’re produced. Utilized in drinks just like the Sazerac, the place the flavour of licorice is a primary element, Peychaud’s is an effective alternative if you wish to emphasize anise flavors or complement smoky ones. As a result of blended Scotch like Johnnie Walker will be peated with an oaky, smoky taste, Peychaud’s balances the that, providing a sweeter and extra rounded end with out overpowering the Scotch. If you do not have Peychaud’s or desire a spicier taste, swap for traditional Angostura as a substitute.