![]() ![]() The “Pink Lady” in the background of this picture is a cookie jar my grandfather gave my grandmother not long after they were married. My grandparents were married on Janu– 25 days after Pearl Harbor was attacked – they would have been married 76 years this month. Being married to a bourbon lover I don’t tend to drink much scotch, but I rather liked the taste of this drink – it was just the right level of sweetness (which isn’t too sweet for me). Ed used Dewar’s scotch as the base for this cocktail. The drink is similar to a Manhattan but instead of bourbon it contains scotch. It was around the time that blended scotch (or scotch whiskey) was being introduced to the United States. Add a dash of Angostura bitters or orange bitters (to accompany the orange peel) and you have a lovely classic drink.Īs for the history of the Rob Roy, it’s named for a Broadway show and was introduced in the 1890s at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City. They also prefer a lemon (traditional) or orange peel (my dad’s addition) as garnish and are vehemently opposed to adding a Maraschino cherry (many recipes call for this). My grandfather (and now father) had a strong preference for an Italian sweet vermouth and a French dry vermouth. ![]() What makes it “perfect?” Equal amounts of both sweet and dry vermouth. Stir with a long metal spoon, at least 20 turns, until the glass is very cold to the touch. Despite this being a family favorite I’d never tried it. Fill a tall glass or cocktail shaker with ice, the Scotch, vermouth and bitters. Recently Ed reached out to my dad to get the family recipe so he could make it for Sunday night cocktails. My dad used to make one for my grandmother (she lived for another 37 years) and he still makes one for himself. One thing that I learned as I grew older was that his drink of choice was a Perfect Rob Roy. My memories of him are sparse – him sitting in his big leather chair, stealing my nose (isn’t that what all grandfathers do?) and getting stuck in a small motorboat off the coast of the Florida Keys. ![]() Garnish with the brandied cherry.My paternal grandfather, Pierre T, died when I was five. Method: Stir all ingredients over ice, then strain into a chilled glass. 2 oz Balvenie Doublewood 12-Year Scotch Whisky.Even better, the drink is further aromatized via bitters and treated to the ultimate garnish in the brandied cherry. Here, a fine Scotch meshes with the fig and herb notes of a classic vermouth. The juice from a single lemon twist, often used as a garnish for the style, is typically enough, but trust your palate and adjust accordingly. A little lemon is recommended, especially when preparing a dry version of the drink. As you make one (or a large format batch) at home, remember to stir with ice as well as pour into a pre-chilled glass, for maximum coolness. ![]() In today’s cocktail culture, lighter - even if only marginally so - is often better.Ĭhilling is pretty important with a drink like this, too, as it tempers the Scotch some. Try a lower-proof Scotch or 1.5 ounces of Scotch instead of the traditional 2 to bring it into the modern era. And while the cocktail enjoyed a bit more popularity then, it’s evolved a bit since and remains a staple drink. The Rob Roy’s only downfall may be its ties to the half-drunk, day-sipping era of the mid-20th century. Try a lighter whisky, like the one in the classic recipe below or a more delicate option, like a lot of what’s coming out of Japan at the moment. Remember that we’re playing off of the botanical, wine-like nature of vermouth, not burying it. We love a peaty Islay but the smokiness can fully sabotage a Rob Roy. Speaking of Scotch, a balanced blended option is best here. Certainly play around with small-batch vermouths from your favorite producers, but if you’re looking for reliable, seek out something like Carpano Antica or Cocchi di Torino. With the vermouth playing a rather large role, having to stand up to Scotch without another spirit to cut into it, it’s critical to go with a well-made option. The standard Rob Roy is the sweet version, made with sweet vermouth. How to perfect the Penicillin cocktail, according to an expert Like a Manhattan, the Rob Roy can be made sweet, dry, or perfect. Patrick’s Day drinks: Check out these fantastic cocktail recipes How to make Ranch Water the right way for a day-drinking gem ![]()
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