The Rob Roy

For my first foray into spirits to keep you in the holiday spirit I have a classic for you, the Rob Roy. This Scottish cousin of the Manhattan is here in proxy as the Manhattan has already been covered not once, but twice. The Rob Roy has a deeper flavor than the Manhattan due to the peaty, earthy flavor of scotch, and in fact tastes very different depending on the type and region of the scotch used. I encourage you to experiment excessively to see whether you prefer a blend or single malt.

One would think that a scotch-based cocktail would originate in Scotland, but the Scots would not defile their water of life by mixing it with anything. This drink originated in Manhattan coincidentally, at the Waldorf hotel in 1894. The drink is named after the Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the same name. He was also known as the Scottish Robin Hood.

This drink is simple to make and will appeal to scotch drinkers and Manhattan drinkers alike. I prefer a different ratio from the Manhattan for the Rob Roy though, otherwise the flavor of the scotch overpowers the vermouth. Start with an ice filled shaker and add two ounces of blended scotch, I like Johnnie Walker Red. Add an equal amount of sweet vermouth. Then a dash or two of Peychaud bitters, I think it melds better with the scotch. Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with three cherries and serve.

Rob Roy

2 oz blended scotch

2 oz sweet vermouth

2 dashes peychaud bitters

Combine all ingredients in an ice filled shaker.  Strain into an ice-cold cocktail glass.  Garnish with three cherries.

Blood and Sand

Scotch to me is a very interesting spirit, as popular as it is by itself or with a simple mixer like water or soda, I rarely see many people drinking it in a cocktail. Perhaps this is due to it being so complex and flavorful on its own.

Named after the silent 1922 bullfighting film staring Rudolf Valentino, the drink dates back to the 1930s and possibly even earlier. A glance at the ingredient list will turn many people off of this drink, but I assure you it is worth trying. It is as strange as it is delicious.

In an ice filled shaker, add ¾ ounce each blended scotch such as Dewar's (save the single malt for sipping neat), Cherry Herring, sweet vermouth, and fresh squeezed orange juice (blood oranges seem appropriate, but not required). Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. I also really like this drink with bourbon instead of the scotch; it is slightly reminiscent of a Manhattan.

Blood and Sand

¾ oz scotch whisky

¾ oz cherry herring

¾ oz sweet vermouth

¾ oz orange juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Whisk(e)y Season

The calendars have turned to September, temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing and football is underway, all signs point to whisk(e)y season. That wonderful seven-month season where the bottles of gin and rum start gathering dust and the Manhattan becomes my go to drink. It is also the season where all manner of whisk(e)y drinks call to me. There is a great deal of confusion surrounding this family of spirits, and rightly so, even a seasoned imbiber like myself has to carry a cheat sheet in my wallet.

Coincidentally, I am often asked about the difference between whisky and whiskey, and why it means different things to different people depending where you are. Entire books have been written on the subject and they are well worth reading, consider this the Cliffs Notes version, suitable for sounding more intelligent than your booze hound buddies, but not sufficient to carry on an in depth conversation.

Loosely, whisky or whiskey is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used including barley, rye, wheat, and corn. The word derives from the Gaelic uisge beatha, pronounced ooshky-bay, meaning water of life. It eventually morphed into uiskie and later whiskie.

To totally bastardize the bard, to “e” or not to “e” is the question facing most of us today. The usage of the letter that was conveniently left off all of our report cards, really has little rhyme or reason. Whiskey, typically refers to American and Irish flavors. Whisky, is generally used for Scotch, Canadian and Japanese varietals. A couple of exceptions are Maker’s Mark and George Dickel which have chosen the shorter whisky, perhaps to save space on their labels or a copy writing error that has been overlooked for decades.

To make matters even more confusing, within the US there are multiple variations as well. We have rye, bourbon and Tennessee whiskey. Bourbon is made primarily from corn. Rye is made from mostly rye (go figure). Tennessee whiskey is basically bourbon that goes through a different filtration process. There are further variations within this theme, but this is enough detail at this point.

I will fully admit that this is not a comprehensive explanation, but for our purposes it will provide enough information for the upcoming recipes. For many of the soon to be revealed pleasures of the palate, these spirits can be substituted for one another, providing a slightly different flavor, allowing for personal preference. For my part, I will publish the recipe in its most traditional form but will note where I personally prefer a variation. Regardless, embrace the colder weather and the fresh palate of flavors that awaits you!

Cocktail Cherries

It’s cherry season! This is the time of year to prepare for those long cold winter nights, where a good Manhattan in front of a roaring fire is the only thing that gets you through until spring. As I have mentioned before, those bright red candies in a jar are an abomination that have no business being part of a fine cocktail (with one notable exception). I know that there are other options out there, but they can be expensive and difficult to find, so my recommendation to you is make your own!

Not only are they very simple to make, your friends will be very impressed. So head to the nearest farmers market or fruit stand and pick up a few pounds of cherries and get started!

Start by stemming, pitting and washing three pounds of dark sweet cherries and set them aside. Pour one half cup of sugar into a large saucepan (I am going to try pure cane sugar this year, but in the past I have used just plain sugar), add a half cup of water, an ounce of lemon juice and two cinnamon sticks. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to low add the cherries and simmer for five minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in five ounces of the alcohol of your choice. I use bourbon since most of the drinks I use the cherries in are bourbon based, but brandy, scotch or rum would all impart slightly different flavors, feel free to experiment. Let the mixture cool before placing the entire mixture in a jar. Store these in the fridge and they will last all winter long.

This recipe can be halved or doubled depending on your rate of consumption. Also, in a pinch frozen cherries can be used.

Cocktail Cherries

3 lbs sweet cherries

½ cup sugar

½ cup water

1 oz lemon juice

2 cinnamon sticks

5 oz bourbon

Stem, pit and wash the cherries. Heat the sugar, water, lemon juice and cinnamon sticks to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the cherries and let simmer for five minutes. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the bourbon. Let mixture cool completely before placing it in a jar and refrigerating.