It was in the rolls of the royal exchequer of King James IV of Scotland in 1494 where historians have found the first official mention of Whisky. “To Friar John Cor, eight bolls of malt, with which to make aqua vitae…” Aqua Vitae was the Latin term for the “Water of Life”; whereas the local Gaelic populace would have used the term “Uisce Beatha”. The pronunciation became corrupted with the English, eventually becoming “Whisky”.
Scotch Whisky had its place in the early American bartender’s arsenal- typically as a straight pour. The mystique of good Scotch often relegated it to an almost ceremonial way of imbibing, often with nothing more than a dash of water or perhaps even some rocks. Even so, Scotch whisky as a mixable spirit was already familiar- see our articles on the Hot Toddy or the Highball to learn more about the presence of Scotch whisky in the evolution of mixology.
Using Scotch in cocktails can be a delicate procedure. There are so many different styles of scotch- blends, single malts, single grains, vatted malts, and blended grains. Each will have distinctly unique character and signature, which is why we believe that when it comes to mixing with scotch, it often helps to build the cocktail around the whisky itself. A Highland single malt would work well for a cocktail with a more summery disposition, whereas the blended scotch with an unmistakable whiff of Islay peat would be better suited for a wintry, warm, and spirit-forward recipe.
Most scotch cocktails in the general lexicon call for blends, which by their very nature might suit the more general palate and remain economically viable on a menu. Nonetheless, with the renewed fervor for the distinctive profile of single malt coinciding with the ever-growing cocktail renaissance, it’s not unusual to find a single malt scotch cocktail on the menu at your local speakeasy.
In our Scotch cocktails section, we’ll explore some of the classic recipes, and some of the new. We’ll offer you a little of the history behind the drink, and some of the techniques involved in their preparation.
Find a good scotch cocktail? Let us know about it in the comments. And be sure to let us know- Did the Scotch elevate the cocktail, or did the cocktail elevate the Scotch?
The Penicillin A modern classic cocktail good for whatever ails you… Cocktail history: Falling into the category of the “Modern Classics,” the Penicillin sits firmly
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
You can find more information in our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
