The Rob Roy – A Cocktail from the Golden Age

The year was 1894…

Back in the day, it was commonplace that a cocktail was created to christen the opening of Broadway plays.  Generally, these beverages quickly disappeared from the bar menu, but one in particular has withstood the test of time.

Rob Roy…

One Mr. De Koven (composer) and a Mr. Smith (lyricist) premiered an operetta loosely based on Rob Roy MacGregor.  In honor of the opening, the Rob Roy cocktail was born…!  All these years later, you can still plant yourself at a barstool in Anytown U.S.A. and order one up.  That is some fine staying power…

The adult beverage aficionado among you will quickly realize this is simply a take on the Manhattan, with a switch of spirit.  Manhattans commonly use bourbon, rye or Canadian whisky, and the Rob Roy calls for a blended Scotch whisky. 

And the recipe is…

Rob Roy

·         2 oz blended scotch
·         1 oz sweet vermouth
·         2 dashes Angostura bitters
·         Garnish:  lemon twist or 2 Maraschino cherries

A couple of notes:  It is fairly common to see mixologists go with orange bitters, as opposed to the Angostura, so feel free to experiment and find your preference.  You can even try Peychaud’s bitters, as it pairs well with scotch.  As always, use good ingredients.

The Connoisseur prefers the original Angostura, along with the lemon twist, so I recommend that as your starting point.  Give it a try and let me know what you think…

Cheers…!

Marty Feldmann, The Connoisseur, is the highly sought after consultant who assists businesses and individual clients with the acquisition of the finer things life has to offer.  Whether you are planning a weekend getaway to wine country, selecting audio equipment to outfit your home, planning your dream vacation or purchasing your ultimate transportation, Marty is your personal connection to the good life…

Marty can be contacted at:   916.952.9529    Marty@ConnoisseurCorner.com