Scotch Whisky Cocktails & Mixology Flashcards

In the Penicillin cocktail, what type of Scotch is used as the float on top?

Answer: Peated Islay single malt

The Penicillin uses a blended Scotch as the base and floats a peated Islay single malt (such as Laphroaig) on top to deliver a smoky aroma on first sip.

What makes the Blood and Sand cocktail unique among Scotch cocktails?

Answer: It uses four equal parts of all ingredients

The Blood and Sand is notable for its equal-parts recipe: Scotch, cherry brandy, sweet vermouth, and fresh orange juice — an unusual formula that balances fruit, spirit, and bitterness.

Which technique is most appropriate when combining Scotch with citrus juice in a cocktail?

Answer: Shaking vigorously with ice

Shaking is appropriate when combining Scotch with citrus juice because the agitation integrates the acid and spirit while chilling and diluting the drink properly.

What does 'stirring' a Scotch cocktail (instead of shaking) primarily preserve?

Answer: Clarity and silky texture

Stirring a spirit-forward Scotch cocktail preserves the drink's clarity and produces a silky, smooth texture, avoiding the cloudiness and aeration that shaking creates.

Which Scotch cocktail was named after the hero of the Scottish opera 'Rob Roy' by Reginald De Koven?

Answer: Rob Roy

The Rob Roy cocktail was created at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York in 1894 to celebrate the opening of the operetta Rob Roy, named after the Scottish folk hero.

When making a Scotch Sour, what ingredient is sometimes added to create a frothy top layer?

Answer: Egg white or aquafaba

Egg white (or aquafaba as a vegan substitute) is dry-shaken then wet-shaken into a Scotch Sour to create a stable, frothy foam on top of the drink.

What is the Rusty Nail's secondary ingredient alongside Scotch whisky?

Answer: Drambuie

The Rusty Nail is made with Scotch whisky and Drambuie, a Scotch-based honey and herb liqueur, typically served over ice in an old fashioned glass.