Name: Sea O La
Total time: 2 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 45 ml Peated malt whisky; 10 ml Cherry brandy; 2 dash Creole bitters; 6 drop Saline solution 4:1; 120 ml Cola

Sea O La
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Photographed in a Libbey Trigger Tankard

Ingredients:
1 ¹⁄₂ oz	Torabhaig Peated Single Malt Whisky
¹⁄₃ oz	Heering Cherry Liqueur
2 dash	Peychaud's or other Creole-style bitters
6 drop	Saline solution 4:1 (20g sea salt to 80g water)
4 oz	Cola (e.g. Coca-Cola or Pepsi)

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

Select and pre-chill a Collins glass.
Prepare garnish of skewered Luxardo Maraschino Cherries and atomiser of peated whisky.
POUR all ingredients into pre-chilled, ice-filled glass.
Briefly STIR.
Garnish with skewered cherries and mist with 3 sprays of peated whisky from atomiser.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

Oh my Lola, it's just like smoked cherry cola!

View readers' comments

History:

Created in March 2023 by yours truly at The Clocktower, Rye, England for Caisteal Chamuis. Inspired and named after Lola, the Kinks song written by Ray Davies, particularly the live "just like cherry cola" recording. "Sea" is also a reference to the salinity of the peaty Scotch whisky.

More cocktails by Simon Difford

Nutrition:

One serving of Sea O La contains 185 calories

Alcohol content:

1.3 standard drinks
10.43% alc./vol. (10.43° proof)
18.3 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Showing 6 comments for Sea O La.
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Sean Baron

1st March at 21:04

Can’t taste the cherry at all.

Robert Holen

28th December 2024 at 20:11

This one isn't for everyone, and by the user rating it's obvious that a lot who shouldn't have tried it, have.. It's really self explanatory that you need to be able to appreciate peated whisky on its own, to enjoy a cocktail with this large an amount of it.

Simon Difford

29th December 2024 at 08:29

Thanks, Robert. Due to feedback I've reduced o a 4.5 star. As you say, many don't appreciate peated whisky.

Matt

31st August 2024 at 23:31

I think it is okay, but definitely not a 5 star. I'm not really crazy about the scotch and cola combo, I like the bourbon/cola cocktails better. Using some Heering, bitters and saline is a nice idea.

Darrelle Bower

9th February 2024 at 18:16

I absolutely love this. Pimp my whisky and coke!

Hunter Newsome

2nd September 2023 at 17:38

A little intense, but intriguing. A lemon twist balanced it a bit for my palate. Will also give it a go with the bourbon substitute. I like the touch of using a tankard glass, it adds to the tavern/navy feel. Say, wouldn't have peated whisky been a perfect navy or pirate beverage? Take a sip and it reminds you of the the 'ol solid ground! Not to mention the "seaside" notes commonly found in them.

Lee Clarke

19th May 2023 at 16:25

Hi Simon. I’ve noticed a couple of new 5 Star rated cocktails recently but the overall number hasn’t gone up. Are you downgrading cocktails as you bring new in? Cheers.

Simon Difford

20th May 2023 at 07:11

Not deliberately. I'm constantly remaking and reassessing old cocktails. Also remaking many as we replace old photography.

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