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Use a peaty Islay rather than a Speyside for this. Orange cognac liqueur didn't sound right so I went with the more lemony Ferrand Limited Edition Late Harvest Moroccan Yuzu Curacao. And it should be shaken, not stirred, to incorporate the freshly ground black pepper into the drink. The pepper complements the peat and teases your palate all the way down without overwhelming the drink. A good choice to commemorate the start of The Song of Fire & Ice.

It’s a cocktail with a little game at the end. That game? How much of the residual cocktail can I get in my mouth before I get too much pepper to make it not worth it. I’ve heard of board games and video games having a “press your luck” mechanic, but never a cocktail.

Subtle and satisfying. At first, ice cold it didn't taste like a nine one the boozy scale. I even thought it needed more pepper. Not so. As it warmed up is when the fun began. All the ingredients came to the fore with flavour a'pleanty. I subbed bourbon for the Speyside and Ferrand Dry Curaçao for the Grand Marnier.♡

This was definitely not what I was expecting. It is a very well rounded cocktail. Perfect for sipping or at dinner. We had with a Peppered Salmon dinner with a Whisky Cream sauce and it went perfectly. So glad we opted for this with our Burns Night supper.

When winter is coming...
I added 1/6 shot of Islay whisky, just to make sure about the peat...
This cocktail is strong but not brutal at all. I would even say comforting.

I feel like I've had this or something similar before. The pepper seems to compliment the blend of Scotch while the orange provides a perfect accent up top. I think this could be too heavy(?) if the aromatized wines weren't included. Great recipe. (16 May 2023, 11:27a)