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Scotch whisky's answer to the Manhattan. The Rob Roy is classically made with Angostura Bitters, but in his 1948 The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, as a footnote...
David Wondrich found a reference to a Rob Roy Cocktail in a newspaper article from 1873.
"The Rob Roy cocktail is made with a little gum syrup, two dashes of Angostura, a few drops of oychette cordial [orgeat], in a tumbler filled with fine ice, strained." - New York Sun - 22nd August 1873. Too bad this reference forgot to include a base spirit, but it's probably safe to assume Scotch.
Many thanks Stephen, I've added the quote from your link above. I'm now on a quest to find the earliest Rob Roy recipe based on Scotch. And indeed the latest reference to a Rob Roy based on another spirit.
Good and easy to drink, but I think I would prefer Carpano Antica instead of Dolin Rouge next time. I did one dash aromatic bitters and one dash creole, should be more generous next time.
I used Ardbeg 5yo (wee bestie) and famously smokey and salt flavour. Next time i try petite serve ( 45ml whisky, 15ml rosso sweet and maybe some dash maraskino liquid from jar for little bit sweeter taste, and last but not least :-D 2dash aromatic bitters, ideal garnish with maraskino cherry on stick)
"The Rob Roy cocktail is made with a little gum syrup, two dashes of Angostura, a few drops of oychette cordial [orgeat], in a tumbler filled with fine ice, strained." - New York Sun - 22nd August 1873. Too bad this reference forgot to include a base spirit, but it's probably safe to assume Scotch.