Rob Roy
The Manhattan, in Scots.
Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth and a few dashes of Angostura, stirred and served cold, straight up. It is essentially a Scotch Manhattan: drier and more layered, with the malty, sometimes smoky notes of Scotch.
- Aperitif
- Stirred
- Glass
- Cocktail glass
- Method
- Stirred
- Strength
- Strong
- Time
- 3 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Ice
- No ice
Ingredients
Measures for 1 serving
-
Scotch whisky
45 ml
-
Sweet red vermouth
22.5 ml
-
Angostura bitters
2 dashes
Garnish
- Maraschino cherry
- Lemon twist (optional)
Proportions
How to make
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- Fill a mixing glass with ice.
- Pour the Scotch whisky.
- Add the sweet red vermouth.
- Add the Angostura bitters.
- Stir until well chilled.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a cherry on a pick.
The story
Origins
ProbableA plausible account, without definitive proof.
As early as 1884 a London manual offered a Scotch-based Manhattan, though without calling it a Rob Roy. According to the most widespread account, the name arrived in New York after 29 October 1894, when De Koven and Smith's operetta Rob Roy, inspired by the Scottish folk hero, opened on Broadway; its creation is credited to the Waldorf bar, but without period confirmation. A 'Rob Roy Cocktail' appears on a Grand Union Hotel wine list in New York, datable to roughly 1895-1910, and a recognisable Scotch-and-vermouth version was printed in 1901. A 1941 letter instead names another inventor, bartender Henry August Orphal.
Sources (6)
- Whisky Advocate — Essential Whisky Cocktail: Rob Roy (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- Difford's Guide — Rob Roy (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- Wikipedia — Rob Roy (cocktail) (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- Wikipedia — List of IBA official cocktails (opens in a new tab) recipe
- IBA — All cocktails, page 4 (opens in a new tab) recipe
- Barry Popik — Rob Roy (cocktail) (opens in a new tab) history
Taste profile
- Strong
- 4 out of 5
- Sweet
- 2 out of 5
- Herbal
- 2 out of 5
- Smoky
- 1 out of 5
