Fresh ginger and a float of extra-smoky Scotch get you where you need to go.
Serious Eats / Liz Clayman
Why It Works
- Muddling slices of fresh ginger gives the cocktail a nice kick.
- A float of peaty Islay Scotch adds a smoky complexity that contrasts beautifully with the bright citrus and spicy ginger.
- Honey tempers the assertiveness of the Scotches and the acidity of the lemon juice.
It may not be as powerful as a flu shot or have the healing properties of the antibiotic it’s named for, but the Penicillin Cocktail is a surefire cure for a chilly autumn night. Originally created by New York bartender Sam Ross, the Penicillin Cocktail takes the warming, soothing flavors of honey, lemon juice and fresh ginger, and fortifies them with a good dose of scotch whisky. And as if that isn’t enough, the drink is topped with a thin pour of headily aromatic Islay malt, which gives the drink a fragrance as alluring as any woodsmoke-laced autumn breeze.
Other bartenders have taken Ross’s formula and adapted it for drinks made with tequila, gin, and rum, all with great results, but the Scotch-based original is always a good place to start. And one note on the preparation: The original drink uses a house-made ginger-honey syrup. Since the spark of fresh ginger fades so quickly, home mixologists may be better served by simply muddling a few slices of fresh ginger in the drink, rather than mixing a batch of syrup that will likely lose its luster before the bottle is half gone.
November 2009
Penicillin Cocktail Recipe
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3 slices fresh ginger
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2 ounces blended Scotch whisky (Famous Grouse works well)
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3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
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3/4 ounce honey syrup (see note)
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1/4 ounce Islay single malt Scotch (such as Laphroaig)
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Using a wooden muddler or mixing spoon, muddle the fresh ginger in the bottom of a cocktail shaker until it is well mashed. Add the blended Scotch, lemon juice, and honey syrup, and fill shaker with ice. Shake untill well chilled, about 20 seconds.
Serious Eats / Liz Clayman
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Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass (you may wish to double-strain through a fine tea strainer to remove the small flecks of ginger), and pour the Islay Scotch over the back of a bar spoon so that it floats atop the drink.
Serious Eats / Liz Clayman
Special Equipment
Mixing glass, cocktail strainer
Notes
For the honey syrup, combine equal parts honey and hot water and stir until well-mixed. Let cool before using, and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Read More
- Bee’s Knees Recipe
- Gold Rush Cocktail Recipe
- EVR’s Whiskey Sour Recipe
- Drunk Uncle (Scotch and Cynar Cocktail) Recipe
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 665 | Calories |
| 1g | Fat |
| 105g | Carbs |
| 3g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
×
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 1 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 665 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 2% |
| 0mg | 0% |
| 75mg | 3% |
| 105g | 38% |
| Dietary Fiber 3g | 11% |
| Total Sugars 56g | |
| 3g | |
| Vitamin C 16mg | 81% |
| Calcium 55mg | 4% |
| Iron 1mg | 6% |
| Potassium 709mg | 15% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Fresh ginger and a float of extra-smoky Scotch get you where you need to go. Serious Eats / Liz Clayman Why It Works Muddling slices of fresh ginger gives the cocktail a nice kick.A float of peaty Islay Scotch adds a smoky complexity that contrasts beautifully with the bright citrus and spicy ginger.Honey tempers the assertiveness of the Scotches and the acidity of the lemon juice. It may not be as powerful as a flu shot or have the healing properties of the antibiotic it’s named for, but the Penicillin Cocktail is a surefire cure for a chilly autumn night. Originally created by New York bartender Sam Ross, the Penicillin Cocktail takes the warming, soothing flavors of honey, lemon juice and fresh ginger, and fortifies them with a good dose of scotch whisky. And as if that isn’t enough, the drink is topped with a thin pour of headily aromatic Islay malt, which gives the drink a fragrance as alluring as any woodsmoke-laced autumn breeze. Other bartenders have taken Ross’s formula and adapted it for drinks made with tequila, gin, and rum, all with great results, but the Scotch-based original is always a good place to start. And one note on the preparation: The original drink uses a house-made ginger-honey syrup. Since the spark of fresh ginger fades so quickly, home mixologists may be better served by simply muddling a few slices of fresh ginger in the drink, rather than mixing a batch of syrup that will likely lose its luster before the bottle is half gone. November 2009 Penicillin Cocktail Recipe 3 slices fresh ginger 2 ounces blended Scotch whisky (Famous Grouse works well) 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice 3/4 ounce honey syrup (see note) 1/4 ounce Islay single malt Scotch (such as Laphroaig) Using a wooden muddler or mixing spoon, muddle the fresh ginger in the bottom of a cocktail shaker until it is well mashed. Add the blended Scotch, lemon juice, and honey syrup, and fill shaker with ice. Shake untill well chilled, about 20 seconds. Serious Eats / Liz Clayman Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass (you may wish to double-strain through a fine tea strainer to remove the small flecks of ginger), and pour the Islay Scotch over the back of a bar spoon so that it floats atop the drink. Serious Eats / Liz Clayman Special Equipment Mixing glass, cocktail strainer Notes For the honey syrup, combine equal parts honey and hot water and stir until well-mixed. Let cool before using, and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week. Read More Bee’s Knees Recipe Gold Rush Cocktail Recipe EVR’s Whiskey Sour Recipe Drunk Uncle (Scotch and Cynar Cocktail) Recipe Nutrition Facts (per serving) 665 Calories 1g Fat 105g Carbs 3g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label × Nutrition Facts Servings: 1 Amount per serving Calories 665 % Daily Value* 1g 2% Saturated Fat 0g 2% 0mg 0% 75mg 3% 105g 38% Dietary Fiber 3g 11% Total Sugars 56g 3g Vitamin C 16mg 81% Calcium 55mg 4% Iron 1mg 6% Potassium 709mg 15% *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. (Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Penicillin Cocktail Recipe
