How to Make a Bobby Burns Cocktail
Bobby Burns Cocktail.
A Classic Scotch Cocktail that Celebrates Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a very well-known Scottish poet and lyricist in the 1700s. He is celebrated to this day as the national poet of Scotland. Among his many popular creations, the one that is probably best known by almost everyone is the New Year's Eve classic Auld Lang Syne.
Robert Burns (1759-1796).
The Bobby Burns cocktail celebrates the birthday of Robert Burns, making it a very popular drink every January 25. But that doesn't mean you cannot enjoy a Bobby Burns cocktail at any time of the year.
While the original cocktail recipe was a little different (with ingredients including Irish Whiskey and absinthe), here is how a Bobby Burns is made today.
Bobby Burns cocktail ingredients.
Bobby Burns Cocktail Recipe
1 oz scotch whiskey (blended)
1 oz sweet vermouth
1/2 oz Benedictine
Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Combine the three ingredients in a mixing glass and stir with ice. Strain into a coupe (or glass of choice) and twist a lemon rind into the glass.
The Bobby Burns cocktail with a lemon rind.
Bobby Burns Cocktail Variations
As I often mention, there are many variations to cocktail recipes -- particularly when it comes to volume of the drink and the relative amounts of the ingredients. The Bobby Burns, like the Cosmopolitan, is one that you may see with a wide range of ingredient variations.
I prefer the 1/1/0.5 ratio (scotch/ vermouth/Benedictine) as a well-balanced Bobby Burns cocktail. However, I have seen Bobby Burns cocktail recipes ranging from 1.5/1.5/0.75 to 1.5/1.5/0.75 and probably the most aggressive blend of 2/0.75/0.5. For me, that one is way out of balance and is barely a Bobby Burns (not to say that if you love scotch you wouldn't like that mix).
Classic Scotch Cocktail: the Bobby Burns.
It is best to use a blended scotch for the Bobby Burns and not a single malt. Blended scotch tends to be smoother and work better in terms of overall balance with the vermouth and Benedictine.
As always, I would recommend starting with the well-balanced Bobby Burns cocktail recipe that I shared above and then adjust from there if you prefer to play with the ratios.
By Mike Belobradic
Wine, Spirits and Beer Virtuoso
Grand One Lounge