Bobby Burns Cocktail

The Bobby Burns cocktail is a drink built with scotch whiskey, sweet vermouth, and benedictine!

Bobby Burns Cocktail Info

Although not as well-known as cocktails like the Manhattan or the Martini, Bobby Burns is a classic cocktail that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. This cocktail has the quality of being made with Scotch whisky instead of the normal bourbon must cocktails use.

The origins of Bobby Burns are unclear, as with many other legendary cocktails. It was first discovered in 1902's "Bishop & Babcock Company’s Fancy Drinks" book. However, the original recipe is called the Baby Burns. It calls for one teaspoon of each vermouth and Benedictine and one pony (ounce) of scotch. Later, the name was changed to Bobby Burns in texts such as "Recipes For Mixed Drinks" from Harry Craddock. While there has been much debate about the meaning of this name, it is likely to be a homage to Robert Burns, who is a widely considered poet.

Cocktail Ingredients

The Rob Roy cocktail is a similar drink to the Bobby Burns. This drink, however, uses equal amounts of sweet vermouth and scotch instead of the two-to-one measurement. It also substitutes half an ounce of Benedictine for the traditional bitters. This herbal liqueur is made using a secret recipe that only a few people know. It is known that the blend contains 27 herbs and spices and that the Benedictine is an integral part of Bobby Burns.

Single malt Scotches get the most attention, but blended scotches are used more often in mixed drinks. Even though the Bobby Burns recipes originally were not written with this specification, they are more common today. There is a ton of quality blended Scotch whiskies available on the market. Ranging from the well-known Johnny Walker to lesser-known and more recent expressions from small makers. No matter what bottle you choose, a 12-year old is better because it offers more complexity, smoothness, and richness.

When it comes to vermouth, we recommend that you go with something a little more botanical. The Bobby Burns is finished with a little lemon zest, and its oils are served over the drink.