Today we discover the recipe for the Rob Roy, a neglected cocktail with great potential. Similar to the Manhattan, with one small (big) difference. Here’s how to make it.
This is a message to all Spirits enthusiasts: here’s a cocktail you absolutely must try. It’s called Rob Roy, but you might know it as… Manhattan.
While everyone knows the Manhattan (Rye Whiskey, red Vermouth, Angostura, maraschino cherry, orange peel, and ice), few might know that this little masterpiece of Mixology has a younger sibling.
Legend has it that it was born in New York in 1895. Curious to learn more?
Rob Roy, a Scottish Manhattan
This cocktail owes its name to Robert MacGregor, the Robin Hood of Scotland, who lived in the 17th century.
The protagonist of ballads, folk tales, and legends, the famous clan leader was immortalized by Sir Walter Scott, who dedicated a novel to him in 1817.
In 1895, Broadway hosted the premiere of an opera inspired by Scott’s novel, and to celebrate the show’s success, a bartender at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York (who remained anonymous) invented a variation of the Manhattan. In homage to the Scottish hero, he replaced the Rye Whiskey with Scotch and named the new cocktail Rob Roy.
The IBA officially recognized it as a cocktail in 1961 (it remained on the list until 2010). Initially, the recipe called for equal parts of the ingredients (the same amount of Whiskey and Vermouth), but over time slightly different quantities for the two liquors became common.
How to make a perfect Rob Roy?
Rob Roy, the recipe
Whether you have a home bar or not, here’s how to make a perfect Rob Roy.
Ingredients
- 4.5 cl Scotch Whiskey
- 2.5 cl red Vermouth
- 1 dash Angostura bitter
Preparation
Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice.
Stir with a bar spoon.
Strain into a Martini glass.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve.
The Elena Spirits touch for a Langa-scented cocktail
Prepare a Rob Roy Langa Style by choosing one of our red Vermouths.
- Vermouth di Torino rosso, made from Nebbiolo wine, with a pleasantly sweet finish.
- Vermouth di Torino superiore rosso RAV 18, made from Barolo Ravera 2018, with a vinous note that comes through at the end of the tasting.
- Vermouth di Torino superiore rosso LAZ 19, from Barolo Lazzarito 2019, with long persistence and a wide aromatic range provided by carefully selected botanicals.
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