The Tartan Cocktail

COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS:
- 45 ml Single Malt Scotch
- 22,5 ml Sweet Vermouth
(Like Cocchi Vermouth di Torino)
- 7,5 ml Drambuie
- 7,5 ml Amaro Ramazzotti
- 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

GARNISH:
- Orange Twist
- Dried Rose Bud

INSTRUCTIONS:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing glass.
• Add ice and stir for 20-30 sec.
• Strain into a cocktail glass over a large ice cube. (Or alternatively serve up in a chilled cocktail glass.)
• Garnish with a dried rose bud and/or an orange twist.

Cocktail author: Anders Erickson.

Recently I had a craving for a warming winter style stir-down cocktail and in my notes, I came across The Tartan Cocktail by Anders Erickson, that I have noted a long time ago. It seemed like it could be a perfect match for the moment and it sure was.

Base of the cocktail is single malt scotch with tasty notes of oak, caramel, cinnamon and a bit of pepper. Addition of sweet vermouth brings a touch of cacao, bitter orange and spices to the mix, blending seamlessly with the whiskey base. Drambuie adds further complexity with the warming qualities of honey, citrus peel and other botanicals. Amaro Ramazzotti continues to build on it by introducing bitter-sweet complex flavors of orange, anise, cola and dark chocolate. Finally, a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters seasons the cocktail teasing out more obscure notes and helping individual ingredients to integrate.

Originally, cocktail should be served up, but after trying that I have decided to give it a brief stir and serve it over large ice cube. I love how this type of serve allows the cocktail to change and develop over time. So next time you are looking for a tasty cocktail to relax with in the evening definitely give The Tartan a chance.

Source material:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lgx04fJrSM