Black Bella

I was asked to contribute a cocktail for WhiskeyFest this year at the USBGNY table. Quite an honor since this was my first WhiskeyFest...finally! I was assigned Black Grouse, a new high end blend from the makers of Famous Grouse. Its got a touch of smoke but is smooth as silk. This Whiskey is actually quite close to my heart since it reminds me of a pure dead brilliant trip to Glasgow I took a few years back.

The Famous Grouse

The Famous Haggis

So I took a bottle over to my Cocktail Daddy's house and started playing around. It worked fine with the usual; lemon, ginger, rhubarb bitters, soda. But I was looking for something simple and easy....something Fort Defiance worthy and less than 4 ingredients. So I decided to try a twist on a Rob Roy or a Brooklyn. The sweet smoke of the whiskey was enhanced by the Maraschino liqueur and then balanced by the bitter Cynar; an Italian aperitif flavored with artichokes. The two bitters brought out a warm spicy quality making this drink a clear winner to the Cocktail Daddy. And it was a big hit at Whiskeyfest too!

Black Bella

2oz Black Grouse Scotch
1/2 oz Cynar
1/2 oz Maraschino Liquor
Dash of Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters
Dash of Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas Own Decanter Bitters
Orange twist

Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.