Guillotine

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Cocktail History

The Guillotine is a modern cocktail that was created in 2015 by Franky Marshall at Le Boudoir in New York City, New York. Called “an elegant kick in the face” by guests, the recipe is made with a simple stirred mixture of mezcal, Scotch whisky, banana, and honey syrup that eventually became one of the bar’s bestsellers. Its name is also a nod to the establishment’s interior, which is famously fashioned after Marie Antoinette’s chambers.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Mezcal: This is a spirit made in Mexico with agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged in an underground pit lined with wood. I used Ilegal Mezcal Joven.

Blended Scotch: This is a type of Scotch whisky that combines multiple single malt whiskies made with malted barley, yeast, and water. I used The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky.

Banana Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with bananas, vanilla extract, sugar, and alcohol. I used Drillaud Banana Liqueur.

Honey Syrup: This is a sweetener made with honey and water. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.

Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.

Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

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Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Pale orange-yellow color

• Aroma: Bright lemon and deep mezcal

• Taste: Fairly dry combination of Scotch’s malt and telltale banana that’s lightened with honey

• Finish: Definite smoky mezcal and more whisky spice

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: “I usually don’t care for mezcal, Scotch, or banana in my cocktails, so I certainly didn’t think I’d like this recipe at all given those are its three main flavors. But I was pleasantly surprised at just how wrong I was. When mixed with the honey syrup, the other three are mellowed out and create an almost sweet, dessert-style flavor. I’d give this one a try even if you’re skeptical. You might end up liking the Guillotine more than you expected too.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-01-13.