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Cocktail History
The Old Grampian is a modern cocktail that was created by Isaac Shumway at Tosca Café in San Francisco, California. The recipe is a simple variation of an Old Fashioned that calls for a base of both blended and peated Islay Scotch, and it pairs them with rich honey and aromatic bitters to make a complex sipper that is meant to be enjoyed slowly.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Scotch: This is a type of whisky made in Scotland with malted barley or grains and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in wooden barrels to develop a smoky, complex flavor.
Islay Scotch: This is a type of whisky made on the island of Islay in Scotland with malted barley or grains and yeast, which are distilled and then dried with peat fires and aged in oak barrels to develop a smoky, peaty flavor.
Honey Syrup: This is a sweetener made with honey and water, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a sweet flavor.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with a blend of herbs, spices, roots, and botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop an aromatic, bittersweet flavor.
Orange Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with orange peels, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter citrus flavor.
Orange Twist: This is is the peel of an orange 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.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Brown-orange color
• Aroma: Citrus and whisky
• Taste: Honey rich Scotch flavor rounded out with earthy smoke, chocolate, and oak
• Finish: Lingering but not aggressive smokiness
Kendall’s Take: “I finally found another drink that might make me like Scotch someday! As of right now, Scotch lands in the same arena as mezcal for me—too much like the taste of smoke or rubber. But in this cocktail, it’s quite palatable thanks to the sweet notes. I might even make it through an entire glass of the Old Grampian.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the editors of PUNCH.
Old Grampian
Description
The Old Grampian is a modern cocktail that was created by Isaac Shumway at Tosca Café in San Francisco, California. The recipe is a simple variation of an Old Fashioned that calls for a base of both blended and peated Islay Scotch, and it pairs them with rich honey and aromatic bitters to make a complex sipper that is meant to be enjoyed slowly.
Ingredients
Method
Squeeze orange peel over top of a lowball glass, then rub around the inside of the glass.
Add blended Scotch, Islay Scotch, honey syrup, aromatic bitters, and orange bitters to a mixing glass.
Fill mixing glass with cubed ice.
Using a bar spoon, stir for 30-45 seconds until well-chilled and slightly diluted.
Fill lowball glass with fresh cracked ice.
Using a julep strainer, strain into lowball glass.
Garnish with orange peel.
