Episode 28: The Real McGregor – Rob Roy

While the recipe for Rob Roy cocktail is pretty standard today, it wasn’t always that way. Variations occur from the earliest appearances in cocktail books and continue on pretty much throughout the 20th century. So how do we get to a standard for a drink often referred to as a Scotch Manhattan?

We discuss this mystery and the origins of this cocktail in the late 1800s, where Rob Roy seemed to be a pretty popular name for all kinds of things like hats, plaids, racing horses, an operetta, and of course whiskey. Then we dive right into the life and legend of Rob Roy, the Scottish folk hero who led a colorful and action movie-like existence.

So put on your kilt, grab your Scotch, and join us for this action-packed episode!

The recipe is as follows:

• 2 and ½ ounces of Scotch whiskey


• 1 ounce of sweet vermouth


• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters