Rob Roy
Scotch, sweet vermouth and bitters, stirred. A Manhattan made with Scotch.
- Time
- 4 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Coupe
- Strength
- 2.4 UK units
How to make a Rob Roy
- Chill the glass. Fill the coupe with ice and water, or put it in the freezer, while you make the drink.
- Combine in a mixing glass. Add the Scotch, vermouth and bitters to a mixing glass and fill it two-thirds with ice.
- Stir until cold. Stir for 30 to 40 seconds, until the glass is frosted and the drink looks glossy.
- Strain and garnish. Strain into the chilled coupe and drop in a cherry. The drink should be a clear copper-red.
- Glass
- CoupeNo coupe? A martini glass or any small stemmed glass.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Cocktail cherry on a pickOr: A lemon twist.
What you need to make a Rob Roy
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Mixing glassAny sturdy jug or pint glass works.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Bottles we'd use
- A blended ScotchChivas Regal 12 or Monkey Shoulder. Smooth and not too smoky.Find it on Amazon
- Sweet vermouthCocchi Vermouth di Torino is rich. Martini Rosso is lighter.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Rob Roy story
It is usually said to have been created in 1894 at the Waldorf Hotel in New York, to mark the premiere of an operetta called Rob Roy. The drink is named after the Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor. The story is widely repeated, and the exact details are hard to verify.
It is a Manhattan with Scotch replacing the rye, so the drink is softer and maltier. A blended Scotch is the traditional choice. A single malt makes a richer, more characterful drink, and a dash of orange bitters in place of one Angostura brightens it.
Rob Roy: your questions answered
What is in a Rob Roy?
A Rob Roy is made with 50 ml Blended Scotch whisky, 25 ml sweet vermouth and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters. Garnish: cocktail cherry on a pick.
Is a Rob Roy shaken or stirred?
A Rob Roy is stirred, not shaken. Stirring with ice chills and dilutes it while keeping the drink clear and smooth. Shaking would cloud it and add tiny air bubbles, which suits citrus drinks but not this one.
How strong is a Rob Roy?
Made to this recipe, a Rob Roy contains about 2.4 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Rob Roy in?
Serve a Rob Roy in a coupe. No coupe? A martini glass or any small stemmed glass.
