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Can you help me name a cocktail? I'm looking for suggestions for a cocktail that was created recently. In many ways it is similar to several other recipes, but as far as I can tell it is unique enough to need a name.A few weeks ago I was sitting at the bar at Bookmarks, the rooftop bar/patio/lounge in the Library Hotel near Grand Central Station in NYC. I was chatting to The Cocktail Guru, Jonathan Pogash as he ran back and forth mixing around a dozen of more drinks a minute for the eager crowds of Friday post-work partiers. Jonathan Pogash is a VIP in the cocktail world where he consults, is the Director of Cocktail Development for Hospitality Holdings, who own and operate some of the most prestigious cocktail bars in NYC, such as The Campbell Apartment, The Carnegie Club, Bookmarks Lounge, and The World Bar. He also assists Gary Regan of Ardent Spirits, the famed writer and cocktailian. Several days a week Jonathan can be found behind the bar at The World Bar and Bookmarks where he makes a mean cocktail; either classic / traditional or new ones he personally designs.
I had tried some of each of his new cocktail creations; and his versions of the old, traditional drinks; when I had a whim to ask for something to be custom made for me. I wanted something traditional in taste, but with a tasty twist. I wanted the flavor of whiskey deep and complex; with hints of sweet, bitter, and fruit. A drink I could sip on for a long time where each one was better than the last.
The more I thought about it the more I realized I wanted it to be based on a Smoky Single Malt Scotch and I desired extreme complexity. We tossed some ideas back and forth and then Jonathan went to work.
Laphroig Scotch was the base. It's deeply smoky, sexy, and smooth. Sweet and Dry Vermouth were added to add some sweetness and layers of flavor from the herbs and spices. Then both Angostura Bitters and Fee's Orange Bitters for complexity. This was all stirred gently on ice for 30 seconds before a fat twist of orange peel was flamed into the drink, given a good twist to release much of the oils, and dropped in as a garnish and to add further flavor.
The first sip was delicious. Smoky, complex, with the tang of burnt orange oils floating to my lips. I stirred the drink some more and took another sip. The herbs from the bitters and vermouth became more evident as the drink slightly watered down from the melting ice. The next sip was better than the first. And so it went, on and on, each taste better than the last. The drink came together more and more over the next ten minutes. The orange peel gave forth additional citrus oils which tied the sexy smoke and herbs together into a powerful cocktail of masculine elegance. An amazing drink that slowly permeated my body and mind, wiping away the days stress, and relaxing me until I was sprawled happily back in my chair, conversing with those around me.
Here is the approximate recipe, if you know of it by any other name let me know. or if you have some suggestions for a name, please post. The deadline for suggestions will be midnight on Sunday May 20, 2007.
4 oz. Laphroig Single Malt Scotch
1/2 ox. Dry Vermouth
1/2 oz. Sweet Vermouth
Two dashes of Angostura Bitters
Two dashes of Fee's Orange Bitters
Stirred on the rocks, garnished with flamed orange peel, stirred into the drink.
For the results, click here.
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5-04-2007 @4:17PM Jon said... Well, it's made from Scotch, and it tastes like orange. How about "The Orangeman"? It's an organization of Protestants in Ireland and Scotland, though it may be more of an Irish thing.
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5-04-2007 @4:36PM Frank said... The Bitter Scotsman.
You can almost imagine this grumpy, craggly faced man with a kilt.
Although maybe this plays up the bitterness too much, from your drinking description it doesn't sound like that taste was too strong, just well balanced.
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5-04-2007 @4:46PM Sarah said... The Smokey Grove
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5-04-2007 @4:50PM Celly said... 1. Zesty Peatmoss
2. Florida Kilt
3. Scottish Dirty Martini
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5-04-2007 @5:06PM Martin R. said... Smokey Vitamin C,Smoked Citrus Fruit,or a Smoking Peel !???
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5-04-2007 @5:23PM Lenka Reznicek said... The Loch Ness Cocktail. :)
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5-04-2007 @5:30PM Lenka Reznicek said... Actually after reading your description once more, I think the "Sean Connery" might be more appropriate?
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5-04-2007 @5:58PM Karen said... How about what you said: Smoky-sexy-smooth ?
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5-04-2007 @7:10PM ShakestheClown said... Peat's Pacifier
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5-04-2007 @7:39PM erik_flannestad said... It's a bit similar to the Affinity Cocktail, which is traditionally equal parts Scotch, Italian, and French vermouth with 2 dashes of Angostura and a lemon twist.
The Affinity is usually stirred and served up, however, and your proportions are quite different.
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5-08-2007 @7:53PM Lindsay said... Smooth Seduction
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5-04-2007 @10:08PM Eva said... My SO is a bartender and a scotch aficionado, so I asked for his input on this... his suggestion is 'a Peaty Proper.' He's a big fan of Laphroaig single malt and likes the sound of this!
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5-04-2007 @11:09PM Leons said... Swirling Kilt or Skirling Kilt
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5-20-2007 @6:47PM Chuckrok said... Sarah had hit right...
The Smokey Grove.
I can't top this.
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3. The Smokey Grove
Posted at 4:46PM on May 4th 2007 by Sarah
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5-05-2007 @2:06AM Jay said... Scots' Orange Tea
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5-05-2007 @2:10AM jd said... Gotta be the Orange Frog.
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5-05-2007 @3:34AM toby said... How about the Orange Jerk?
What do I win? :)
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5-05-2007 @8:44AM mr.pink said... how about calling it what it is: a perfect Laphroig Rob Roy with an orange twist. so whats new?
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5-05-2007 @8:56AM Derek Jones said... Burnt Orange
Smoking Gun
Orange Flame
Flame Thrower
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5-05-2007 @10:13AM JMForester said... Erik- I agree that it is quite similar to an Affinity, but in that the ratios of scotch, sweet, and dry vermouth are 1:1:1.
I discussed this briefly last night with Phil Ward, head bartender at Death & Co. in NYC, (formerly of Flatiron Grill and The Pegu Club, NYC). One of the top mixologists in NY. We also discussed the extreme similarity to the Perfect Rob Roy as Mr. Pink mentions.
Mr. Pink- I think that you are basically right on. A perfect in drink terms means using 1/2 Sweet and 1/2 Dry Vermouth instead of just one or the other. So to be pedantic you would have to call it a Laphroig Perfect Orange Rob Roy.
But in taste profile the orange in this cocktail takes it pretty far away from the classic Rob Roy profile. Enough so that if you make a regular Rob Roy or even a Perfect Rob Roy and have it side by side it tastes quite different.
The original Rob Roy was created in the 1890's about ten years after the introduction of the Manhattan using, and requiring, Dewars Scotch. The drink came about because of the introduction of Dewars into New York and a new play by the name of Rob Roy at the same time.
Dewars, a whisky blend, has practically no smoke in the flavor profile. That is why even today a Rob Roy is made using a whisky blend because it is difficult to make a really tasty smoky drink. The smooth medium flavor of a blend is worlds apart from Laphroig.
So while this drink is very similar in structure and ingredients to a perfect Rob Roy, the actual drink is quite different. -JMF-
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