International Scotch Day falls on 8th February every year. It’s a global celebration of Scotch whisky, and anyone (who’s over the legal drinking age in their country) can get involved by sharing their Scotch whisky drams, stories and cocktail recipes.
Make a Highball
Do something different with a dram and pour a Highball, the simplest Scotch cocktail of all – Scotch and a mixer over ice in a tall glass. Try experimenting with different whiskies and mixers, but you can’t go wrong with a fruity, citrussy Speyside topped with soda and a lemon twist.
Host a whisky tasting for friends
Picking four bottles from a collection and sharing drams with friends – there’s no better or more pleasant way to banish the blues of a cold winter’s night. The only equipment required is a set of glasses suitable for nosing, a few different whiskies, water and a pad and pen for tasting notes.
Try a whisky you’ve never tried before
Pop into your local whisky specialist or bottle shop and pick up a bottle you’ve never tried. Whisky fans could try moving out of their comfort zone, perhaps swapping their usual fruity number for something young and peaty.
Visit a whisky bar
Scotch fans looking to explore the spirit’s diversity should head straight to their nearest whisky bar for a journey to remember on International Scotch Day. It’s an opportunity to sample drams you may not want to purchase a full bottle of and learn a thing or two from your well-informed bartender.
The Aberfeldy Gold Fashioned
Ingredients:
50 ml Aberfeldy 12-year-old
5 ml of Honey
2 Dashes of Angostura bitters
2 Dashes of orange bitters
1 Orange zest
Method:
Add the honey syrup, bitters and Aberfeldy 12-year-old to a mixing glass over cubed ice and stir to dilute. Pour into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Cut and twist an orange zest expressing the oils over the drink and enjoy!
The Aberfeldy Honey Highball
Ingredients:
40 ml Aberfeldy 12-year-old
20 ml Honey
Chilled chamomile tea
1 Lemon slice
Method:
Add the Aberfeldy 12-year-old to a high-ball glass. Stir the ingredients over cubed-ice. Add chilled chamomile tea and stir to disperse. Add a lemon twist to garnish and enjoy!
Johnnie and Peach
Ingredients:
50ml Johnnie Walker Red Label
150ml Sparkling peach Iced Tea
1 Slice fresh peach
1 Thyme or 1 Lemon Wedge
Method:
Pour your Johnnie Walker over ice using a highball glass. Add sparkling peach iced tea and stir. Garnish with fresh peach and thyme or a lemon wedge.
Johnnie Whisky Sour
Ingredients:
60ml Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years
22ml Lemon Juice
22ml Simple Syrup
Aromatic Bitters
1 Egg White
1 Lemon Peel
Method: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 60ml Johnnie Walker, 22ml Lemon Juice, 22ml Simple Syrup, 2 dashes Aromatic Bitters and an egg white for a foamy head. Shake hard for 7-10 seconds, or double if you’re using egg white. If you’re using egg white, strain everything into a glass, remove the ice and shake again. Strain and serve neat or over ice. Finish with a lemon peel garnish.
The Macallan Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
50ml of The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Single Malt
Pinch of brown sugar
1 strip of orange peel
Splash of water
2 drops of bitters
1 Maraschino Cherry
Method: Place the sugar, orange peel, water and bitters in a tumbler and muddle (crush gently with the back of a spoon). Fill the glass with ice and add the whisky. Stir, and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
The Macallan Rusty Nail
Ingredients:
60mls The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask Single Malt
30mls part Drambuie
Method: Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake vigorously and pour.
