Rob Roy Recipe: How to Make a Rob Roy

A Rob Roy is a whiskey cocktail made with the famous Rob Roy recipe that consists of three main ingredients: Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth and Angostura Bitters. Rob Roy cocktails are remarkably quick and easy to mix together in only a few minutes, making them ideal for busy evenings or a sophisticated night out with friends.

The Rob Roy, made with Scotch whiskey, first appeared in an 1884 London bar guide published in Manhattan by Charlie Paul. The name Rob Roy was coined after a premier operetta by Reginald De Koven, inspired by the same name of a folk Hero called Rob Roy MacGregor. The standard Rob Roy is made to have a sweet taste, so specifying a “sweet” Rob Roy drink when ordering would be stating the obvious. The Rob Roy is best recommended for people who are in the mood for a sweet tasting whiskey cocktail. However, for those who do not prefer sweet drinks, a “dry” version of the Rob Roy recipe can replace sweet vermouth with dry vermouth.

What are the ingredients for a Rob Roy?

Listed below are the following ingredients for a Rob Roy cocktail drink.

• Two dashes of Angostura Bitter: Angostura Bitter is a herbal-based alcohol mixture made with gentian, herbs and other spices. It originates from Trinidad and Tobago, specifically in the House of Angostura.
• 20ml Sweet Vermouth: Sweet vermouth is an aromatized fortified wine made with a variety of botanicals. It is typically Italian in origin, sweet, spicy and herbal in flavour. It is used in cocktails like Manhattans and Negronis.
• 60ml Grant Scotch Whisky: Grant’s Scotch Whisky is a combination of grain whisky as the base, single malts and other variants of grain whiskies. The malt whisky’s sweetness comes through when incorporated into the blend.

1. Two dashes of Angostura Bitter

Two dashes of Angostura bitter are necessary for the Rob Roy cocktail, mostly for the purpose of creating the drink’s colour.. Angostura bitter provides a bittersweet flavour that contrasts with the sweetness of other blended flavours in the cocktail. Angostura Bitter has an alcohol content of 44.7% and contains 12 calories per serving (2g).

2. 20ml Sweet Vermouth

A Rob Roy cocktail requires 20ml of sweet vermouth. It has a mildly sweet and spicy flavour that can enhance the flavour of the cocktail. Sweet vermouth typically contains between 16 and 22% alcohol by volume and 44 calories.

3. 60ml Grant Scotch Whisky

60ml of Grant Scotch Whisky is necessary to add to the Rob Roy drink. Grant’s Scotch Whisky is a blend of light flavours with a mix of sweet honey and a tinge of vanilla. This balances out the drink, leaning towards a milder flavour for alcohol beginners. The not-so overwhelming flavour creates a mood of sophistication in a Rob Roy cocktail. Grant Scotch Whiskey contains 40% alcohol and 213 calories per 100g.  

How to Make a Rob Roy?

Preparing a Rob Roy has never been easier thanks to this recipe, so don't miss it and make the most out of the cocktail!

1. In a mixing glass with ice, combine the scotch, sweet vermouth, and bitters and whisk until thoroughly cold.
2. Fill a chilled Nick & Nora or cocktail glass halfway with ice.
3. Serve with brandied cherries speared on top.

1. In a mixing glass with ice, combine the scotch, sweet vermouth and bitters and whisky until thoroughly cold.

Add the Grant’s Whisky Scotch, Angostura Bitter and sweet vermouth into a mixing glass with ice until all the ingredients are well combined. This shaking process is necessary in order to produce a nice texture and flavour for the cocktail.

2. Fill a chilled Nick & Nora or cocktail glass halfway with ice.

Pour the mixture into a cocktail glass over fresh cubed ice. This process is necessary as the cocktail is usually served in chilled rock glass.

3. Serve with brandied cherries speared on top.

Using a tiny skewer, spear some brandied cherries together and lay them down across the rim of the cocktail glass. This process is necessary as it will not only add an aesthetic value to the drink but also a fruity and nutty flavour.

What nutritional benefit can you get from drinking a Rob Roy?

There is no nutritional benefit from drinking a Rob Roy cocktail. It has an amount of 26% alcohol by volume, with approximately 145 calories per serving.  

What are the different variations of Rob Roy?

There are multiple variations of the classic Rob Roy cocktail, including Run for the Hills Rob Roy, Sunny Rob Roy and Bloody Rob Roy. To variate a classic Rob Roy drink, the bartender should change some ingredients. The procedure of making the variation of Rob Roy cocktail is just the same as making the classic one. However, instead of using sweet vermouth, a bartender can use dry vermouth to cut down the sweetness of the drink. Additional ingredients like absinthe and honey scotch can also be mixed in, giving the classic Rob Roy cocktail a new twist. Some similar cocktails to the classic Rob Roy cocktail are the Manhattan and Godfather cocktails.