Bobby Burns
Scotch and sweet vermouth with Bénédictine. Named for Scotland's poet.
Stirred · Coupe · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 27% ABV
Ingredients
- 45 ml Blended Scotch
- 22.5 ml Sweet vermouth
- 7.5 ml Bénédictine
- Lemon twist (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 45 ml blended Scotch into the mixing glass
- Pour 22.5 ml sweet vermouth into the mixing glass
- Pour 7.5 ml Bénédictine into the mixing glass
- Add ice
- Stir
- Strain
- Garnish
About the Bobby Burns
Named after the Scottish poet Robert Burns, and popular on Burns Night. It appeared in the early 1900s and was printed in the Savoy Cocktail Book.
The vermouth cocktail family. Vermouth reached American bars in the 1860s and 1870s, and bartenders began stirring it with whiskey, gin and brandy. That gave us the Manhattan and the Martinez, the ancestor of the Martini. Drinks in this family are stirred rather than shaken, and they are all about the balance between the spirit and the aromatised wine.
Bobby Burns FAQ
What's in a Bobby Burns?
45 ml blended scotch, 22.5 ml sweet vermouth, 7.5 ml bénédictine, garnished with lemon twist.
How strong is a Bobby Burns?
About 27% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 1.9 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is close to a straight spirit, so sip it slowly.
Should I shake or stir a Bobby Burns?
Stir it. It is made only of spirits and wines, so stirring keeps it clear and silky. Shaking would make it cloudy and frothy.
What glass do you serve a Bobby Burns in?
A coupe, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No coupe? Use a martini glass or small wine glass.
