The penicillin doesn’t have decades of history under its belt, but it’s already earned a spot in the canon of modern classics. Dreamed up in 2005 by New York bartender Sam Ross, the drink is as restorative as its name suggests: a bright mix of blended scotch, smoky Islay single malt, fresh lemon, honey and a fiery ginger kick.
What really makes it sing, though, is the balance. The blended scotch lays down a sweet, mellow base, while the floater of Islay scotch delivers that unmistakable peaty whack of smoke in every sip. Ross named it the penicillin as a cheeky nod to how its 'healing' ingredients are classic home remedies for a cold.
It's quickly become one of the defining drinks of the modern craft cocktail movement, and is proof that even the newest cocktail creations can become legends in no time. We’re not doctors, but a prescription of penicillin is exactly what the night calls for.
