Bobby Burns (Emburys recipe)
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 26.3% ABV ∙
The Bobby Burns is a stirred Scotch cocktail with sweet vermouth, a little honeyed herbal liqueur such as Drambuie and two dashes of Creole bitters.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Blended Scotch whisky 40 mlRosso vermouth 20 mlHoney herbal liqueur (e.g., Drambuie) 5 mlCreole-style bitters 2 dashes
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir with plenty of large ice cubes for 20-25 seconds; it's a small drink, so it waters down fast if you keep going.
- The Drambuie is only 5 ml; pour it heavy and its honey sweetness smothers the whisky and vermouth.
History
The Bobby Burns is a Scotch cocktail that was published as the "Baby Burns" in the Bishop & Babcock Company's 1900 guide Fancy Drinks. Later editions called it "Robert Burns," but it reached wider fame as the "Bobby Burns" through Harry Craddock's 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book. Albert Stevens Crockett's 1931 Old Waldorf Bar Days suggested it may instead honor a cigar salesman (or a cigar brand of the same name) rather than the Scottish poet Robert Burns, leaving the naming disputed.
Regardless of origin, the drink became linked to the poet's January 25 birthday and the Burns Night celebrations held in his honor. This variation follows David A. Embury's 1948 The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, where he described the Bobby Burns as a twist on the Rob Roy finished with a dash of Drambuie in place of the more common Bénédictine, reasoning that a Scotch-based liqueur suited the whisky better. In his 1953 edition Embury further suggested swapping in Peychaud's bitters (this recipe uses Creole bitters of the same style) for Angostura, noting it blended better with Scotch.
FAQ
How do you make a Bobby Burns cocktail?
Stir blended Scotch whisky with sweet vermouth, a honey herbal liqueur such as Drambuie, and two dashes of Creole-style bitters over ice, then strain into a chilled coupe and express a lemon twist over the top.
What is the Bobby Burns spec?
40 ml blended Scotch, 20 ml sweet vermouth, 5 ml honey herbal liqueur, and two dashes of Creole-style bitters, stirred and served up. It comes in at about 26.3% ABV.
What kind of Scotch is best for a Bobby Burns?
A blended Scotch whisky works best, as it is smooth enough to let the vermouth and honey liqueur come through without a heavy smoke or peat note dominating the glass.
Is a Bobby Burns shaken or stirred?
Stirred. With no citrus in it, stirring chills and dilutes the drink while keeping it silky and clear.
What glass is a Bobby Burns served in?
A coupe glass, served up with a lemon twist expressed over the drink for its citrus oils.
