While we love classic cocktails like the timeless Old Fashioned, Daiquiri, or Margarita, you can’t go wrong with one of the myriad creative, flavorful contemporary drinks created in the last few decades. If you didn’t realize it, the cocktail renaissance of the early 2000s not only brought about a new era of innovative bartenders, but these mixologists crafted some notable mixed drinks like the Paper Plane, the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, and the Revolver. While we enjoy sipping all of those drinks, one of our favorites is the aptly named Penicillin.
In my decades of writing about alcohol, I’ve tried the Penicillin at a variety of bars. This is because it’s been around for more than twenty years. The drink was created in 2005 by Australian-born bartender Sam Ross at New York City’s popular Milk & Honey.
What is the Penicillin cocktail?
We all know what penicillin is, right? Discovered in 1929 by Alexander Fleming, penicillin is the most well-known antibiotic that was popularized for treating bacterial infections. The cocktail is named for this antibiotic as a tongue-in-cheek reference to whiskey-based cocktails (like the Hot Toddy) being prescribed to treat cold symptoms.
The drink itself consists of Scotch whisky, honey, ginger syrup, lemon juice, and peated single malt Scotch whisky. A take on the classic Whisky Sour, the Penicillin is arguably the most well-known contemporary cocktail. Just like some of its classic counterparts, you can find different takes on it on cocktail menus throughout the world.
Why the Penicillin cocktail is perfect for autumn
The Penicillin cocktail just might be the perfect fall cocktail. This is especially true if you enjoy Scotch whisky, as the recipe calls for two different types. There are a handful of reasons why it’s such a good choice for the colder months. It’s boozy, it’s warming, and the addition of ginger and fresh lemon juice might make you feel like you’re drinking something that could soothe a sore throat and other cold-like symptoms. Although you probably shouldn’t drink too much hard alcohol if you’re feeling sick. Instead, stick to cold medicine.
The best Scotches for your Penicillin cocktail
To make a Penicillin cocktail, you need two different types of Scotch. The first is a balanced, blended Scotch, and the second is a smoky, peated single malt Scotch. Below, you’ll see two of each that belong in your home bar.
Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
This award-winning blended Scotch whisky first hit the market in 2003. Since then, it’s become a favorite of bartenders and home mixologists alike. Made by William Grant & Sons, it features single malts from a variety of distilleries, including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, and Kininvie. Aged in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and blended in small batches, the result is a memorable, award-winning whisky that features notes of candied orange peels, honey, dried fruits, toffee, vanilla, and gentle spices. It’s the perfect base for your fall Penicillin cocktail.
Chivas Regal 12 Year Blended Scotch Whisky
Chivas Regal is another well-known blended Scotch whisky brand. You can’t go wrong with an affordable bottle of Chivas Regal Blended Scotch Whisky for the base of your autumnal Penicillin cocktail. This mix of malt and blended Scotch whiskies from The Glenlivet, Strathisla, and more. The result is a noteworthy whisky centered on flavors like sticky toffee pudding, orchard fruits, clover honey, anise, cracked black pepper, vanilla, and oak. Not only is it a great choice for mixing, it’s also a decent rainy day dram.
Ardbeg An Oa
Named for the Mull of Oa along the Kildaton coast of Islay, Ardbeg An Oa is a great choice for the peated addition to your Penicillin cocktail. First launched in 2017, this epic peated single malt Scotch whisky is matured in Pedro Ximénez, charred virgin oak, and ex-bourbon before being married together in one big vat. The result is a complex whiskey loaded with flavors like candied orange peels, salted caramel, maple syrup, pipe tobacco, candied nuts, dried cherries, and robust campfire smoke. Not only is this a great addition to a cocktail, but it just might become your go-to fall and winter dram.
Laphroaig 10
As peated single malt whiskies go, it doesn’t get much more classic than Laphroaig 10. This award-winning, non-chill filtered single malt Scotch whisky was matured for a minimum of ten years. This creates a nuanced, layered whisky filled with a variety of flavors, including ocean brine, iodine, toasted vanilla beans, oak, baking spices, and rich peat smoke. It’s the type of single malt Scotch whisky that needs to be tasted to be believed.
How the right Scotch elevates the Penicillin cocktail
When crafting a Penicillin this fall, just remember that this popular drink is best when it’s balanced. Don’t make it with two peated whiskies. That’s just a little too much smoke. Also, leaving out a peated single malt won’t give you the smoky flavor that plays perfectly with the ginger and honey. Your best bet is to choose a balance, mellow blended Scotch whisky and a robust, smoky peated single malt.
