Bobby Burns Cocktail from Episode 25
Whelp, Mom is in the hospital again, so it's time for another cocktail! Update: she's out of the hospital and in a rehab where she is making excellent progress! So cheers to that! Bootie first learned about the Bobby Burns cocktail from Darcy Cameron, the owner of Shibui yarn. Unfortunately, Shibui closed during the pandemic, however, MadelineTosh is now carrying some of the yarn. Meanwhile, Darcy has pivoted to writing a life blog called Shibui Life. One of her first installments was about the five types of whiskey (Scottish, Irish, Japanese, Canadian, and Bourbon). For her blog on Scottish whisky or Scotch, she included the delicious Bobby Burns Cocktail. Bootie and Bossy did not have the required Scotch (or Benedictine, or Absinthe, well, ok, Bootie had the absinthe but is keeping the bottle purely for aesthetic reasons), so they used what they had on hand, and it was delicious.
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As for Robert Burns, a.k.a. Bobby or Rabbie, he is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and an early promoter of the Romantic movement. When he wasn't farming and writing poetry, he was quite busy fathering children (12!). His birthday is celebrated on January 25th, and many toast him with this cocktail. In addition to writing the New Year's classic, "Auld Lang Syne", he wrote this gem, "The Answer" (can't you just here the Scottish brogue?):
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Ev’n thena wish (I mind its power)
A wish, that to my latest hour
Shall strongly heave my breast;
That I for poor auld Scotland’s sake
Some useful plan, or book could make,
Or sing a sang at least.
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You can find out more about Robert aka Bobby Burns here.
Here's the original cocktail from Darcy Cameron:
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Ingredients
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2¼ oz, 70 ml Blended scotch whisky such as Dewars 12-year
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1¼ oz, 37 ml Sweet vermouth. I use either Dolan rouge or Carpano Antica Formula.
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â…“ oz, 10 ml Benedictine D.O.M
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¼ oz. 7 ml Pernod (or Absinthe)
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Garnish: Lemon Peel
Swirl the Pernod in the glass and discard. For me, a little anise goes a long way so I use it as a rinse but traditionally it is added to the drink itself so you can do it either way.
Add the remaining liquid ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir for 30 seconds or until cold.
Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Twist the lemon peel over the cocktail to release oils and then use it as the garnish. It's traditional to serve the Bobby Burns with shortbread cookies on the side.
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Bootie and Bossy modifications: Bootie substituted the Scotch for Whidbey Island Distillery's Bunker Rye. She substituted the Benedictine for B and B (a mixture of brandy and Benedictine). Bossy substituted the Scotch for Sazerac Rye whiskey and also used B and B. We both used Carpano Antica Formula for the vermouth and we both left out the absinthe (but here's the pretty bottle Bootie is keeping on her liquor shelf in case anyone wants some).
