Which Scotch makes a good Rob Roy

[burbankbrewer]

I just want to make a good Roy Rob. I tried my Johnny Walker Black Label for kicks but found it too smokey and would rather drink it neat for that money.

[TNbourbon]

Try Famous Grouse, which is the favorite blend in Scotland itself, where they reputedly know a little about Scotch whisky. It's a value play, too, along the lines of Rittenhouse BIB or VROHH BIB 10yo -- well, okay, at the somewhat higher Scotch level. Good all-around Scotch.

[texascarl]

I use Teachers Highland Cream in my Rusty Nails, there's more 'bacon' than just smoke in it, to my tastes. Price is good, too. Teachers bought up their single malt providers back in the 19th century, before all the cool kids got hep.

[pepcycle]

Here's my recipe for a great Rob Roy

2 Oz Bourbon

.5 oz Sweet Vermouth

Dash of bitters

Shake with Ice and serve Up.

(Please notice the lack of scotch in my recipe or the resemblance to a Rob Roy. "Good Rob Roy" may be a oxymoron)

[burbankbrewer]

Here's my recipe for a great Rob Roy

2 Oz Bourbon

.5 oz Sweet Vermouth

Dash of bitters

Shake with Ice and serve Up.

(Please notice the lack of scotch in my recipe or the resemblance to a Rob Roy. "Good Rob Roy" may be a oxymoron)

Ok I'll bite. What's your recipe for a "Great Manhattan" ?

[burbankbrewer]

Try Famous Grouse, which is the favorite blend in Scotland itself, where they reputedly know a little about Scotch whisky. It's a value play, too, along the lines of Rittenhouse BIB or VROHH BIB 10yo -- well, okay, at the somewhat higher Scotch level. Good all-around Scotch.

Do you like this better than JW Red Label?

[TNbourbon]

Do you like this better than JW Red Label?

Yes, especially considering price. I find JW Red pretty bland, with Grouse displaying a roasted-nut, dried heather motif present in many Highland single malts that appeal to me.

For whatever it's worth -- but, it's from where I first became aware of it -- the Beverage Tasting Institute includes it as the blended Scotch in its 'thrift' bar lineup:

http://www.tastings.com/spirits/best_bar.html

[pepcycle]

My Tongue in Cheek recipe was made to emphasize that Scotch doesn't make many good cocktails.

If you must use Soctch in a Rob Roy, then history would dictate Dewar's White Label as being the correct scotch blend.

If memory serves me correctly, both Dewar's white and the play Rob Roy appeared in NYC about the time of the "new" cocktail.

[burbankbrewer]

My Tongue in Cheek recipe was made to emphasize that Scotch doesn't make many good cocktails.

If you must use Soctch in a Rob Roy, then history would dictate Dewar's White Label as being the correct scotch blend.

If memory serves me correctly, both Dewar's white and the play Rob Roy appeared in NYC about the time of the "new" cocktail.

Thanks Mr. Ed. From thebar.com they suggest a recipe like this.

1 oz. Johnnie Walker Red Label

.5 oz. sweet vermouth

.5 oz. dry vermouth

1 dash Grand Marnier

Combine in a rocks glass over ice and stir

Optional: Add dash of Grand Marnier

But they own the JW brand. I'm just looking for something different in a mixed drink without using an expensive spirit.

[boss302]

I just want to make a good Roy Rob. I tried my Johnny Walker Black Label for kicks but found it too smokey and would rather drink it neat for that money.

I tend to go with Cutty Sark or Justerini & Brooks (aka "J&B") for my Rob Roys. If I had to pick two scotch whiskies based in "mixability", those would be it.

They contain a higher amount of grain whisky than Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, and Dewar's, hence their lighter body and more mild taste.

[whiskydude]

+1 for the Famous Grouse. I really good Scotch for the price. I like it on the rocks and prefer it over Dewers or Jw black or red. JW Blk is a little to smokey for me. J&B is a good whisky also, but as was said, much more mild in flavor with the higher percentage of GNS. Those are my choices when at an unfamiliar bar. Many places have them on hand but if not I will take a Jamesons!

[boss302]

+1 for the Famous Grouse. I really good Scotch for the price. I like it on the rocks and prefer it over Dewers or Jw black or red. JW Blk is a little to smokey for me. J&B is a good whisky also, but as was said, much more mild in flavor with the higher percentage of GNS. Those are my choices when at an unfamiliar bar. Many places have them on hand but if not I will take a Jamesons!

Whiskydude,

I want to make a clarification here--

J&B does NOT use Grain Neutral Spirits (GNS). In fact, no blended Scotch whisky that i know of does.

I mentioned that most blenders use more Grain Whisky (any whisky that is not made exclusively from malted barley)-- Single Grain Whiskies from Scotland tend to use both malted and un-malted barley, sometimes with a small amount of corn as well.

Again, it's not the most important bit of information, but I didn't want new scotch drinkers to get the wrong idea. Adding GNS to a Scotch Whisky would violate the guidelines that determine a Scotch Whisky.

[whiskydude]

Whiskydude,

I want to make a clarification here--

J&B does NOT use Grain Neutral Spirits (GNS). In fact, no blended Scotch whisky that i know of does.

I mentioned that most blenders use more Grain Whisky (any whisky that is not made exclusively from malted barley)-- Single Grain Whiskies from Scotland tend to use both malted and un-malted barley, sometimes with a small amount of corn as well.

Again, it's not the most important bit of information, but I didn't want new scotch drinkers to get the wrong idea. Adding GNS to a Scotch Whisky would violate the guidelines that determine a Scotch Whisky.

Sorry for the misinfo and thanks for the clarification as I was unaware of the difference between the two. I will do some searching on the site to look for the differences or post a thread with questions if I don't find it from the search. Don't want to hijack this one. Nice avatar by the way.