THE PENICILLIN COCKTAIL
Though getting the sniffles often results in forcing down cherry cough syrup, other natural ingredients are known to have healing properties—such as honey, lemon, and ginger. Enter: the Penicillin Cocktail, a sweet, sour, and smoky alcoholic beverage composed of these enticing herbal flavors!
While penicillin was discovered in the late 1920s, the cocktail version wasn’t created until 2005. Bartender Sam Ross of New York City’s Milk & Honey lounge was inspired by another of the bar’s signature cocktails: the Gold Rush, which featured bourbon, lemon juice, and honey. Ross replaced the bourbon with scotch, made a honey ginger syrup, and floated peaty scotch on top for a smoky flavor. Kick the last of the cold with a Penicillin Cocktail!
Revival Lounge | Photograph by Anne Godenham
Ingredients
- 2 ounces blended scotch
- ½ ounces fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounces honey ginger syrup
- ¼ ounces Islay scotch
Instructions
- Add the blended scotch, lemon juice, and honey ginger syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake well.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass over ice.
- Float the Islay scotch on top by pouring slowly over the back of a spoon.
- Add a garnish of candied ginger.
