🥃 Penicillin
Modern classic of blended Scotch, lemon and honey-ginger syrup, with a smoky Islay whisky float on top; created by Sam Ross in New York in 2005.
Penicillin is a modern classic cocktail: blended Scotch whisky, fresh lemon juice and honey-ginger syrup, with a smoky Islay whisky float on top. It was invented by the Australian Sam Ross in 2005 at the New York bar Milk & Honey. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) places the drink in the «New Era» category.
Recipe. According to the IBA, a few slices of fresh ginger are pressed in a shaker, then 60 ml of blended Scotch, 22.5 ml of lemon juice and 22.5 ml of honey syrup are added; it is shaken with ice and strained into a glass with ice. Islay single malt, 7.5 ml, is poured on top; the IBA names Lagavulin 16. It is garnished with candied ginger.
Origin. According to Punch, Ross had moved to the United States from Melbourne only a year earlier. He devised the drink as a variation on the Gold Rush, dividing the sweetening between honey and fresh ginger juice. The name is a joke: the drink contains honey, ginger and lemon, ingredients known as a folk remedy for colds. The cocktail has no healing properties.
Taste. The blended whisky gives a soft base, honey and ginger give sweetness and heat, and lemon gives sourness. The smoky Islay float adds a peaty aroma. According to Difford's Guide, Ross's own 2009 version replaced the syrup with a ginger liqueur.
Why this matters to you. Ginger and honey create a feeling of warmth, but the alcohol in the drink does not disappear. Alcohol does not cure a cold. The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | 2005, Milk & Honey, New York (Sam Ross) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | blended Scotch (60 ml per IBA), lemon juice, honey syrup, ginger, Islay whisky |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Penicillin → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Islay whisky, 🥃 Lagavulin
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Whisky
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Penicillin helps against colds?
No. The name is a joke, since honey, ginger and lemon are known as folk remedies. The drink contains alcohol and has no healing properties.
What goes into a Penicillin according to the IBA?
60 ml blended Scotch, 22.5 ml lemon juice, 22.5 ml honey syrup, ginger, and 7.5 ml of smoky Islay single malt on top.
Who created the Penicillin?
Sam Ross, in 2005, at the New York bar Milk & Honey, according to Difford's Guide and Punch.
Why is the Islay whisky poured on top?
To add a smoky, peaty aroma on top of the soft blended whisky; it is not mixed in but floated on the surface.
What does the name «Penicillin» refer to?
It refers to folk remedies for colds: honey, ginger and lemon, all of which are in the recipe.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Rusty Nail · 🥃 Old Fashioned · 🥃 Gin Basil Smash · 🥃 Paradise · 🥃 Pisco Sour · 🥃 Dark 'n' Stormy
Sources
- IBA — International Bartenders Association: Penicillin (New Era; 60 ml blended scotch, 7.5 ml Lagavulin 16-year, 22.5 ml fresh lemon juice, 22.5 ml honey syrup, ginger; Islay single malt floated on top)
- Difford's Guide: Penicillin cocktail — adapted from Sam Ross's 2005 recipe at Milk & Honey, New York; honey-ginger syrup, Islay whisky on top
- Punch: Penicillin modern classic cocktail recipe (Sam Ross at Milk & Honey, honey-ginger syrup, Islay single-malt float)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)