David Thornton
The Rob Roy is essentially a Manhattan with Scotch whisky, named after the 1894 operetta about Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor. Where the Manhattan is bold and spicy (thanks to rye), the Rob Roy is smoother and more rounded, with the Scotch adding gentle smoke and malt character.
Scotch Selection
A good blended Scotch works best — Famous Grouse, Johnnie Walker Black, or Dewar's 12. Single malts can work but choose carefully: a heavily peated Islay malt will overpower the vermouth, while a gentle Speyside like Glenfiddich creates a lovely balance.
Variations
A "Perfect" Rob Roy uses equal parts sweet and dry vermouth. A "Dry" Rob Roy uses only dry vermouth. The classic sweet version remains the most popular.
