Scofflaw
A nod to the "Speakeasy"
- Method
- Shaken
- Style
- Classic
- Glass
- Nick and Nora
- Time
- 5 min
Ingredients
- 45mlRye Whiskey
No Rye Whiskey? Bourbon — rounder and sweeter — you lose rye's pepper, so the drink reads softer
- 30mlDry Vermouth
No Dry Vermouth? Blanc Vermouth — slightly less dry and more balanced
- 15mlLemon Juicefreshly squeezed
- 7.5mlGrenadine
- 2 dashesOrange Bitters
- Garnish
- Lemon or orange twist on a skewer
Make it well
Shaken, properly.
Add all ingredients to the and add ice
for 10-12 seconds
into the glass
Garnish with a of Lemon or Orange on a cocktail skewer
On the palate
On the nose it's oaky and woody. Strong and bright fruits. Our tasters say it seems peachy, there is no peach... On tasting, it's punchy and boozy, but very light. It's really bright and citrusy - not expected in a whiskey drink. If you want to get into whiskey, this is the whiskey drink you should try.
Where it came from
The Scofflaw cocktail arose in the dark days of the USA's Prohibition period. From 1920 to 1933, the USA prohibited the sale of alcohol and significantly restricted its consumption. Unsurprisingly, most ordinary citizens did not like the idea of government-enforced abstinence from alcohol and were soon clandestinely knocking back alcoholic beverages in "Speakeasy bars" across the country. In utter contempt of these insubordinate individuals, Delcevare King, banker and Prohibitionist zealot, offered a monetary prize for the best word to describe the "lawless drinker", the aim being to shame the drinking population into submission. "Scofflaw", a compound of "scoff" and "law", won the competition. Unfortunately for Mr King, far from wilting under a spotlight of disgrace, the lawless drinkers continued their merry ways. To make matters worse, the Scofflaw cocktail was created, likely in Paris in the 1920s, as a taunt to those across The Pond. An ironic legacy of a prominent Prohibitionist, the Scofflaw cocktail continues to be enjoyed by many a patron to this day.
Keep pouring
If you like the Scofflaw, try these
The bartender’s note
One drink, one story, one bottle worth buying.
Thursday evening, so you have time to shop. No more than that.