A Scottish twist on the manhattan that’s an ideal after-dinner nip for the cold months ahead
Winter evenings in Perthshire can get rather chilly, and this cocktail comes into its own as the days get ever shorter and the nights longer. It’s a riff on a manhattan, featuring elderberry liqueur, and is the sort of drink to enjoy as an after-dinner sipper while chatting long into the night in front of the fire.
A Naughty Night
Serves 1
35ml blended scotch
25ml elderberry liqueur – I use Aelder’s Elixir, but Gibson’s will also work, as would Lyme Bay’s elderberry and port number
25ml sweet red vermouth (for a drier finish, use a tawny or ruby port instead)
2-3 dashes orange bitters
1 strip orange peel, to finish
Pour all the liquids into a mixing glass, add a handful of ice and stir to chill and dilute for 30-40 seconds, until the mix is ice-cold. Strain into a martini or nick & nora glass, twist the orange peel over the top to release the essential oils over the surface of the drink, drop it into the glass and serve.
Niall Aitken, head barman, Killiecrankie House, Perthshire
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