Penicillin Recipe
Scotch, lemon, honey and ginger with a smoky float.
The Penicillin is a Scotch whisky sour sweetened with honey-ginger syrup and finished with a float of smoky Islay single malt. It is warming, spicy and tart, and it is widely regarded as the most successful new cocktail of the 21st century.
Ingredients
- 50 ml Blended Scotch whisky
- 20 ml Fresh lemon juice
- 20 ml Honey-ginger syrup See the tips for the syrup
- 10 ml Islay single malt Scotch Floated on top
- 1 piece Candied ginger For the garnish
Garnish: Candied ginger
How to Make a Penicillin
- Add the blended Scotch, lemon juice and honey-ginger syrup to a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.
- Pour the Islay whisky gently over the back of a spoon so that it floats on top.
- Garnish with a piece of candied ginger.
Best Bottles for a Penicillin in India
A lightly smoky blend for the base
Softer and honeyed
Light and affordable
The classic peated float
Extra smoke if you skip the float
An Indian peated malt for the float
Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.
Tips for a Better Penicillin
- Honey-ginger syrup: simmer 100g of honey, 100ml of water and a 5cm piece of sliced fresh ginger for 5 minutes. Cool, strain and keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- Do not stir after adding the Islay float. The smoky aroma on top is the signature of the drink.
- For more ginger heat, muddle 2 slices of fresh ginger in the shaker.
About the Penicillin
Sam Ross, a bartender from Melbourne, Australia, created the Penicillin in 2005 at Milk & Honey in New York. He built it as a variation on the Gold Rush, the bar's sour of bourbon, lemon and honey.
His changes were to use blended Scotch, add fresh ginger to the honey syrup and float a small measure of heavily peated Islay whisky on top, so that the first thing you notice is smoke. The name is a joke about the cold-remedy ingredients: whisky, lemon, honey and ginger.
The drink travelled around the world without any brand behind it and now appears on menus from New York and London to Sydney and Mumbai. The IBA lists it as an official cocktail. It is one of the best introductions to peated Scotch for people who think they dislike smoky whisky.
Penicillin Variations
- Gold Rush: bourbon, lemon and honey syrup, with no ginger or smoke.
- Mezcal Penicillin: tequila as the base with a float of mezcal.
- Hot Penicillin: build it in a mug and top with hot water, like a toddy.
- Indian Malt Penicillin: a blended Scotch base with a float of peated Indian single malt.
- Whisky Sour: the simpler original, with lemon and sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Penicillin?
How strong is a Penicillin?
What Scotch should you use in a Penicillin?
Can you make a Penicillin without Islay whisky?
Why is it called a Penicillin?
Who invented the Penicillin cocktail?
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