The Brogue Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/13/21
The Brogue Scotch and Lavender Cocktail

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Syrup: 60 mins
Total: 63 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
257 Calories
3g Fat
32g Carbs
9g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 257
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 84mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 10g 34%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 56mg 279%
Calcium 530mg 41%
Iron 20mg 113%
Potassium 959mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The brogue is an intriguing Scotch whisky cocktail that is an absolute pleasure to drink. You can think of this recipe as a lavender-infused rusty nail, which is fantastic if you want to give the iconic whisky cocktail a floral sweetness that's more fitting for spring and summer affairs.

The recipe was created by New York City mixologist Leo Robitschek of Eleven Madison Park. It was designed to feature a smoky scotch whisky.

The scotch is paired with Drambuie, just like the rusty nail. Yet, things get interesting when the lavender honey syrup is added. It's an ingredient you will need to make yourself, but it's very easy and will be ready within an hour. Use it in this recipe, then enjoy it in other cocktails that use lavender syrup.

Ingredients

For the Lavender Honey Syrup:

  • 1 cup water

  • 1 tablespoon lavender buds

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1/2 cup honey

For the Cocktail:

Steps to Make It

Make the Lavender Honey Syrup

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil and add the lavender flowers.

  3. Stir in the sugar and honey until the sugar's completely dissolved and the honey's fully incorporated.

  4. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.

  5. Remove the pan from the heat, keep covered, and let the syrup cool completely.

  6. Strain out the lavender. Bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Make the Brogue Cocktail

  1. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the scotch, Drambuie, lemon juice, and lavender honey syrup.

  2. Shake well.

  3. Strain into an old-fashioned glass,

  4. Garnish with dried lavender. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Fresh lemon juice is highly recommended to maintain the quality this cocktail deserves. The average lemon yields 1 3/4 ounces of juice, so you can get away with squeezing the juice of half a lemon directly into the shaker.
  • The recipe was designed to use a smokier scotch so it will not get lost in this mix. If you prefer something a little gentler, try a smooth blended scotch.

How Strong Is a Brogue Cocktail?

The scotch and Drambuie are the same strength (80 proof) and together they outweigh the cocktail's nonalcoholic mixers. This means the brogue is a pretty strong drink, weighing in at 21 percent ABV (42 proof). While it's gentler than the rusty nail, it's still half the strength of drinking the whisky straight.