Turning the bottle, the back label read: "After the heroic Jacobite rebellion of 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped from Scotland leaving the legacy of his royal recipe, which remained a secret for generations on the Isle of Skye."
What!???? I am someone more than happily reading Diana Gabaldon's 4th novel (Drums of Autumn) and owns seasons one and two of Starz's Outlander series but who didn't know she had Charles Stuart's favorite drink!? In her own possession!?
I immediately knew that I had to find a cocktail that uses Drambuie--or create one.
I started researching cocktails in Mittie Hellmich's Bar Book-The Comprehensive Guide and found The Bent Nail which called for Drambuie, Kirsh and a blended whisky. I made it, but for me it was just too strong and I didn't get enough of the cherry.
I was determined. A quest to Lucas liquor was in order, a search for a high quality but mid-priced cherry liqueur. With the help of a nobly kind clerk, I settled on Heering Cherry Liqueur from Denmark. It has a lovely, festive red color and just the right amount of sweetness. Just in time for the holidays.
My blended whiskey for this cocktail is Triple Crown. Triple Crown is locally produced nearby in Weston, Missouri. Everyone probably has their favorite. I know I have also used Canadian blended whiskeys before.
I've come up with a delightful holiday cocktail that is enthusiastically approved by my much-esteemed panel of critics (my two daughters). So I present............
The Scottish Poodle
1 oz Drambuie
3/4 oz Cherry Liqueur (I used Heerings)
1/2 blended whiskey (I used Triple Crown)
chilled Club Soda
Maraschino Cherries
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker mix the Drambuie, Cherry Liqueur and whisky, add ice and shake. Fill an Old Fashioned Glass half full with ice and add strained cocktail. Fill the glass to the top with the club soda, stir, add cherries and enjoy!
Here are two other ways that the men in the family found to use Drambuie and Heering at Thanksgiving. Michael added Drambuie to Dr. Pepper and soaked it up. Son in law, Lark, made his own version of Cherry Dr. Pepper with Herring. I did sip both of these and will say they were very good. But the girls and I will take our cocktails any day.
Sophia and Niko
Getting into the season is Sophia and Niko in their Christmas plaids that I made for them a couple of years ago. Niko is so funny when it comes to pictures. Normally he is a big baby, funny and just "Nicky". When he knows it is picture time, he sits up straight and gets his macho on and becomes "Niko", his given name. Sophia never changes for anything. She just likes to get dressed up.
And just for fun--while sipping on my new holiday cocktail--I had to do something for this post in Photoshop. Meet Greyson from Clan McPoodle.
Every one have a blessed, calm and joyful holiday season. Take care until we meet again.
Terri and the Pack
