First Point Penicillin Recipe
Monkey Shoulder blended scotch, First Point IPA, lemon, honey ginger, essence of mezcal
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Ingredients
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Cocktail Base
Honey-Ginger Syrup
Finishes & Garnish
Method
Honey-Ginger Syrup
- 1
Make syrup
Combine 0.75 oz raw honey, 1 oz sliced fresh ginger and 1 oz water in a small saucepan. Warm gently over low heat, stirring until honey dissolves and syrup takes on ginger flavor, about 5–7 minutes. Do not boil. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 10–15 minutes for stronger ginger intensity. Strain out ginger and cool to room temperature. Yields roughly 1.5–2 oz syrup.
Build the Cocktail
- 2
Chill glass
If desired, chill a rocks glass or double old-fashioned glass by filling it with ice and water while you prepare the drink.
- 3
Combine spirits and citrus
In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz Monkey Shoulder blended scotch, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.75 oz of the cooled honey-ginger syrup.
- 4
Dry shake (optional)
If you want a slightly silkier texture, give the mixture a quick dry shake without ice for 5–7 seconds to integrate flavors.
- 5
Shake with ice
Add plenty of fresh ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until well chilled (cocktail shaker becomes cold to the touch).
- 6
Strain
Discard water from the chilled glass. Strain the cocktail into the rocks glass over one large ice cube or fresh ice.
- 7
Top with IPA
Gently float or pour 1 oz First Point IPA over the back of a spoon onto the cocktail to retain some effervescence and create a layered interplay between malt/hop bitterness and Scotch.
Mezcal Essence & Garnish
- 8
Add mezcal essence
Measure 0.25 oz mezcal. You can either: (A) add it gently to the top to keep a smoky edge, or (B) lightly rinse the inside of a small shot glass with the mezcal and discard the excess, then invert the shot glass over the served cocktail for a short smoky aroma (option B is the more subtle 'essence' method).
- 9
Finish with lemon oil and garnish
Express the oils of 1 lemon peel over the drink by twisting the peel skin-side down about 2–3 inches above the surface, then wipe the rim with the peel and drop it in or place on the ice. Garnish with a piece of candied ginger or a fresh ginger slice on a pick.
- 10
Serve
Serve immediately so the IPA retains bubbles and the mezcal essence is most aromatic. Advise the drinker to sip and notice the contrast between the smoky mezcal note, malty/hoppy IPA, honeyed ginger sweetness and the backbone of blended Scotch.