PenicillinCocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
The Penicillin cocktail is a modern classic renowned for its harmonious blend of smoky and sweet flavors with a zesty citrus kick. The cocktail is typically based on a mixture of whiskey—often incorporating both blended Scotch and a peated single malt for depth—as well as the spicy warmth of ginger liqueur.
The addition of lemon juice brings a refreshing acidity to the drink, while honey syrup rounds it out with a smooth sweetness. Served in a lowball glass, the Penicillin offers a complex and soothing flavor profile that has made it a favorite among cocktail aficionados seeking a bold yet balanced libation.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Lowball / rocks glass
Ingredients
Cocktail Colin says:
The Penicillin cocktail masterfully combines the smokiness of whiskey with the sharp zest of lemon juice and the sweet warmth of honey and ginger liqueur, creating a truly therapeutic mixture. Its intricate balance of bold, smoky elements with refreshing citrus and spicy hints makes it appealing for those who appreciate a cocktail with depth and complexity.
Method
How to make a Penicillin
- Whiskey 30ml, Whiskey 30ml, Ginger liqueur 7.5ml, Lemon Juice 20ml, Honey syrup 15ml
-
- Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice
-
- Strain into a ice-filled rocks glass
-
- Garnish with a pineapple chunk and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Penicillin with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Incorporate a peat-forward single malt whiskey as a float over the finished drink instead of mixing it in, ensuring a distinct smoky aroma with each sip.
- Use fresh ginger juice if available, instead of ginger liqueur, for a more intense and natural ginger heat.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
Who invented the Penicillin cocktail and when?
The Penicillin cocktail was invented by Sam Ross in 2005 at the Milk & Honey bar in New York City. It quickly became a modern classic, known for its distinctive combination of smoky, spicy, and sweet flavors.
What is the significance of using two types of whiskey in the Penicillin cocktail?
Using two types of whiskey in the Penicillin cocktail creates a complex flavor profile. Typically, a blend of smoky Scotch and a smoother whiskey like a single malt or blended Scotch is used. The smoky Scotch adds a deep, peaty flavor, while the smoother whiskey balances it with a milder, sweeter taste, enhancing the cocktail's overall depth and character.
Can I substitute honey syrup with regular honey in the Penicillin cocktail?
Yes, you can substitute honey syrup with regular honey in the Penicillin cocktail, but you might need to adjust the consistency. Honey syrup is typically made by diluting honey with water, making it easier to mix into the cocktail. If using regular honey, consider warming it slightly or mixing it with a bit of hot water to achieve a consistency that will blend smoothly into the drink.
What is the best way to garnish the Penicillin cocktail?
The Penicillin cocktail is often garnished with a piece of candied ginger or a lemon twist. The candied ginger complements the ginger liqueur used in the drink, and the lemon twist adds a fragrant, citrus aroma that enhances the cocktail's flavors without overpowering them.
How do I make honey syrup for the Penicillin cocktail?
To make honey syrup for the Penicillin cocktail, combine equal parts honey and hot water in a container. Stir until the honey dissolves completely. Allow the syrup to cool before using it in your cocktail. This syrup can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Adjust the honey-to-water ratio based on your sweetness preference.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Savor this fruity raspberry whiskey cocktail twist
Raspberry Lynchburg
Whiskey, Raspberry liqueur, Sugar / simple Syrup, Lemon-Lime soda, Lime juice
Try this classic mix of amaretto and whiskey
Godfather
Whiskey, Amaretto
Experience this elegant blend of whiskey and sherry.
Rapscallion
Whiskey (Single malt Scotch), Aniseed liqueur (Pastis. To rinse the glass), Sherry (Dry) (Preferable Pedro Ximénez sherry)
Dive into this robust mix of whiskey and cola.
Jack's Godfather Highball
Whiskey, Amaretto, Cola
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments