Penicillin cocktail in a rocks glass — Lemon juice

Penicillin Cocktail Recipe

boozy spicy smoky

scotch whisky, lemon juice, honey-ginger syrup, peated scotch

History

The Penicillin was created in 2005 by Australian bartender Sam Ross at Milk & Honey in New York. Building on the bar’s earlier Gold Rush (a honey-sweetened Bourbon Sour), Ross swapped in blended Scotch, added fresh ginger, and floated a peated Islay Scotch on top for aroma and smoke. The scotch and honey drink people search is this recipe — honey-ginger syrup and a peated Islay float, not a plain Scotch Sour. Named for its restorative, almost medicinal character, it quickly became one of the defining modern classics of the craft-cocktail renaissance—spicy, smoky, and still one of the most influential whiskey drinks of the 21st century.

Ingredients

scotch whisky 2 oz

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lemon juice 0.75 oz

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honey-ginger syrup 0.75 oz

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peated scotch 0.25 oz (float)

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Missing a bottle? Stock your pantry to see what else you can mix.

How to make

Shake scotch, lemon juice, and honey-ginger syrup with ice.
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Float the peated scotch on top.
Garnish with candied ginger.

Glassware

Rocks glass

Short and sturdy for spirit-forward drinks served on ice — easy to hold, stir, and sip without watering down too fast.

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Penicillin FAQ

Is a Penicillin a scotch and honey drink?

Yes. The scotch and honey drink people search is this recipe: blended Scotch shaken with lemon and honey-ginger syrup, then floated with peated Scotch. Honey-ginger plus the Islay float is what makes it a Penicillin, not a Scotch Sour.

What ingredients are in a Penicillin?

A Penicillin is made with scotch whisky, lemon juice, honey-ginger syrup, and peated scotch. Amounts and pantry matching are in the ingredients list on this page.

How do you make a Penicillin?

Shake scotch, lemon juice, and honey-ginger syrup with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Float the peated scotch on top. Garnish with candied ginger.

What glass do you serve a Penicillin in?

Serve a Penicillin in a Rocks glass. Short and sturdy for spirit-forward drinks served on ice — easy to hold, stir, and sip without watering down too fast.