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Twisting the Rob Roy "Like a Boss"

Like a boss

For cocktail enthusiasts who appreciate complex, smoky flavors with a surprising twist, "Like a Boss" combines a nutty sesame oil-infused scotch with rich, coffee-infused sweet vermouth. Balanced with orange and aromatic bitters, and finished with cherry wood smoke, this drink is an experience for both the palate and the senses. It’s the perfect blend of smokiness, spice, and bittersweet warmth—a delightful cocktail for slow sipping in cozy settings.


Tasting Notes

The first sip brings out the warmth and nuttiness of the sesame oil in the scotch, melding smoothly with the deep, slightly bitter coffee-infused vermouth. The bitters add brightness and depth, balancing the drink’s earthy flavors with a hint of citrus and spice. The cherry wood smoke adds an aromatic experience, enveloping the cocktail with a smoky aroma that amplifies each sip.


Serving Suggestions

This cocktail is perfect for evening gatherings, especially around a fireplace or in dim, cozy settings where you can enjoy the rich aroma and smoky notes like a boss! It pairs well with savory appetizers like smoked almonds, blue cheese, or even a charcuterie board to enhance its complex flavors.

"Like a Boss" brings a distinctive twist on classic smoky and aromatic cocktails, making it ideal for anyone looking to elevate their cocktail experience with a unique fusion of flavors and presentation.

Note: This cocktail can be fully pre-batched, which not only speeds up service but also enhances the drink's consistency and balance. It’s well known that pre-batching certain types of cocktails—particularly those without juices or citrus—can significantly improve their flavor profile.


Some consideration about the "smoky presentation":

To create a stunning smoky finish, capture cherry wood smoke under a bell jar or glass cloche. Use a torch or smoking gun to ignite cherry wood chips, then quickly cover the top of the glass with the smoke-filled cloche. Allow the smoke to infuse for about 20 seconds before removing it.

Release the smoke in front of your guest for a captivating sensory experience. Garnish the cocktail with a single coffee bean or a small twist of orange peel.

Keep in mind that this technique primarily infuses smoke into the surface of the cocktail. For a deeper, more robust smoky flavor, you can repeat the process, starting by smoking the ice before mixing the cocktail and then smoking the finished drink.

Finally, as shown in the accompanying image, a smoking gun is just one of several tools you can use to achieve this dramatic presentation and infusion.


About the ingredients..


Sesame Oil-Infused Scotch:The sesame oil adds a subtle nuttiness that complements the scotch's smoky notes. You can find a complete article about this ingredients here


Coffee Bean-Infused Sweet Vermouth:Coffee’s bitterness and roasted flavor enhance the sweetness of vermouth, resulting in a richer, darker profile. For the full article about this ingredient click here


How to make "Like a Boss":


Tools:

Mixing Glass

Barspoon

Julep strainer

Smoking gun or cocktail smoker


Ingredients:

Serving: 1 dose


2 Dashes Orange bitters

1 Dash Angostura bitters

Garnish: Cherry wood smoke


Glass: Cognac glass or Nick & Nora (150ml)

Technique: Stir & Strain


Procedure:

  1. Pour all the ingredients into a chilled mixing glass according to the recipe.

  2. If the glass is not chilled, make sure to chill it before proceeding.

  3. Add enough ice cubes to the mixing glass to cover the liquid. At this stage, you can enhance the smokiness of the drink by smoking the ice and mixture. To do this, use a smoking tool to infuse the drink and ice with smoke for about 20 seconds, then skip step 6.

  4. Stir the mixture for 20 seconds, tasting occasionally to monitor the flavor and dilution.

  5. Once the desired dilution is achieved, strain the cocktail into the serving glass.

  6. If not done earlier, use a cocktail smoker or smoking gun to smoke the cocktail for about 15 seconds.

  7. Serve the cocktail, releasing the smoke in front of the guest for a dramatic presentation.


Shelf life:

Prebatch: 1 Month


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