Start your dinner party the perfect way with this uncomplicated Affinity Cocktail recipe! Its mix of Scotch whisky, vermouth, and Angostura aromatic bitters creates the perfect beverage to start the night with style and sophistication.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
1 minute
Servings:
1
Calories:
174
Ingredients
- 1 oz Scotch Whisky
- 1 oz sweet Vermouth
- 1 oz dry Vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
- Lemon twist - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Cocktail Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Stirrer or Bar Spoon
Instructions
- Chill Glass: Start by putting ice cubes in your cocktail glass. Set it aside.
- Add Bitters: In the mixing glass, pour 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters.
- Add Sweet Vermouth: Add 1 oz sweet Vermouth to the stirring glass.
- Add Dry Vermouth: Add 1 oz dry Vermouth to the stirring glass.
- Add Scotch Whisky: Measure out and pour 1 oz Scotch Whisky of your choice into the mix.
- Add the ice and stir: Fill the stirring glass with ice cubes and stir the ingredients well (15-20 times).
- Strain: Discard the ice cubes in the cocktail glass. Once there is no ice left inside, strain the mixture into your chilled glass.
- Garnish: Garnish with a lemon twist.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Scotch Whisky: If you don't have Scotch whisky on hand, you can use bourbon or rye whiskey instead. Both will give the cocktail a different flavor profile but still work well with the other ingredients. Regarding the brands, feel free to experiment with any Scotch whisky of your choice!
- Sweet Vermouth: Although the Italian, bitter kind of vermouths are the best match here, you can use any kind of red vermouth for this recipe. You can also try and use a mix of ½ oz sweet (or red) vermouth and ½ oz of amaro for a more complex and bitter version of this drink.
- Dry Vermouth: For this recipe, a French dry vermouth would be my first choice but don’t worry if you don’t have any on hand: any kind of white vermouth can do the trick.
- Angostura Bitters: If you don't have Angostura bitters, orange bitters can be an alternative. They have a different flavor profile but will still add complexity to the cocktail. If you don’t have any bitter available, just skip this step altogether.
Making a Pitcher of Affinity Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 8 oz of Scotch whisky, 8 oz of sweet vermouth, 8 oz of dry vermouth, and 16 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and orange bitters. Stir well.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into individual chilled cocktail glasses, garnish with a lemon twist, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:Â
- Scotch Whisky Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic whisky substitute; several brands are available that mimic the smoky flavor of Scotch.
- Vermouth Substitute: For sweet and dry vermouth, you can use non-alcoholic versions or make a simple syrup infused with herbs and spices to mimic the flavors. In that case, use a little less than the original recipe mentions (½ ounce should do the trick). Your cocktail may otherwise get too sweet.
- Angostura Bitters: To give the drink its spicy undertones and make it more complex, you can still use bitters in this non-alcoholic version if you wish, as 2 dashes of bitter in an otherwise alcohol-free drink won’t raise the overall ABV of the drink. The drink will indeed chemically contain a drop of alcohol, but won’t make you intoxicated at all. Depending on your reason for not drinking alcohol and your degree of tolerance on the topic, this can be a suitable option. If not, of course, you can simply omit the bitters completely.
Making it Vegan:
The Affinity Cocktail is naturally vegan as it contains no animal products. However, always check your ingredients' labels to ensure they're vegan-friendly. Some brands may use animal products in their production process.What is an Affinity Cocktail?
An Affinity Cocktail is a whisky-based classic cocktail made of Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and Angostura bitters. This drink is stirred with ice before being strained into a chilled glass and garnished, typically with a cherry or lemon twist.
The preparation process for an Affinity Cocktail can be considered moderately difficult due to the precision required in balancing its ingredients and reaching the right temperature and dilution. The use of both sweet and dry vermouth necessitates careful measurement to ensure neither overpowers the distinctive smoky flavor of the Scotch whisky.
Interestingly enough, despite having its own unique identity within mixology circles, the Affinity cocktail is often seen as a variant of other well-known cocktails like the Manhattan because they share similar ingredient lists, methods of preparation, and overall balance.
What is an Affinity Cocktail made of – The ingredients
These are the ingredients you need to create an Affinity Cocktail:Â
- Scotch Whisky: The base spirit of the Affinity cocktail, it provides a robust and woody flavor.
- Sweet Vermouth: Adds a sweet, herbal complexity to balance the strong character of the whisky.
- Dry Vermouth: Contributes a lighter, more floral note to contrast with the richness of the other ingredients.
- Angostura Aromatic Bitters: Enhances the warm and spicy undertones in the cocktail and adds a subtle bitterness to round out the sweetness.
- Lemon Twist: Used as a garnish, it imparts a fresh citrus aroma that complements the overall flavor profile and balances it with a hint of freshness.
