merchant of perth

1 1/2 oz Great King Street Glasgow Blend Scotch (Famous Grouse)
3/4 oz Peychaud's Apertivo (Martini Aperitivo)
1/2 oz Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Oxford 1970)
1/4 oz Cynar
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into a Nick & Nora glass, and garnish with a grapefruit twist.Two Sundays ago, I returned to the Hawthorne bar bible and spotted the Merchant of Perth. This recipe created by bartender Rob Ficks was subtitled "Tradewinds down the River Tay," and it reminded me a little of bitter Scotch drinks like the Preceptor and Black Francis. While the recipe book called for a Compass Box blended Scotch, the name and subtitle refer to Joseph Brown who founded the Famous Grouse, so perhaps Rob originally utilized that. Once prepared, the Merchant of Perth met the nose with grapefruit over raisin aroma along with a hint of smoke. Next, a rich grape sip fell aside to Scotch and raisin flavors on the swallow that finished in a delightfully bitter-herbal way.