how to make an affinity cocktail: a martini with scotch whisky

The Affinity cocktail is a variation of the Perfect Martini. The Perfect Martini uses equals parts of Sweet and Dry Vermouth along with the Gin as the base. The Affinity cocktail uses Scotch Whisky as the base spirit. It is further enhanced with some orange bitters. This cocktail works best as a before (or during) dinner drink.

You can view the Affinity cocktail as a variation of the Perfect Manhattan as well but made with Scotch Whiskey. The smoky flavor of the Scotch makes for an unique flavor. The three main ingredients are in equal parts which makes it different from another similar drink, the Perfect Rob Roy.

So, the drink is pretty similar to a Perfect Rob Roy, except for the proportions of the main ingredients. Also, a different bitter is used with Rob Roy such as Peychaud or Angostura.

Ingredients

  • 1 shot of Scotch Whisky
  • 1 shot of Dry Vermouth
  • 1 shot of Sweet Vermouth
  • 2 dashes of Orange Bitters
  • Lemon twist or Cherry for garnish (optional)

Preparation

  1. Add ice cubes into the martini shaker
  2. Add a shot of Scotch Whiskey into the shaker
  3. Add a shot of the Dry Vermouth
  4. Add a shot of the sweet Vermouth
  5. Shake well to mix the ingredients
  6. Add couple of dashes of Orange bitters into a chilled martini glass
  7. Swirl the bitters around the glass to evenly coat the inside of the glass
  8. Strain the contents of the shaker into the chilled martini glass
  9. Garnish with a lemon peel or a cherry
Affinity Cocktail in a chilled martini glass

Variations and Similar Drinks

  • Perfect Martini: Substitute the Whisky in this recipe with Gin and you get the Perfect Martini.  Also, you should not use the bitters.
  • Perfect Manhattan: You can substitute the Scotch Whisky in this recipe with either Rye Whiskey or a Bourbon. Also, use either the Peychaud’s or Angostura bitters instead of the orange bitters.
  • Perfect Rob Roy: A very similar drink with different proportions of the ingredients. Also, use Angostura or Peychaud’s bitters instead.

Tips and Variations

  • Another variation of the Affinity cocktail is to substitute Whiskey with Crème Yvette. Crème Yvette is a spicy violet flavored liqueur.
  • You can use Angostura bitters instead of the Orange bitter for a different flavor. Different types of bitters will enhance and alter the taste of the drink.
  • I prefer to shake the drink in a cocktail shaker, but you can also stir the ingredients in a high glass with ice.
  • I also prefer to add the bitters into the glass rather than shake it with other ingredients. Shaking with the bitters gives you a different taste than adding it later.
  • I prefer to use Dolin for both dry and sweet vermouth, but you could use one that suits your taste.