Penicillin Cocktail Recipe

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Penicillin cocktail is a modern classic that’s similar to a Whiskey Sour but with a distinct smokiness, ginger spiciness and honey richness.

“It’s light and fresh. There’s some smokiness from the Peated Single Malt Islay Whisky, a little bit of fieriness from the Ginger, and the Scotch Whisky that brings it all together,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.

How To Make a Penicillin Cocktail

What You’ll Need

• Jigger or Measuring Instrument 
• Boston Shaker
• Citrus Elbow
• Paring Knife
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Rocks Glass

How to Mix

1. Cut one Lemon in half using a Paring Knife.
2. Juice the Lemon half with a Citrus Press directly into a Jigger.
3. Measure and pour the Lemon Juice from the Jigger into the smaller tin of your Boston Shaker.
4. Add Honey Syrup to the Shaker, followed by Peated Single Malt Islay Whisky.
5. Pour Ginger Liqueur into the Shaker, then add Blended Scotch Whisky.
6. Fill the Shaker with Ice Cubes, connect the smaller tin to the larger tin, and shake vigorously until cold.
7. Fill a Rocks Glass with Ice Cubes.
8. Open the Shaker, place a Hawthorne Strainer over the larger tin, and pour the cocktail into the Rocks Glass.
9. Top the Glass with Crushed Ice.
10. Skewer two pieces of Candied Ginger and set the skewer on the side of the Glass.
11. Sip and enjoy!

The History of the Penicillin Cocktail

The Penicillin cocktail was created in New York in 2005 by a legendary Australian bartender living in New York. The bar itself was one of the most influential bars of the 21st century.

The Penicillin was inspired by the Gold Rush, another drink created by the same bartender. The drink quickly established itself as a modern-classic cocktail and, today, can be found in bars all around the world.

In 2024, it was said to be the 11th most commonly ordered cocktail at bars worldwide.

Tips for Making the Perfect Penicillin Cocktail

• Choose your Ginger Liqueur wisely
  As Rico suggests, “Choose the best Ginger Liqueur you can afford. Choose something with a little bit of punchiness and something that has a strong Ginger flavor.” The flavor of Ginger really comes through in this drink, so make sure you choose a Ginger Liqueur you enjoy.
• Honey-Ginger Syrup
  While the recipe on this page uses Honey Syrup, the original Penicillin cocktail uses Honey-Ginger Syrup. However, we wanted to offer a simplified at-home version of the Penicillin cocktail as the process of Honey-Ginger Syrup takes a lot longer.
  
  There are several ways to make Honey-Ginger Syrup. The easiest way to make it is to follow the same steps as you would for Simple Syrup but using a ratio of 3 parts honey to 1 part water. Next, peel and finely chop a piece of Ginger Root. Add the Ginger to the mixture and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, remove it from the heat and allow it to steep for 30 minutes.Finally, strain out the Ginger pieces before using the Syrup.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for the Penicillin Cocktail

Serve your Penicillin cocktail in a Rocks Glass filled with Ice Cubes, and garnish with a couple of skewered Candied Ginger Cubes placed on the rim of your Glass.