Barbecoa develops exclusive Dalmore cocktail  

‘The Real Red Stag’

The Dalmore distillery, home to some of the world’s most exceptional and unique single malt whiskies, has partnered with a mixologist from Jamie Oliver’s barbecue steakhouse Barbecoa, to create a new Dalmore cocktail named ‘The Real Red Stag’.

Mirka Kohutova who works as a mixologist at the UK’s first barbecue steakhouse, developed the drink in honour of The Dalmore 15 years old. Described by Mirka as ‘simple and undeniably beautiful’, the drink blends Bénédictine, raspberry syrup, lemon and aromatic bitters with the robust and elegant flavours of The Dalmore 15.

The cocktail is now available exclusively from Barbecoa in the City of London. ‘The Real Red Stag’ has proved a favourite with The Dalmore’s Master Distiller Richard Paterson, who commended creator Mirka for her creativity and craftsmanship in developing the distinctive taste of the new cocktail.

One of The Dalmore Principal Collection, The Dalmore 15 spends twelve years maturing in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before spending three years in three different sherry woods – Amoroso, Apostoles and Matusalem oloroso. With a taste of clementine, coffee and Christmas cake and with a finish of vanilla, ginger and red apples, this malt offers flavours of citrus, spice and orange which is perfectly complemented by the fruity hints of Mirka’s new recipe.

Mirka of Barbecoa said: “The Dalmore 15 is one of my favourite whiskies and because of its intense flavours of oranges, chocolate and particularly red fruits, I knew immediately that I wanted to highlight these by using raspberry as the key ingredient in my cocktail.  This is a simple cocktail in that it uses few ingredients, but key to its success is getting the balance of flavours just right so that they complement each other perfectly.”

Richard Paterson, The Dalmore’s Master Distiller said: “The Real Red Stag is the perfect combination of Dalmore, citrus and raspberry which invigorates the senses. This fruitiness, combined with the tastes of ginger and vanilla that come from the finishing flavours of The Dalmore 15, ensures that Mirka’s creation is a real delight to savour. I am lucky enough to have travelled all over the world and sampled many different drinks, but I have to say that The Real Red Stag is currently my cocktail of choice.” 

Recipe and method:

• 50ml Dalmore 15 years old
• 15ml Benedictine
• 3 barspoon’s home made raspberry syrup
• 10ml fresh lemon juice
• 1 dash of aromatic bitters

Mix together all ingredients, shake and strain into an embassy sours glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Notes

Images:

7:   Red Stag Cocktail with the Dalmore 15

11: The Dalmore 15 and other ingredients

14:  Mirka Kohutova with Red Stage cocktail

In 1263, Colin of Kintail, the Chief of the Clan Mackenzie, saved King Alexander III of Scotland from being gored by a stag whilst out hunting.

The saying ‘fortune favours the brave’ has never been truer for this heroic Scot, as the grateful King not only awarded him the lands of Eilean Donan and the motto ‘Luceo Non Uro’ which translates to ‘I shine, not burn’, but also granted the Mackenzie clan the right to bear a twelve-pointed Royal Stag as their crest.

This act of saving King Alexander III’s life would prove to be a defining moment for Colin of Kintail and in the history of The Dalmore.

In 1867 Andrew and Charles Mackenzie became custodians of The Dalmore distillery and not only did they use the iconic twelve pointed Royal Stag on every bottle, they also applied the pioneering bravery shown by their ancestors to their whisky making.