Highland Fling Cocktail
The Highland Fling Cocktail is a delightful blend of Scotch whisky, honey, and fresh lemon juice, offering a harmonious balance of sweetness and tartness.
- 5 min
- Easy
- Cocktail glass
- 4 ingredients
Highland Fling Cocktail
Ingredients
- Scotch1½ oz
- Sweet Vermouth¾ oz
- Orange bitters2 dashes
- Olive1
Method
- Stir all ingredients (except olive) with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
- Add the olive and serve.
What you need
Nothing fancy. Here is what to look for. We earn a small cut if you buy through these links, at no cost to you.
Aromatic bitters
One small bottle lasts for years and improves almost every stirred drink.
See on Amazon ↗The hero bottle
Scotch whisky often gets pigeonholed as a spirit meant only for neat sipping or on the rocks. While there's certainly nothing wrong with enjoying a fine single malt straight, this perception has left scotch woefully underutilised in the cocktail world.
See 18 Scotch drinksWhere it comes from
The Highland Fling celebrates Scottish heritage through a sophisticated blend of Scotch whisky and cherry liqueur, reflecting the traditions of Scottish drinking culture. This cocktail emerged as a refined expression of Highland distillery pride, combining robust malt whisky with the sweetness of cherry for balance. The drink represents the cultural intersection between Scottish tradition and cosmopolitan cocktail culture, particularly popular in upscale establishments.
Tips from the bar
- Use a single-malt Scotch from the Highlands for authentic flavor
- Cherry liqueur should be premium quality and not overly sweet
- Stir rather than shake to maintain the integrity of the whisky
- Serve in a coupe glass to appreciate the drink's elegant appearance
- Add a cherry garnish and express the lemon twist over the surface
Twists worth trying
- Rob Roy
- A whisky martini variation with sweet vermouth and bitters
- Rusty Nail
- A Scotch whisky drink with Drambuie creating honeyed sweetness
- Blood and Sand
- A complex cocktail mixing Scotch, cherry liqueur, and sweet vermouth
What to eat with it
- Scottish shortbread
- Smoked salmon
- Venison steak
- Haggis with root vegetables
- Aged cheddar with oatcakes
The finished drink
Questions
What is in a Highland Fling Cocktail?
A Highland Fling Cocktail is made with scotch, sweet vermouth, orange bitters, olive.
What glass do you use for a Highland Fling Cocktail?
Serve a Highland Fling Cocktail in a cocktail glass.
What does a Highland Fling Cocktail taste like?
Expect smoky, fruity, herbal.
What can I make with Scotch?
We have 18 drinks built around Scotch. See them all on the Scotch page.
More with Scotch
Every Scotch drink →One good drink, every Friday.
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