Discovering the essence of a Scottish legend
In the wonderful and often effervescent universe of the cocktail bar, one of the elixires who shines with its own light is undoubtedly the drambuie. This drink, which has its labyrinthine story anchored to the secrets of the Scottish castles, has conquered palates since 1745. The mixture of tradition and modernity that it offers makes everyone, from the most experienced mixologists to the rookies, search it with fervor.
A real adventure that knows honey and whiskey
The story of this drink is so intriguing that it seems taken from an adventure novel. It all started when the charismatic Prince Charles Edward Stuart, nicknamed ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’, reached the British coasts with high hopes of recovering the throne for his family. This prince, who came from Rome determined to form an army, brought with him a recipe that encapsulated his essence: a magical mixture of Scottish whiskey, heather honey and a secret variety of herbs and spices. Sadly, Charles’s dream ended in the defeat of Culloden in 1746, which led him to a life of exile and, eventually, to be rescued by the Mackinnon clan on the island of Skye.
The prince’s gift: the recipe in friends
In a gesture of gratitude for his loyalty, Charles delivered the recipe for his personal liquor to the leader of the Mackinnon clan, John Mackinnon. A century after the tragic events in battle, the story of this concoction took an interesting turn. John Ross, a hotel from the Broadford hotel, convinced the Mackinnon to allow him to replicate the liquor. When trying it, his regular friends described him as ‘an dram Buidheach’, which in Gaelic means ‘the drink he satisfies’. And who could resist that description?
From those times to today: a legacy that endures
The name of Dambuie was recorded as a mark in 1893, thanks to the cunning of Ross’s son, and in 1909 the productions in Edinburgh began. This elixir not only survived two world wars, but has also remained a jewel in the world of drinks. In 2014, he went to the renowned family business William Grant & Sons, who have jealously kept the recipe in a safe; A secret known only for three chosen, where one of them is in charge of mixing each Dambuie lot masterfully.
Drambuie: A Treasury for Modern Cocktails
But Dambuie’s story does not stop in his fascinating past. Today, this drink is the soul of innumerable creative cocktails that are a delight for the senses. From the rescued classics of nostalgia to daring innovations, bartenders around the world find inspiration in this exquisite mix that is, without a doubt, an icon in the art of cocktails.
Adventure flavor closure
So the next time you raise a glass of drambuie, remember that you are not only enjoying a delicious drink, but also centuries of history, real adventures and the magic of traditions. Health for drambuie, the elixir that never goes out of style!
