May 8, 2026 – 5.00am
Sometimes a stunt cocktail outlives the cultural phenomenon that inspired it. Such is the case with the Rob Roy. The stiff, blood-orange-hued classic was created in 1894 by bartender Charles McPherson at the original Waldorf Astoria on New York’s Fifth Avenue (now the site of the Empire State Building).
The drink was designed to ride the coattails of the Broadway operetta of the moment – composer Reginald De Koven’s Rob Roy, a musical tribute to the Scottish folk hero. It’s essentially a Manhattan reworked with scotch in place of bourbon or rye. Sweet vermouth takes the edge off and Angostura bitters bring depth. A maraschino cherry to garnish is the reward at the bitter-sweet end.
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