Around the World in 60 Cocktails: The Old Man

Anyone who is familiar with Harry Potter will be aware that magical creatures of all kind exist. Talking centaurs, gigantic spiders and three-headed dogs have all come to light since the boy wizard captured our hearts in the early part of the century. While many of J.K. Rowling’s creatures may have been given a liberal dash of artistic license, one of the best-loved characters – Hagrid the (half) Giant – is almost certainly based on local Scottish legend.

Giants occur frequently in traditional Scottish folklore and in particular, are associated with the landscape and peoples of Western Scotland. One of the enduring stories relating to the Old Man of Storr is that it was the thumb of a giant who, when he died, became buried in the earth.

While this signature twist on the modern classic Penicillin cocktail thankfully uses no body parts, it does use delicious Drambuie Scotch whisky, the Isle of Skye’s famous Talisker single malt and Naked Grouse, a unique blended whisky known for its rich and fruity flavor.

Although we can’t guarantee any magical beasts, we can guarantee all the magic of Scotland in a single glass. Perfect for keeping the giants at bay.