The Rob Roy is a Manhattan made with Scotch — stirred, served up, and slightly smoky. Named after the Scottish folk hero, it's one of the oldest whiskey cocktails in the American bar canon. Here's the non-alcoholic version.
What You Need
- 2 oz No. 86 Non-Alcoholic Whiskey
- 1 oz non-alcoholic sweet vermouth (Lyre's Aperitif Rosso)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters (All the Bitter makes a great non-alcoholic version)
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Ice
- Coupe or Nick & Nora glass, chilled
- Maraschino cherry or orange twist to garnish
How to Make It
- Chill your coupe by filling it with ice water while you prepare the drink.
- Combine No. 86, sweet vermouth, and both bitters in a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir for 30 seconds — slow and steady. The goal is dilution and chill, not aeration.
- Discard the ice water from your coupe. Strain the cocktail in.
- Garnish with a cherry or an expressed orange twist.
Rob Roy vs Manhattan
Nearly identical drinks — the Rob Roy traditionally uses Scotch whisky (smoky, peaty) while the Manhattan uses American whiskey (sweeter, fuller). No. 86's dry finish and oak character sits between the two, making it a natural fit for either format. The orange bitters in this recipe adds a brightness that distinguishes it slightly from a straight Manhattan.
Sweet, Dry, or Perfect
Like a Manhattan, the Rob Roy can be made three ways: sweet (sweet vermouth), dry (dry vermouth), or perfect (half sweet, half dry). This recipe uses sweet vermouth — the classic. A dry Rob Roy is less common but excellent if you prefer less sweetness. A perfect Rob Roy splits the vermouth evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a Rob Roy and a Manhattan?
The base spirit. Rob Roy = Scotch. Manhattan = bourbon or rye. Same ratio, same method, different character. No. 86 works beautifully in either format. Here's the Manhattan recipe.
Do I have to serve it up?
No — you can strain it over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Serving up (no ice) is traditional and keeps the drink from diluting further, but the on-the-rocks version is equally valid.
What vermouth should I use?
Lyre's Aperitif Rosso is the most widely available non-alcoholic sweet vermouth and works well here. Keep it refrigerated after opening — vermouth goes stale quickly at room temperature.
Stirred. Served up. Old school.
No. 86 makes a Rob Roy worth making — the Scotch Manhattan, without the Scotch.
→ Shop No. 86 — from $35.99
Make this recipe with No. 86 non-alcoholic whiskey — built for cocktails like this one.