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Piper At Arms is a Scotch martini in all but name. An ounce and a half of Scotch and an ounce of dry vermouth are stirred over ice, strained into a cocktail glass and finished with a lemon twist. The name, with its piper standing at arms, is a clear nod to the whisky.
It is a two-ingredient drink with a generous amount of vermouth, and that ratio is what makes it work. The dry, herbal vermouth smooths out the grain and malt in the whisky without hiding it, and the oil from the lemon twist adds brightness on top. It comes out drier and more austere than a Rob Roy, which uses sweet vermouth, and drinks more like a whisky aperitif than an after-dinner drink.
The choice of Scotch makes a big difference. A smooth blended whisky gives a clean, easy-drinking cocktail, while a smoky Islay turns it into something much bolder that will not suit everyone.
Glass: Cocktail glass | Strength: Strong | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 3 minutes
Bartenders tip: Stir for a good thirty seconds to get proper chill and dilution, since a drink this spirit-forward needs the water. Keep your vermouth in the fridge once it is opened, because old, oxidized vermouth is the most common reason a drink like this tastes flat. Express the lemon twist over the surface so the oils land on the drink before you drop it in.
Steps
- Combine the scotch and vermouth in a mixing glass half-filled with ice cubes.
- Stir well, and strain into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
