Braveheart recipe
A vibrant, ginger-forward scotch creation born from the modern Los Angeles cocktail renaissance.
Method: Shake and strain ·
Glass: Rocks glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: Modern Classics
Ingredients
- 2 oz Blended Scotch whisky (Preferably a malt-forward blend)
- 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice (Bright and freshly squeezed)
- 0.75 oz Ginger-honey syrup (3:1 honey syrup infused with fresh ginger juice)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters (For aromatic depth)
How to make a Braveheart
- Add the blended Scotch whisky, fresh lemon juice, ginger-honey syrup, and Angostura bitters into a shaker tin with cubed ice.
- Shake vigorously for ten to twelve seconds until thoroughly chilled and diluted.
- Double strain the mixture into a heavy rocks glass filled with a fresh, large crystal-clear ice cube.
- Garnish the surface with a piece of candied ginger.
Garnish
Garnish with a candied ginger slice.
Pro tip
When preparing the ginger-honey syrup, blend three parts honey syrup with one part fresh cold-pressed ginger juice rather than boiling ginger root, preserving a bright, punchy spice without medicinal bitterness.
History of the Braveheart
Emerging from the inventive Los Angeles craft cocktail scene during the contemporary cocktail renaissance, the Braveheart is widely credited as a spirited cousin to the modern classic Penicillin. While exact attribution to a single bartender remains occasionally debated among craft circles, the drink gained traction as bartenders sought a non-smoky, amber-forward profile that leaned heavily into fiery ginger and rich honey. By omitting the traditional peated Scotch whisky float entirely, this variation allows smooth blended Scotch and aromatic bitters to shine against a vibrant backdrop of citrus and spice.
Flavour profile
Citrus, Ginger, Honey, Whisky
Variations
- Highland Smoke — Add a quarter-ounce float of heavily peated Islay single malt Scotch over the top just before serving.
- Autumn Orchard — Substitute half the blended Scotch whisky with Calvados and add a dash of cinnamon tincture.
Practise making the Braveheart in the free Virtual Bar game.