Cameron's Kick recipe
A brilliant Prohibition-era harmony of Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, lemon, and nutty almond orgeat.
Method: Shake and fine strain ·
Glass: Chilled coupe glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 1 oz Blended Scotch whisky
- 1 oz Irish whiskey
- 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz Almond orgeat syrup
How to make a Cameron's Kick
- Add the blended Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and almond orgeat syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for approximately 10 to 15 seconds to thoroughly chill and aerate the ingredients.
- Double strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a chilled coupe glass.
- Express the essential oils from a fresh lemon peel over the surface of the drink.
- Discard the peel or gently rest it on the rim as a garnish and serve immediately.
Garnish
Garnish with an expressed lemon twist.
Pro tip
When selecting your orgeat, look for almond syrups featuring a touch of orange flower water to enhance the nutty profile. Adjust the shaking time to ensure proper dilution, as rich orgeat requires thorough chilling to balance the split whiskey base.
History of the Cameron's Kick
First appearing in Harry MacElhone's 1922 publication Harry's ABC of Mixing Cocktails, Cameron's Kick is widely attributed to the legendary bartender's time operating in London or Paris. While frequently cited as an early twentieth-century classic bridging Scottish and Irish whiskey traditions, its precise origin remains somewhat obscured by the shifting cocktail culture of the Prohibition era. The unconventional pairing of blended Scotch and Irish whiskey with almond orgeat represents a fascinating departure from standard whiskey sours of the period, though whether MacElhone created it himself or recorded an existing establishment recipe continues to be debated by cocktail historians.
Flavour profile
Nutty, Citrusy, Rich, Balanced
Variations
- Charo's Kick — Substitute tequila for Irish whiskey and mezcal for Scotch whisky to introduce an earthy, smoky agave profile.
- Islay Cameron — Swap half of the blended Scotch for a heavily peated Islay single malt to impart a deep smoky dimension.
Practise making the Cameron's Kick in the free Virtual Bar game.