This week, as the winds sweep over Scotland’s fairways and the Genesis Scottish Open tees off, there’s more than a little extra electricity in the air. Hometown hero Robert “Bobby” MacIntyre is returning after breaking a 25-year drought for Scottish winners last summer. And if you’re the type who likes to toast a moment with something strong and soulful in hand, there’s no better glass to raise than the “Bobby Mac,” a cocktail as bold and surprising as the golfer it celebrates.
Enter Elijah Craig Bourbon, the Kentucky-born spirit that’s never been afraid to cross an ocean or a fairway. For this special occasion, Elijah Craig is offering a clever spin on the beloved Penicillin cocktail — that smoky, medicinal classic that has long been a staple in the hands of bartenders and drinkers who crave a little drama in their glass.
Traditionally, the Penicillin leans on Scotch for its briny, smoky backbone — a taste as unmistakable as the North Sea winds at St Andrews. But here, the Penicillin gets a stateside makeover, swapping the peaty Scotch for Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon and a splash of Rye. It’s a mash-up of worlds that somehow makes perfect sense: a Scotsman who swings for Team Bourbon yet keeps a secret love affair with his native spirit.
Elijah Craig Small Batch brings warm barrel notes of ripe stone fruit, Madagascar vanilla, cinnamon, and clove. Add a hit of lemon juice to brighten things up and a honey-ginger syrup that echoes the cocktail’s original sweet-and-spicy DNA. Just a whisper of Elijah Craig Straight Rye joins the mix to lend a peppery finish, a sly nod to Scotch’s smoky edges without overshadowing bourbon’s sunny charms.
Bobby himself is a traditional Penicillin lover, but he’s been known to champion this bourbon twist — even encouraging die-hard Scotch fans to try the Bobby Mac on National Scotch Day, July 27. Call it a friendly challenge, a handshake across the Atlantic.
The Bobby Mac Recipe
- 2 oz Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz honey-ginger syrup
- 0.25 oz Elijah Craig Straight Rye
In a shaker, combine Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, lemon juice, and honey-ginger syrup. Shake with ice until well chilled — imagine the sound as a soft echo of rain tapping on an Ayrshire clubhouse window. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Gently float Elijah Craig Straight Rye on top (or swap in your favorite Scotch for a split-base surprise). Garnish with a lemon twist.
There’s something transcendent about sipping a Bobby Mac as you watch a long putt drop or a tee shot sail against the brooding Scottish sky. It’s a cocktail that honors tradition while tipping its cap to the new, much like Bobby MacIntyre himself.
Raise a glass to the Open, to golf’s sacred grounds, and to finding harmony in unexpected places — one smoky-sweet sip at a time.
For more cocktail inspiration and to explore Elijah Craig’s full range, visit the Elijah Craig Bourbon official website.
