Like it says above, a Rob Roy is basically a martini with Scotch instead of vodka, and a maraschino cherry instead of an olive. The basic recipe is 1.5 oz of Scotch Whisky and 0.5 tsp of sweet vermouth, stirred and strained into a cocktail glass and garnished with the cherry. (You could also serve it in a highball glass with lots of ice.) I like the “perfect” Rob Roy a little better, which has the addition of 0.5 tsp of dry vermouth.

The cocktail itself tastes like a slightly sweeter glass of Scotch, which can help out either a bad bottle or someone who only vaguely likes Scotch. I find it’s better to use a mid-range Scotch than something really good: that’s the kind of thing you want to drink straight, maybe with just a little ice. But overall, this is a fun drink that I rather enjoyed.