South By Southwest

Scotch By Negroni is the recipe for the South By Southwest. 

South By Southwest isn’t just the name of a famous festival – it’s also becoming a famous Scotch whiskey cocktail thanks to Benny McKew. An Australian bartender, Benny McKew is known for being the head bartender at Lily Blacks (a Melbourne-based cocktail bar) and co-founder of a bitters company that’s aptly named Mr. Bitters. Of course now, Mr. Mckew can add the title of “cocktail creator” to his ever-growing resume. 

Ironically enough, the South By Southwest cocktail includes absolutely no trace of aromatic bitters. This Negroni variation instead relies on a few spritzes of orange blossom water for its aromatic twist. The classic Negroni is a gin-based cocktail that’s famous for its balanced ratio of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. The Negroni has spawned more than a few spin-offs, with the bourbon-based Boulevardier ranking as one of the most famous. The formula has been so successful that even the Boulevardier has invited variations including the Bourbon and Blood, Old Pal, and Embarcadero. So is the South by Southwest a riff on the Negroni or the Boulevardier? Well, we guess you’d have to ask Benny. 

In addition to the orange blossom water, this modern-day cocktail does still rely on a balance of Campari, sweet vermouth, and whiskey, but not just any whiskey – Scotch whiskey. Specifically, the recipe was written for Ardberg 10-year-old Scotch, but any peaty Scotch will do. The smokiness of the Scotch, the bitterness of the Campari, and the sweet orange blossom and vermouth flavors certainly make this a festive cocktail worthy of its own South by Southwest festival.