Maker’s Mark bourbon cocktail - Penicillin
Rich & Bright

Penicillin

A bit like a “cold toddy,” the Penicillin cocktail brings together the comforting flavors of lemon and honey, a touch of smoke from scotch, a zing of ginger and, of course, Maker’s Mark. A tale of two whiskies, the Penicillin cocktail opens with aromas of smoke and peat and then gives way to a balanced sweetness and a pop of spice. Maker’s, Scotch, ginger, honey and lemon recall the flavors of warm drinks, but in this case, are best served on the rocks.

ingredients and how to craft
  • 2 Maker’s Mark®KentuckyStraightBourbon
  • 0.5 Laphroaig® Single Malt Whisky
  • 1 fresh lemon juice
  • 0.5 honey syrup*
  • 1 disk fresh ginger
  • Candied ginger for garnish
  • *For the honey syrup: 2 parts honey 1 part hot water

How to craft

Maker’s Mark bourbon cocktail - how to craft the Penicillin
STEP 1: MAKE THE HONEY SYRUP

To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey to 1 part hot water. Mix until honey dissolves into a syrupy consistency. Add additional honey to taste.

STEP 2: MUDDLE GINGER AND ADD INGREDIENTS

Muddle ginger in shaker and then add Maker’s Mark, juice, honey syrup and ice.

STEP 3: SHAKE AND STRAIN

Shake well and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

STEP 4: ADD SOME SCOTCH

Top with Laphroaig®.

Complete your cocktail with

Maker’s Mark classic bourbon bottle
  • SMOOTH FINISH

Maker’s Mark® Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Learn More

TIPS FOR A GREAT 

Penicillin

More Recipes

See all cocktails
  • Light & Bright

Rosemary Maple Sour

The Rosemary Maple Sour brings a sweet sprig of innovation to a cocktail classic. The delicious bounty of the outdoors meets the one-of-a-kind Maker’s Mark. Bursting with flavor, this sour is rounded out with fresh rosemary and maple syrup.

 Maker’s Mark bourbon cocktail - Rosemary Maple Sour
 Maker’s Mark bourbon cocktail - Rosemary Maple Sour
  • Light & Bright

New York Sour

Don’t let the name fool you! The New York Sour may sound like an East Coast classic, but its roots likely trace back to Chicago. Over time, it’s picked up more than a few nicknames — Continental Sour, Claret Snap, even Southern Whisky Sour — all hinting at its ability to charm just about anyone, anywhere. With a bold bourbon base and a dramatic float of red wine, the New York Sour is as eye-catching as it is delicious, and it’s easier to make than it looks.

A glass of whiskey cocktail with ice, garnished with a lemon peel and cherry, sits on a table. A whiskey bottle, bowl of lemon slices, and a golden shaker are in the background. The setting conveys a warm, elegant mood.
A glass of whiskey cocktail with ice, garnished with a lemon peel and cherry, sits on a table. A whiskey bottle, bowl of lemon slices, and a golden shaker are in the background. The setting conveys a warm, elegant mood.
  • Light & Bright

Bourbon Spritz

Aperol® – a bitter orange aperitif from the Italian city of Padua – and a splash of Prosecco bring sophistication to this patio-ready Maker's Mark spritz. Our riff on the Aperol Spritz blows the 1950s European summer staple out of the water. While 2018 may have been the Summer of the Spritz, this season it’s all about variations like the Bourbon Spritz, with the signature caramel notes of Maker’s Mark adding a new layer of excitement.

 Maker’s Mark bourbon cocktail - Bourbon Spritz
 Maker’s Mark bourbon cocktail - Bourbon Spritz
  • SMOOTH FINISH
Maker’s Mark® Kentucky Straight Bourbon

This one changed the way we think of bourbon, all because one man changed the way he thought about making it. Bill Samuels, Sr., simply wanted a whisky he would enjoy drinking. Never bitter or sharp, Maker's Mark is made with soft red winter wheat, instead of the usual rye, for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavored bourbon. To ensure consistency, we rotate every barrel by hand and age our bourbon to taste, not time. Each and every bottle of Maker's is still hand-dipped in our signature red wax at our distillery in Loretto, KY., just like Bill, Sr. would have wanted. 

Maker’s Mark classic bourbon bottle
red title video