Scotch Mist
Scotch whisky poured over very finely crushed ice with a lemon twist — the mist serving style codified in American bar guides from the mid-20th century.
- 1Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice
- 2Pour Scotch over the ice
- 3Garnish with a lemon twist
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Scotch Mist is one of the most minimalist preparations in bartending: a measure of Scotch whisky poured over very finely crushed ice and served with a twist of lemon peel. The drink exists at the intersection of a cocktail and a serving method, relying entirely on the quality of the Scotch rather than additional ingredients to provide flavor. Finely crushed ice chills the spirit rapidly and produces slight dilution as it melts, lowering the temperature to a point where the whisky's aromas become more expressive. The 'mist' serving style over very finely crushed ice became codified as a distinct preparation in American bars during the mid-20th century, particularly for brandy and whisky. It appeared in cocktail reference guides as a standard preparation and established itself as the preferred format for drinkers who wanted their Scotch colder than neat but more spirit-pure than a traditional cocktail.
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