If you thought that Scotch whisky was only about rock or Glencairn glasses, leather sofas, cigars and billiards, the ‘Plus Two’ twist on a whisky cocktail will come as a beautiful surprise! While there are a number of mixes you can prepare using premium whisky from a Rob Roy to a Whisky Sour, the Plus Two method is interesting because it allows you to get creative and channelise your inner mixologist into curating a cocktail that caters to your specific, modern tastes. The Dufftown distillery, from where hails the premium Singleton of Glendullan Scotch Whisky, opens up connoisseurs to the plus two trick which essentially blends the malt with equal proportions of still and sparkling mixers.

Mixing whisky with other spirits, spices, mint, sugar and lemon juice has practiced through centuries to produce toddies and strong punches. Recipes to make classic whisky cocktails can be traced back to 19th century mixology books, becoming a testament to the enduring appeal of whiskies blended with other spirits and mixers. However, what distinguishes the Plus Two Riverside signature Singleton cocktail is not only the elevated flavour profile of the malt but also a delectably modern approach to whisky as a perfect sundowner drink.

The Riverside then is a signature cocktail curated by the makers of Singleton to celebrate the complex flavours of the malt, albeit in a more dynamic fashion. A Plus Two Riverside can be stirred by blending equal proportions of cold green tea, sparkling ginger ale and The Singleton as an innovative approach to mixing malt cocktails.

Green tea can be brewed diligently at home and the bitterness of the beverage is nicely paired with the sharp gingery tinge in a fuzzy ale. Mixed with the malt whisky, the concoction becomes a bitter, spicy and smoky drink full of sharp, yet warming flavours. The complexity imbued into the drink as a result of the equal proportion of ingredients that goes into its making make this a distinctive and highly appealing cocktail at a dinner party.

What’s more, there is no real rulebook involved in following the plus two trick. You can innovate by replacing the green tea with red wine or a fresh citrusy juice, basically whatever is available in your fridge, and top it with ice for a perfectly experimental blend of indulgent spirits and mixers.

The easiest recipe is to arrive at a 50 ml + 50 ml + 50 ml mix of malt, tea and ginger ale, garnished with a lemon wedge for a refreshing tang. Read on below to find out more about how to prepare a Singleton Plus Two Riverside: