You're home for the holiday. Maybe it's every cliched movie you've ever seen rolled into one: screaming babies, medicated mothers, angry fathers, weird relatives, uptight neighbors, a cat. You're trapped. You need help.

You may need the liquor cabinet: old bottles of indecipherable liquids inside the beveled, glass case. But chances are, the cabinet will offer up at least two 50 ml. bottles of the most common spirit no one knows what to do with: Scotch. If there's been any baking going on and chances are pretty high at such a time of year, there will be cream in the 'fridge. Honey? Probably. And there you have a drink called the Atholl Brose.

The creation of the Atholl Brose is recorded as such: In 1475, under a sentence of death, John the last Lord of the Isles fled to the hills. The Earl of Atholl set off in pursuit. Discovering a well where the fugitive was drawing water, the Earl ordered it filled with whiskey, honey, herbs and oatmeal so as to encourage John to stay a while. As the story goes, he came, he drank, he was put to death. That is how delicious this drink is. And how stupid John that last Lord of the Isles was God rest his soul.

The Atholl Brose is sweet, with a kick. We guarantee if you share it with the assembled relatives, they will sing your praises and pass out soon thereafter.

The Atholl Brose

Makes: 1 drink

Adapted by Chris Ojeda of The Varnish

2 1/2 ounces Scotch

1/4 ounce honey

Some cream

1. Stir the Scotch and honey together.

2. Top with fresh cream.

3. If you can float a little Islay on top or give three, short, sprays with an atomizer, all the better.

Note: When made as directed, the honey often forms into a giant ball in the middle of the shaker. To avoid this, combine three parts honey to one part hot water and stir together until completely mixed, then continue with the recipe.

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