In a freezer chilled rocks glass, combine bitters, maple syrup, and scotch
Add a large ice cube and gently stir until cold
Express an orange peel over the top and serve
notes
I find the 4:1 ratio of peaty scotch to maple syrup a bit on the sweeter side, so sometimes go up to 5:1, depending on the scotch.
In terms of scotch, Laphroaig 10 has been the standout winner for my own palate. I've tried some cheaper/ mixing scotch like Isle of Skye Double Smoke, but they don't have the depth of flavor needed to balance out the maple syrup.
I've tried Fee Brothers Aztec chocolate bitters, Angostura cocoa bitters, and Woodford Reserve bourbon barrel aged chocolate bitters. They each impart a slightly different flavor, but all were good and add a little chocolatey pop to the finished drink.
I've also noticed that nicer maple syrup adds an interesting complexity, although any pure maple syrup works well.
I tend to build it in the glass out of laziness **(I don't think it materially impacts the flavor as long as you use a freezer chilled glass)**.
This to me tastes like a more refined version of the [Smokey Old Fashioned](/smokey-old-fashioned.html), since the full base spirit being scotch means you get more of the scotch nuance. It also explains why for this version I require a better scotch, whereas in the Smokey Old Fashioned the bourbon carries a lot of the flavor backbone, and the scotch is predominantly there to provide smokiness.
Like the mark of any great cocktail, I am pleasantly surprised at how much more than the sum of its parts this one was.