The Mad Reiver

Scotch based cocktails are pretty darn rare, and I know that to a lot of people it's a no-no.  I'd personally be skeptical of a cocktail made with a real high end Scotch, and maybe I'm gauche for saying that, but the truth is I'm not so much of a rich cat that I would encounter great Scotch often enough for me to say "OK, now let's see what it's like in a punch".  In the rare enough instance that I get offered a great Scotch I'm going to take it neat.  Nevertheless I have had the occasional Rusty Nail, and one time, a delicious Blood & Sand, and generally liked Scotch based cocktails and what Scotch brought to them.  My advice is that for most of us, a not horrible, lightly to reasonably smokey Scotch is right for most Scotch-based cocktails we'd make at home.  Here I used Dewar's 12 y.o. (the blue bottle).  The Mad Reiver is one I'd describe as sort of a red-headed cousin to the Blood & Sand.  

The Mad Reiver

2 oz. Dewar's 12 y.o.
3/4 oz. Cocchi Americano Rosa
1/4 oz. Thyme Syrup
3/4 oz. Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
1 dash Plum Bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.