Before the history lesson, for the readers who want to try this themselves, I've curated a dedicated ingredient list you can shop in one click. And now the story.
The Penicillin was created in 2005 by the Australian Sam Ross at Milk & Honey in New York, one of the most influential speakeasies of the modern era. Ross wanted to create a medicinal cocktail, a sort of liquid hot-toddy for cold winters, and combined blended Scotch, honey, ginger and lemon, topping the drink with a float of peaty Islay whisky that gives it its unmistakable smoky character.
The name is obviously a humorous reference to the "healing power" of the drink, and became an instant classic of the craft cocktail revival. Ross, who also created the Paper Plane, is considered with Audrey Saunders one of the fathers of modern American bartending. The Penicillin was added to the IBA list in 2020, confirming how much contemporary cocktails can become classics within a decade.
History is better when you can drink it, and a well-equipped home bar is what makes the difference. A solid barman kit like this one on Amazon gives you everything you need to mix with confidence: shaker, jigger, strainer and more. If you host often, a professional cocktail bar station is the final step, a dedicated stage where every bottle has its place.