Scotch should almost always be mixed with nothing more than a splash of water, but once you've become acquainted with your favorite bottle, there's nothing wrong with playing around a bit. We asked T.J. Lynch, who tends bar at New York's Highlands gastropub and its sister restaurant, Mary Queen of Scots, to suggest a couple of single malt cocktails that celebrate the spirit while adding to it some mixological magic.

● Highlands (West Village) - Authentic Scottish gastropub enters the Village. ● Purple Yam (Ditmas Park) - Soho restaurant relocates to Brooklyn, brings a truckload of Asian pizzazz.