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Opal

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (65)
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 2/3 fl oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
1/2 fl oz Cointreau L'Unique triple sec liqueur
1 1/4 fl oz Orange juice (freshly squeezed)
1/4 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix
1/24 fl oz Orange blossom water / Orange flower water

How to make

Glass

Photographed in an UB Retro Coupe Gold 7.75oz

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Opal contains 188 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 17.58% alc./vol. (35.16° proof)
  • 21 grams of pure alcohol
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History

Thought to have originated in the 1920s, the Opal notably appears in in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book.

OPAL COCKTAIL.
(6 people)
3 Glasses Gin.
2 Glasses Orange juice.
1 Glass of Cointreau.
A little sugar.
Add a little Orange-flower water.
Shake and serve.

Harry Craddock, 1930


Review

Fresh, fragrant flavours of zesty orange and gin with a subtle floral note.

Variations/similar cocktails

Red Opal

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Gallery

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Comments & Discussion

Peter M Premium Member
Gin + orange + a light perfume-y floral note. A little sweet, but not too much, imo. Well-balanced, but might need to adjust sugar when using fresh oranges, depending on your oranges. @Simon, this seems like one that could be added to the Breakfast/Brunch category?
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Thanks, Peter. I've added it to the breakfast/brunch category.
score: 1
ian roberts
This one is really nice and refreshing, took the sugar out as originally a little sweet for my taste
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Perfect afternoon cocktail. Orange Flower Water adds a nice hint of floral, but not overpowering Used organic, tree ripened oranges as it makes a huge difference in the sweetness of the cocktail. Did dial back the sugar syrup by half to compensate for the orange juice.
score: 2
Chris Dimal
Made it more carefully with better oranges, now I get the point of this drink. Botanical and hard (alcoholic) orange juice with a beautiful, floral finish. Definitely deserving the 4.5 rating.
score: 2
Chris Dimal
Hmm, it's extremely orangey, and not in such a good way. Super floral. I tried my best to measure my orange blossom water to 1.25ml, maybe it still went too far.
score: 1
Michael Mayday
Supremely sweet in taste and appreciation. Added about 4-5 drops of orange blossom water as a rough guesstimate of what 1/24th of an oz is.

As G.M. Genovese notes, strong creamsicle taste to it. Would recommend you stick with Beefeater or a similar gin so you don't overwhelm flavors. Very good drink overall and will be making it again.
score: 1
G. M. Genovese Premium Member
Interesting drink. Orange creamsicle tones with the herbal backbite of gin. Well-balanced overall, but I'd try it again dialing back the orange blossom water (1.25 ml = 16 drops for me) to a dash (8 drops). But that's just my taste. I feel like this recipe as is would be appealing to folks who are wary of gin and/or obsessed with orangey flavors. (8 Jun 2022, 1:21p)
score: 1