Poet's Dream

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (576 ratings)
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Poet's Dream image

Serve in a Nick & Nora glass

Ingredients:
3⁄4 oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
1⁄2 oz Bénédictine D.O.M. liqueur
3⁄4 oz Strucchi Dry Vermouth
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Nick & Nora glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

Subtly boozy, honeyed and herbal.

View readers' comments

Variant:

Caprice
Chrysanthemum
Ford Cocktail
Merry Widow(er)
Minnie the Moocher
Poet's Martini
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth Wine
Rolls Royce
Tip Top
Vancouver

History:

Adapted from a recipe in the 1949 edition of Esquire's Handbook for Hosts.

POET'S DREAM
1/3 Benedictine
1/3 French vermouth
1/3 Gin
Lemon peel squeezed on top

Esquire's Handbook for Hosts, 1949

Nutrition:

One serving of Poet's Dream contains 125 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.1 standard drinks
  • 25.35% alc./vol. (25.35° proof)
  • 15.2 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Ruth Harvey’s Avatar Ruth Harvey
25th April at 16:41
A delicious aperitief. I added a thinly peeled lemon peel and 1/6 measure of Grand Marnier for a citrus twist.
1
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Calvin Grant’s Avatar Calvin Grant
22nd March at 02:04
Revisited, made a double and it was TWICE AS GOOD! No, I jokes. It was just twice as much. Still a 5+ masterpiece though.
4
reply
Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
13th February at 03:12
We had this again, this time easing back a bit on the Benedictine. Like Goldilocks, we enjoy our Martinis not too sweet and not too dry.
0
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John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
9th February at 02:31
Had again since over 3 years. It is still well balanced, but does have a little more sweetness. Love the hints of orange and honey, but would consider increasing the gin to make a drier cocktail.
2
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Leslie’s Avatar Leslie
17th April 2024 at 23:31
Lovely, perfect apperitivo, I added pear bitters which chastened the sweetness of the Benedictine.
5
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Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
9th April 2024 at 16:05
A contemplative, monastic Martini.
Great website btw; a real education and very much appreciated.
3
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Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
9th April 2024 at 16:12
James Bond meets Saint Benedict. Now that would be an interesting conversation.
5
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John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
20th March 2024 at 11:41
Second try with 45ml gin, 20 Benedictine, 30 vermouth. Drier and boozier. Bene still perfectly evident.
3
reply
Peter McCarthy’s Avatar Peter McCarthy
18th March 2024 at 22:16
Smooth. The Benedictine & vermouth really soften the gin, without completely hiding it. Just made this with Beefeater and Dolin Dry. Mild gin up front, with sweet/honey/herbal notes on the backend. Nice option for a simple, gin-based aperitif/aperitivo.
3
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Calvin Grant’s Avatar Calvin Grant
22nd March at 02:08
Same here, Beefeater and Dolin Dry. Supurb!
2
reply
Arnold Pichler-Ernst’s Avatar Arnold Pichler-Ernst
3rd March 2024 at 15:59
Love it! I'd up the volume a bit though, it's not that much with these volumes.
3
reply
John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
16th February 2024 at 12:28
I think the choice of gin - and vermouth - will greatly affect the result here. Fascinating little cocktail this one. Recommended.
4
reply
John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
16th February 2024 at 13:17
On the sweet side for me so would consider bumping up the gin a notch or two next time.
3
reply
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