Rosita

Difford's Guide
Discerning Drinkers (166 ratings)

Photographed in an

UB Koto Old Fashioned 30cl

Read about cocktail measures and measuring.

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of grapefruit zest twist.
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. STRAIN into ice-filled glass.
  5. Express grapefruit zest twist over cocktail and use as garnish.

Allergens:


Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:


Review:

Bittersweet, tequila-based, and Negroni-like. Classically garnished with a lemon zest twist but better with grapefruit.

History:

The origin of this drink remains unknown, but its popularity (like many things in the drinks industry) can be attributed to Gary 'gaz' Regan, even though for some years he was in denial.

The Rosita was introduced to gaz by a fellow cocktail geek back in 2005; who in turn had discovered the recipe in an article written by Terry Sullivan, a fellow drinks writer. Gaz questioned Sullivan as to where he found the recipe, but he could not remember so gaz let the matter drop until 2007 when he made the drink as an aperitif for a few friends round for dinner. Gaz's guests asked the origins of the drink and this led gaz to contact Sullivan again.

This time Sullivan remembered and told gaz that he had found it in The Bartender's Bible. Now many of you will already be smiling as The Bible, published in 1991, was gaz Regan's first book.

Gaz imbibed and wrote about thousands of cocktails over the years so it is understandable that he overlooked his own book. After an embarrassed oh-yeah moment he started rummaging around in the back of the closet of his guest room where an oversized envelope still held his working notes for the book. So it transpired that gaz purloined the recipe from a 1988 edition of Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide, but he had added a typical gaz touch, namely a dash of bitters, and predictably a bit more tequila.

The recipe has since been traced back to at 1974 edition of the Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide.

Nutrition:

One serving of Rosita contains 170 calories.

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 23.53% alc./vol. (47.06° proof)
  • 21.3 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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