Savoy Special No.1

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (15 ratings)

Serve in a Martini glass

Ingredients:
2 oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
1 oz Strucchi Dry Vermouth
0.04 oz Monin Grenadine Syrup
1 dash La Fée Parisienne absinthe
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Martini glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.
  3. SHAKE 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 9/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

An aromatised 2:1 shaken Dry Martini with a tiny dose of grenadine, which turns this the merest rust-pink, while just a dash of absinthe adds wormwood complexity.

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History:

Adapted from Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book.

SAVOY HOTEL SPECIAL COCKTAIL (No. 1.)*
1 Dash Absinthe.
2 Dashes Grenadine.
1/3 Fresh Vermouth.
2/3 Dry Gin.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. Squeeze lemon on top.
* Peter, ninth Earl of Savoy, brought to England, as his wards, eighty-three of the most wealthy and beautiful girls in France. He then married them to the most powerful nobles in England. That is why he wore armour.

Harry Craddock, 1930

Nutrition:

One serving of Savoy Special No.1 contains 172 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.6 standard drinks
  • 24.36% alc./vol. (24.36° proof)
  • 22.3 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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27th April at 01:10
Did not have Grenadine as it is against my religion. Substituted bar spoon of cherry juice and a dash of cherry herring. Three drops of absenthe. A damn fine cocktail. The second one tasted even better.
Calvin Grant’s Avatar Calvin Grant
6th August 2024 at 02:03
Mmm...quite nice!
Michael Cronin’s Avatar Michael Cronin
28th February 2022 at 21:20
Not bad. I may have been light on the Grenadine and heavy on the Absinthe. It grew on me. Agreed that this requires quality gin and vermouth.
Loraine Herring’s Avatar Loraine Herring
8th January 2022 at 18:14
Whats not to like...I used overproof Aviation Gin and although i used the stated mount of Grenadine, mine came out pink/redder that the photo
gorgeous cocktail and one of my faves
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
7th August 2021 at 00:12
Great classic. The absinthe does add an interesting flavour, but it is enhanced by the gin. This is one you need to use a good grade of all your ingredients.
Loraine Herring’s Avatar Loraine Herring
8th January 2022 at 18:34
totally agree, dont stint
Daryl Smith’s Avatar Daryl Smith
6th August 2021 at 12:14
Not a fan, couldn't quite put my finger on what I didn't like about this drink but there was something that just didn't taste nice.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
7th August 2021 at 00:13
It may have been the mix of the gin and absinthe.
Steve Anderson’s Avatar Steve Anderson
6th August 2020 at 21:55
Fun, but I prefer a regular 5:1 dry Martini.