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Tipperary No.1

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (173)
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 fl oz Irish whiskey
5/6 fl oz Strucchi Rosso Vermouth
1/3 fl oz Green Chartreuse (or alternative herbal liqueur)

How to make

Glass

Photographed in an UB Nick And Nora 1920

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a NICK & NORA GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist and Luxardo Maraschino Cherry.

Method

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

Garnish

  1. Express orange zest twist over cocktail and discard. Garnish with maraschino cherry.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Tipperary No.1 contains 140 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.2 standard drinks
  • 26.04% alc./vol. (52.09° proof)
  • 17 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

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History

Adapted from a recipe that first appeared in Hugo R. Ensslin's 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks where he stipulates equal parts.

TIPPERARY COCKTAIL
1/3 Bushmills Irish Whisky
1/3 Chartreuse
1/3 Italian Vermouth
Shake well in a mixing glass with cracked ice, strain and serve.

Hugo R. Ensslin, 1916


The Tipperary also appears in Harry MacElhone's 1922 ABC of Mixing Cocktails, although MacElhone's recipe calls for ½ ounce Green Chartreuse, 2 ounces Irish whiskey, and 1 ounce sweet vermouth>.

By the time Harry Craddock publishes his 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book the recipe returns to its original equal parts formulation (Craddock's book copies many of Ensslin's) and is joined by a second unrelated recipe also called Tipperary (see Tipperary No.2).

A third version of the Tipperary based on sloe gin liqueur appears in Albert Stevens Crockett's 1931 Ol Waldorf Astoria Bar Days.

TIPPERARY
Invented a long time before the wartime song of that name was heard, so that it must be considered a direct namesake of an Irish county, and so called by a fond exile.
Two-thirds Sloe Gin
One-third French Vermuth
Teaspoon of Lemon Juice
Frappé.

Albert Stevens Crockett, 1931


Most modern recipes, lean towards Harry MacElhone's 1922 recipe, heavier on the Irish whiskey.

Review

Chartreuse fans will love this Irish whiskey-forward nightcap.

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Gallery

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Comments & Discussion

CJ Grant
The Irish provides a vanilla edge to the vermouth and Chartreuse sweetness, which basically describes the cocktail overall. But it’s a nuanced sweetness more than cloying, and I went 3:2:1 on the ratio (w/Powers John’s Lane).

Initially I gutted the vermouth more, but as I sipped, Chartreuse herbal spice up front and dark fruit vermouth in back.
score: 1
Helen Huckvale Premium Member
Chartreuse. Dominates. Will try it with less next time. Nice and smooth, slipping down a treat at the moment!
score: 1
Ruth Harvey
I love it when a simple 3 ingredient cocktail is as good as this! One to rinse and repeat!
score: 2
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
This is very elegant and beautifully balanced. If we want a 'bigger' and more complex drink we substitute Cognac for the Whiskey and call it the "Tipperary Cherie".
score: 3
John CARR Premium Member
I was about to make exactly the same comment. ‘Elegant’ definitely springs to mind. Superb balance. It desired, the booze can increase slightly without losing the Chartreuse.
score: 2
Rick Rosemont
Very nice as a nightcap. Not too boozy and on the sweet side.
Maybe something for a friend who is not into cocktails
score: 2
Caspian Berggren Premium Member
Surprisingly soft cocktail. Not flavourless but elegant. Really like the way each ingredient stands on its own.
score: 1
eddie richards Premium Member
Lacking Irish whiskey and inspired by comments, I improvised with the following:
45ml Monkey Shoulder
15ml Carpano Antica
7.5ml Green Chartreuse
2 dashes of orange bitters
The result? A nicely balanced cocktail where each ingredient's flavor stood out.
score: 5
Werd Bmocsil
2 dashes Angostura bitters tames the Chartreuse, I think.
Mine otherwise had Bushmills, Carpano Antico, and Green Chartreuse.
score: 1
Marek Vranka
I don't want to imagine how the original equal parts version must taste, even with only 10ml, chartreuse dominates a bit too much for me...
score: 1
Stephen Curtin
I didn't like it at first, but it's growing on me.
score: 1

Showing the first 10 of 22 comments.