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Zaza

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (29)
Zaza image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 1⁄2 fl oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
2 fl oz Dubonnet, Byrrh etc. rouge light quinquina

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Coupe glass

Prepare

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

Method

  1. SHAKE (or STIR) all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

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

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 19.2% alc./vol. (38.4° proof)
  • 21.6 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

It is named after a French play that was a hit around the verge of the 20th century and was followed by opera and film versions, the Zaza Cocktail appears in Hon. William "Cocktail Bill" Boothby's 1908 The World's Drinks And How To Mix Them.

ZAZA COCKTAIL.
(French.)
Half Dubonnet and half dry English gin, cooled well and served in a vermouth or cocktail-glass, is known as a Zaza Cocktail in all French cafés.

Hon. William Boothby, The World's Drinks And How To Mix Them, 1908


The Zaza also notably appears in Harry Craddock's influential 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book.

ZAZA COCKTAIL.
½ Dubonnet.
½ Dry Gin.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

Harry Craddock, The Savoy Cocktail Book, 1930


More cocktails by Harry Craddock

Review

Zaza is a diminutive of Isabela. However, other than the simplicity of its ingredients, there is nothing diminutive about this classic cocktail.

AKA: Dubbonet Cocktail

Variations/similar cocktails

If stirred this becomes a Dubonnet Cocktail No.1 or, substitute sloe gin or fino sherry in place of gin.

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$3.34 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


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Comments & Discussion

John CARR Premium Member
Tried a Byrrh version this evening (a Baba, perhaps?), with more Gin and It proportions of 52.5 fords, 30 Byrrh, no bitters. Very pleasant aperitif style drink. Could easily chuck in 5ml Luxardo to make it later in the evening.
score: 1
John CARR Premium Member
Tried the variant with fino sherry, which was pleasant but nothing to write home about. Probably something more full bodied and richer than Dubonnet would take it further than 4 stars, eg vermouth Di Torino or Cynar? Or the older Dubonnet with higher abv.
score: 1
John CARR Premium Member
Tried shaking for a change and as a novelty: stuck with the above 3:4 ratio tho with a 47% gin so perhaps cheating slightly 😉. Very light, fresh and fruity, and slipped down very easily!
score: 1
Jack Reid
I didn't like this, but I didn't think it tasted particularly strong. My wife, who is a gin drinker and generally prefers a stronger alcohol taste than I, liked it but thought it did taste strong. I'm not sure what to make of that. Either way, it's decently well balanced, simple to make and looks good.
score: 1
Mike Pellerin
Interesting. Queen Elizabeth's favorite cocktail is:
2oz Dubonnet
1oz Gin
Lemon wedge
over ice.
It must have been adapted from this cocktail.
score: 3

View 4 comments and discussion

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Difford’s Shop logo
$3.34 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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