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Sir Walter Cocktail

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (63)
Sir Walter Cocktail image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 fl oz Light gold rum (1-3 year old molasses column)
1 fl oz Cognac (brandy)
1⁄4 fl oz Ferrand Dry Curaçao liqueur
1⁄4 fl oz Monin Grenadine Syrup
1⁄4 fl oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)

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 lemon zest twist.

Method

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

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS lemon 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

Nutrition:

One serving of Sir Walter Cocktail contains 180 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 24.06% alc./vol. (48.13° proof)
  • 21.3 grams of pure alcohol

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

History

The Sir Walter (or Swalter) first appears in Harry MacElhone's 1927 Barflies and Cocktails and is repeated in other regarded tomes such as The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930).

Whether this cocktail honours Sir Walter Raleigh or Sir Walter Scott is a matter of conjecture, but as MacElhone, who heralded from Dundee, Scotland, is thought to be the drinks' creator, many favour Scott as being the protagonist.

Sir WALTER COCKTAIL.
(Commonly known as the "Swalter" Cocktail.)
1 teaspoon of Grenadine, 1 teaspoon of Curaçao, 1 teaspoon of Lemon Juice, 1/3 Brandy, 1/3 Rum.
Shake well and strain.

Harry MacElhone, 1927


SIR WALTER COCKTAIL.
(Commonly known as the "Swalter.")
1 Teaspoon Grenadine.
1 Teaspoon Curaçao.
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice.
1/3 Brandy.
1/3 Rum.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

Harry Craddock, 1930

More cocktails by Harry MacElhone

Review

Spirit-forward with faint zesty tartness balanced by delicate rich red fruit sweetness.

AKA: Swalter

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$1.02 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 25 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.

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* 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.

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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Tuber Magnatum Premium Member
Very nice cocktail which to me is reminiscent of a Between the Sheets drink with the addition of Grenadine.
score: 1
Sally Morgan Premium Member
I love a bit of retro grenadine, but lets face it - it can be a bit... kitsch. In this though - really quite subtle and adds a sweet-sour taste to a lovely cocktail. Try this on your friends that hate grenadine
score: 1
Beverly Stanton
Very nice cognac drink. I feel this would be a nice cocktail to introduce a person to cognac. Great light feel , yet you get the taste of cognac and the rum. Keeper
score: 2
Matt Premium Member
Delicious! Quite sweet, with orange notes on top of the subtle cognac and rum background. Grenadine adds color and flavor (and sweetness), with lemon bringing back some citrusy brightness. BUT - the pic shows a dark/ruby red drink - mine was a nice, moderately dark PINK, cloudy cocktail, reminiscent of ruby grapefruit juice.
score: 1
Chris Dimal
Remade this with Cognac, and now I can see why it feels spirit forward. It is still nicely balanced, but definitely dryer. I get vinous, floral but still dry notes of the Cognac along with that typical ever-so-light ester notes of the Havana Club 3. I also can feel the mandarin liqueur (in place of Orange Curacao) a bit more in this rendition.
score: 1
Chris Dimal
A simple, sweet and citrusy drink with a nice tang of pomegranate and lemon. I don'tknow if I would call this a 'spirit-forward' drink though.
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Being big fans of both rum and cognac, the Swalter is ideal. We use home made grenadine which is not as sweet as the commercial brands. May try with Creole Shrub (rum based orange liqueur) next time to see if it makes a difference. Perfectly balanced with no ingredients overpowering the other.
score: 1
Dave D. Premium Member
Great blend! Had to use 4 yr rum, as I was out of 3 yr.! (Haha) love the name “Swalter” , as referred in The Savoy Cocktail Book
score: 1
Bill Lennox
Very nice. For being so spirit heavy it is a surprisingly light drink. Brandy and rum are both there, but neither dominates.
score: 2
Clément R
Nice cocktail! Maybe the Havana club had to much sweetness to the drink and hide the cognac.. The Curaçao and the lemon juice balance the taste.
score: 3

View 10 comments and discussion

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Difford’s Shop logo
$1.02 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 25 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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