Astoria

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (18 ratings)

Serve in a Martini glass

Ingredients:
1 14 oz Hayman's Old Tom Gin from freezer
2 12 oz Strucchi Dry Vermouth chilled
2 dash Orange Bitters by Angostura
× 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. STIR 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 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 8/10

Review:

An Old Tom-based super wet (two-thirds vermouth to one-third gin) Martini with a slug of orange bitters and served with a twist.

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History:

Recipe adapted from Albert Stevens Crockett's 1931 The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book where the recipe is accompanied by the following notation, "After the big annex to the Old Waldorf, which at its opening, in 1897, became the main part of the establishment."

William Waldorf Astor built the original Waldorf Hotel, which opened in 1893, next door to his aunt's home, on the site of his father's mansion and today's Empire State Building. John Astor persuaded his aunt to move uptown and then built the Astor Hotel. The two hotels were connected and the combined Waldorf-Astoria became the largest hotel in the world at the time.

ASTORIA
After the big annex to the old Waldorf, which at its opening, in 1897, became the main part of the establishment.
Two dashes Orange Bitters
One-third Tom Gin
Two-thirds French Vermuth
Stir

Albert Stevens Crockett, The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book, 1931

Nutrition:

One serving of Astoria contains 166 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.6 standard drinks
  • 20.32% alc./vol. (20.32° proof)
  • 23 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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Howard Griffin’s Avatar Howard Griffin
5th January at 22:24
A bit flaccid. Doesn’t warrant being called a Martini variation. (More like a vitiation.)
John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
2nd June 2024 at 14:12
Classic martini and herbal flavours, with an old fashioned play on the sweet-dry balance. I added a squeeze of lime juice, which surprisingly emphasised the more savoury characters in the gin and vermouth. Presented the right way, this is exactly the sort of wave that the cocktail renaissance should be riding. Full of flavour and featuring high quality ingredients. I used Hayman’s old Tom and Dolin dry. So simple, so beautiful.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
28th December 2023 at 13:55
I tried this three ways... First, to the recipe above. Probably the best of the three. But not great up front, though its aftertaste I enjoyed... Next, 1:1. Trash... Last, 2:1; Old Tom-heavy. Worse... Old Tom in a Martinez is very nice, but not so with plain dry vermouth(?)... I used Ransom Old Tom and my trusty Noilly Prat. Just wasn't doing it for me. Too dry and bitter? Is a dash/splash of bianco in order? You tell me. (28 Dec 2023, 8:55a)
John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
2nd June 2024 at 14:07
I think you’re overthinking it. A simple recipe that is best used to highlight good quality ingredients. Keep it simple.
12th April 2020 at 15:00
Easy to make, easy to drink, very cool martini variation