No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
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Hoffman House
Measurements in:
Serves:
| 2 1/2 fl oz | Hayman's London Dry Gin |
| 1/2 fl oz | Strucchi Dry Vermouth |
| 2 dash | Orange Bitters by Angostura |
How to make
Glassware
Serve in a Coupe glass
Prepare
- Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
- Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.
Method
- SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
- FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
Garnish
- EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.
Flavour Profile
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Health & Nutrition
Nutrition:
One serving of Hoffman House contains 183 calories
Alcohol content:
- 1.9 standard drinks
- 27.4% alc./vol. (54.81° proof)
- 26.6 grams of pure alcohol
History
Considered the 'house' cocktail at Manhattan's Hoffman House in the 1880s, although the 1905 book by its head bartender Charles S. Mahoney, The Hoffman House Bartender's Guide, doesn't include a "Hoffman House Cocktail", raising doubts about the veracity of the 'house cocktail' claim. Particularly as the book does have a "Hoffman House Recipes" section listing a "Hoffman Highball", "Hoffman Highball", Hoffman House Cooler", "Hoffman Morning Bracer", Hoffman House Fizz", "Hoffman House Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail", and a "Hoffman House Punch".
Evidence of the 'house' status is cited by barrypopik.com and others from a "Appetizing Drinks" column in 18 September 1892, New York Herald (pg. 14, col. 6)
Mr. William Henry Dugay, or "Billy," as he is known to his intimates, has been one of the "star" bartenders of the Hoffman House for about ten years, and yesterday he let a HERALD reporter into the secret if the great success attending some of his choicest mixtures. He said:- "The Hoffman House cocktail is a favorite morning beverage with the regular patrons of the hostelry and with no one more so than Mr. Stokes, the proprietor. It is simply made and therefore highly recommended for home manufacture. This is the recipe:-Two dashes of Bonecamp bitters, two dashes of Italian vermouth, sherry glass of Holland gin" no sweetening. Stir in ice until very cold.
barrypopik.com, 31.March.2012
However, I've searched the online archive of the New York Herald, and other newspapers from September 1892, and I haven't been able to corroborate this quotation. [If you have, please send me a link to reference.]
The Hoffman House cocktail owes much of its notoriety to appearing in Harry Craddock's seminal 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book.
HOFFMAN HOUSE COCKTAIL.
Harry Craddock, The Savoy Cocktail Book, 19330
2 Dashes Orange Bitters.
⅓ French Vermouth.
⅔ Plymouth Gin.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. Squeeze lemon peel on top.
Review
A shaken 5:1 Martini with orange bitters.
Gallery
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Comments & Discussion
18 September 1892, New York (NY) Herald, “Appetizing Drinks,” pg. 14, col. 6:
Mr. William Henry Dugay, or “Billy,” as he is known to his intimates, has been one of the “star” bartenders of the Hoffman House for about ten years, and yesterday he let a HERALD reporter into the secret if the great success attending some of his choicest mixtures. He said:—
“The Hoffman House cocktail is a favorite morning beverage with the regular patrons of the hostelry and with no one more so than Mr. Stokes, the proprietor. It is simply made and therefore highly recommended for home manufacture. This is the recipe:—Two dashes of Bonecamp bitters, two dashes of Italian vermouth, sherry glass of Holland gin” no sweetening. Stir in ice until very cold.”
View 3 comments and discussion