JavaScript is not enabled!
For information on how to enable Javascript on your browser click here.

Imperial

Name: Imperial
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 75 ml Dry vermouth; 22.5 ml Maraschino liqueur; 3 dash Absinthe; 2 dash Orange bitters; 4 drop Saline solution 4:1

Difford’s Guide

Discerning Drinkers (20)

Measurements in:

Serves:

Keep screen awake

Ingredients
2 1/2 fl oz	Strucchi Dry Vermouth
3/4 fl oz	Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
3 dash	La Fée Parisienne absinthe
2 dash	Orange Bitters by Angostura
4 drop	Saline solution (20g sea salt to 80g water) or merest pinch of s

How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Nick & Nora glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill a NICK & NORA GLASS.
Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist and skewered Luxardo Maraschino Cherry.

Method

STIR all ingredients with ice.
STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and discard.
Garnish with skewered cherry.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Imperial contains 146 calories

Alcohol content:

1.2 standard drinks
17.08% alc./vol. (34.16° proof)
17 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Dry vermouth — Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

History

The Imperial Cocktail was first published in Harry Johnson's 1900 New & Improved Illustrated Bartender's Manual.

IMPERIAL COCKTAIL.
(Use a large bar glass.)
¾ glass full of fine-shaved ice;
1 or 2 dashes of orange bitters;
1 or 2 dashes of absinthe;
½ wine glass of French vermouth;
½ wine glass of maraschino;
Stir up well with a spoon, strain into a cocktail glass, putting a cherry, squeeze a piece of lemon peel on top and serve.
Harry Johnson, New & Improved Illustrated Bartender's Manual, 1900

Review

Unusually, maraschino liqueur is the backbone of this dry vermouth-based cocktail.

Variations/similar cocktails

Imperial Martini

Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Please log in to make a comment

Calvin Grant 10 months ago

What a lovely combination of flavors! The proportions of the various ingredients have been fine tuned to perfection. ( Twelve drops equals a dash.)

Christopher Chaffin 1 year ago

I added 2.5 ml maraschino syrup to mine and it tasted like the maraschino drink. Like a lengthened maraschino cherry. 100% better!

Jacques Gaudin 1 year ago

I was a bit sceptical before trying this but actually it turns out to be rather interesting and complex. Will keep that in mind for those who like less boozy drinks.

Christina Strong 1 year ago

Admittedly, I am a Maraschino lover, but this is is a beautifully balanced dry cocktail. Starts off dry then blooms into sweet. I didn't find it too boozy! It looks stunning in the glass too. I shall be making it again.