Pan American Clipper

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (60 ratings)

Photographed in an UB Retro Fizz 1920 7oz

Ingredients:
2 oz Calvados / apple brandy / straight applejack
12 oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
16 oz Monin Grenadine Syrup
16 oz Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup)
2 dash La Fée Parisienne absinthe
13 oz Chilled water omit if using wet ice
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of lime slice wheel.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime slice on rim.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

Essentially, a Jack Rose with a couple of dashes of absinthe. (If making this with bonded-strength applejack in place of calvados, then knock back to 50ml.)

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History:

This vintage cocktail first appeared in Charles H. Baker's 1939 The Gentleman's Companion in which Baker says the cocktail is "from the notebook of one of our pilot friends–when off duty–may seek one." His friend obviously was a pilot for Pan Am Airlines.

The Pan American Clipper's modern-day popularity is partly due to its being heroed by St. John Frizell at his Fort Defiance bar in Brooklyn, New York City, USA. Our version of this classic by yours truly.

Nutrition:

One serving of Pan American Clipper contains 182 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.3 standard drinks
  • 18.79% alc./vol. (18.79° proof)
  • 18 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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Erik Lindgren’s Avatar Erik Lindgren
14th February at 21:46
I made this today with Lairds bottled in bond and homemade grenadine, and DAMN, it was something right up my alley. By just looking at the specs I thought it would be out of balance, but I just found it very flavourful and complex. Of course you won’t like it if you use a bad grenadine or don’t like absinthe, but if you use quality ingredients it’s really solid.
Florian Ruf’s Avatar Florian Ruf
27th June 2024 at 14:16
Good cocktail, using Calvados it is possible avoid the cocktail being too strong. If it is not homemade I suggest using 1,5cl Grenadine instead of the Grenadine and sugar syrup combo.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
12th June 2021 at 03:33
Very spirit forward. Like the touch of absinthe. Not too sweet so good as an evening sipping cocktail.