Photographed in a Speakeasy Nick & Nora 4.75oz
1 2⁄3 oz | Strucchi Dry Vermouth |
1⁄6 oz | Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup) |
0.04 oz | Luxardo Maraschino liqueur |
2 dash | Boker's bitters |
Recipe contains the following allergens:
21st March 2025 is World Vermouth Day
Well-balanced bitter-sweetness dominated by vermouth (hence the name) with faint maraschino but perhaps the most important ingredient is the most hidden, the dashes of bitters. Hence, dash well and judiciously.
Fittingly, the "Vermuth Cocktail" is the first cocktail with vermouth to appear in a recipe book. Although this 1869 recipe in J. Haney's 1869 Steward and Barkeeper's Manual is not so much a cocktail, but simply vermouth served with ice and a lemon zest twist.
VERMUTH COCKTAIL
J. Haney, Steward and Barkeeper's Manual, 1869
One wine glass of vermouth; one very small piece of ice; one small piece of lemon peel. Serve in a thin stemmed wine glass with curved lip.
By Harry Johnson's 1882 New & Improved Bartender's Manual, the spelling and recipe for the Vermouth Cocktail are in line with those of today.
VERMOUTH COCKTAIL.
Harry Johnson, 1888
(Use a large bar glass.)
Three-quarters glass of shaved ice;
4 or 5 dashes of gum;
1 or 2 dashes of orange bitters;
2 dashes of Maraschino;
1 wine glass Vermouth;
stir up well with a spoon, strain it into a cocktail glass, twist a piece of lemon peel on top, and serve.
He repeats this recipe in the 1888 edition but swaps orange bitters for Boker's bitters.
102. VERMOUTH COCKTAIL.
Harry Johnson, 1888
(Use a large bar glass.)
¾ glass of shaved ice ;
4 or 5 dashes of gum ;
2 or 3 dashes of Bitters (Boker's genuine only) ;
1 wine glass Vermouth ;
2 dashes of Maraschino ;
Stir up well with a spoon ; strain it into a cocktail glass, twist a piece of lemon peel on top, and serve.
It also notably features in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book but with a much-simplified recipe.
VERMOUTH COCKTAIL.
Harry Craddock, 1930
1 Glass Italian or French Vermouth.
4 Dashes Orange or 1 Dash Angostura Bitters.
Stir well and strain into cocktail glass
One serving of Vermouth Cocktail contains 78 calories
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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