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The Harlem

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (51)
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
2 fl oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
14 fl oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
1 13 fl oz Pineapple juice
4 drop Difford's Margarita Bitters

How to make

Glass

Photographed in a Modern America Cocktail

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of skewered Luxardo Maraschino Cherry.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. Garnish with skewered cherry.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of The Harlem contains 171 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 18.56% alc./vol. (37.12° proof)
  • 21.4 grams of pure alcohol

History

Thought to date back to immediately after the Prohibition era, where it is thought to have originated at the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City. The Harlem Cocktail first appears in print in the 1934 book Old Mr. Boston Bartender's Guide and then in Charlie Conolly's The World Famous Cotton Club: 1939 Book of Mixed Drinks.

Harlem Cocktail
1 ½ ounces Gin
Âľ ounce Pineapple Juice
ÂĽ ounce Maraschino liqueur
In a shaker muddle two or three pieces of fresh pineapple. Add gin, pineapple juice, Maraschino liqueur and fill with ice. Shake and pour into Old Fashioned glass.

Charlie Conolly, 1930


Review

Soft and fruity. Be careful: it's more potent than you think.

Variations/similar cocktails

Milly Martini

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Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Herbert Brant
Very appealing. I was pleasantly surprised how well the gin and pineapple juice counterbalanced each other. Generally, I shy away from pineapple because it can be so overpowering, but in this mix with the gin and maraschino, it works beautifully.
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Not what I was expecting. Great afternoon cocktail. It does appear to be easy to drink, but it does have a punch. Like all drinks with pineapple, it can be deceiving. Would do in a warm afternoon, brunch, or as an apertif.
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Hi John. I've just revisited and reformulated, Still very tropical fruit-forward and 'tropical' but more complex.
score: 0
Steve Erwood-Heijselaar
Friday 21 August in 2020 has proven to be a hot one - I'm sat here "sweating like the proverbial glassblower's..." Well, yes, quite. One of my grandmother's expressions I'm afraid. So, nicely matched with a cocktail of similar vintage, perhaps. Didn't make it with the celery gin as recommended in the recipe - mainly because I misread the recipe - but pleasantly surprised by a cocktail that has so clearly stood the test of time.
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Great to hear tasty. The recipe uses Rutte Dry Gin rather than their Celery variant.
score: 1

See more...

Difford’s Shop logo
$3.38 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.