Webster Cocktail

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (27 ratings)

Serve in a Coupe glass

Ingredients:
1 12 oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
1 oz Strucchi Dry Vermouth
12 oz Luxardo Apricot Albicocca Liqueur
12 oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
0.08 oz Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup) optional
2 drop Saline solution 4:1 (20g sea salt to 80g water) optional
× 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 zest twist.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. Express lime zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10
Cocktail of the day:

4th September 2025 is Web star incorporated

Review:

Balanced, or even a tad on the sour side rather than sweet. Indeed, your choice of apricot liqueur will impact the need for added sugar. Adjust accordingly in the pursuit of deliciousness.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted form a recipe in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book.

WEBSTER COCKTAIL.
1/8 Lime Juice.
1/8 Apricot Brandy.
1/4 French Vermouth.
1/2 Plymouth Gin.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.
A favourite cocktail at the bar of the S.S. Mauretania.

Harry Craddock, 1930

When Craddock wrote his reference to this cocktail's popularity at the bar of the Mauretania, it was one of the most famous ships due to its luxurious interior and its being the world's largest ship when it launched in 1906, but mostly due to its unrivalled speed which enabled it to hold the record for the quickest trans-Atlantic crossing for 20 years. The ship was retired five years after Craddock's book was published and its bell now hangs in the reception of the Lloyd's Register in London's Fenchurch Street where it is rung annually on Remembrance Day.

Nutrition:

One serving of Webster Cocktail contains 177 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 19.45% alc./vol. (19.45° proof)
  • 20.9 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.

Join the discussion

Showing 6 comments for Webster Cocktail.
See discussion in the Forum

Please log in to make a comment
13th October 2024 at 18:12
I make this with 2 shots of the gin, 3/4 shot each of apricot brandy and vermouth and 1/2 a shot of lime. No sugar syrup! This is pretty tart, but I love it.
Chris Brislawn’s Avatar Chris Brislawn
5th September 2023 at 02:55
Folks seem to think this is on the dry side, so I made it with Dolin Blanc instead of dry vermouth and skipped the sugar and saline. We like drinks a bit drier than Simon and thought this was about right, a subtle and very good balance between the lime and apricot. Maybe our apricot liqueur (Drillaud) is more apricot-y than Luxardo's. Anyway, I recommend the blanc vermouth.
Miguel Perales’ Avatar Miguel Perales
19th September 2022 at 22:08
Went with the peach vs apricot as per recommended by John.
Peach does come through in the cocktail. Sweet upfront but the lime shows quickly.
Miguel Perales’ Avatar Miguel Perales
19th September 2022 at 22:47
Addendum: I totally misread the amount of Rich syrup as 1/2 oz vs 1/12 oz. Obviously the reason my tasted more on the sweet side :)
10th September 2021 at 16:24
Acidic, dry and a hint of fruits. This sure is a good variety, I had to get used to it for 4-5 sips, but then I started to taste the Apricot flavours next to the acidic lime & vermouth. I'd rather drink this on a cold fall/winter day, than the warm summer. But it's definitely a worthy addition to my recipes.
Andy Parnell-Hopkinson’s Avatar Andy Parnell-Hopkinson
5th September 2021 at 16:37
Not as apricotty as expected but too soft for my taste.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
5th September 2021 at 00:10
Very good drink. There is a faint taste of apricot, and it is very dry. Would do again, but might try peach for a stronger flavour component.