Lucien Gaudin

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (101 ratings)

Serve in a Coupe glass

Ingredients:
1 13 oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
23 oz Cointreau triple sec liqueur
23 oz Strucchi Red Bitter (Campari-style liqueur)
23 oz Strucchi Dry Vermouth
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

A vintage French riff on a Negroni. This cocktail is perhaps better, certainly easier drinking when served on-the-rocks.

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History:

This vintage cocktail is named after Lucien Gaudin, a French fencer who achieved gold medals with two different weapons at the 1924 Olympics in Paris and the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. After retiring from competitive sport, Gaudin became a journalist and also co-owner of Les Films Sportifs, a sports media company noted for producing the film of the 1924 Olympics, now known as "the real Chariots of Fire Olympics." Sadly, the company was not a financial success and Gaudin committed suicide in 1934 following its bankruptcy.

The cocktail, which won the Honorary Cup at the Professional Bartenders Championship in Paris on 2nd February 1929, first appears in the Cocktails de Paris Présentes book, published the same year. This credits the recipe to Charlie of Le Cheval Pie (The Black And White Horse), a Parisian restaurant that operated between 1925 and 1930 where Gaudin is thought to have been a regular.

LUCIEN·GAUDIN
1/2 Gordon's dry Gin
1/6 Campari
1/6 Cointreau
1/6 Vermouth français
Charlie, du « Cheval Pie ».
Coupe d'honneur au Championnat des Barmen professionnels, disputé à Paris le 2 février 1929.

Cocktails de Paris Presentes, 1929

Nutrition:

One serving of Lucien Gaudin contains 204 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.9 standard drinks
  • 26.05% alc./vol. (26.05° proof)
  • 26 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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Olga María Gómez Henderson’s Avatar Olga María Gómez Henderson
14th June at 11:46
It's really good. People that aren't fond of traditional Negronis should drink this, it has the perfect balance between sweet and bitter.
Olga María Gómez Henderson’s Avatar Olga María Gómez Henderson
15th March at 11:26
Not to sound picky, but I think the photo is wrong, because it looks like there's a lemon zest twist but the recipe calls for an orange zest twist. Can someone check it please?
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
15th March at 12:05
Not a great pic, but I think it's an orange zest, and this is indeed what should be used.
Sam Terry’s Avatar Sam Terry
1st March 2024 at 06:11
I love this negroni-martini (magroni? negrini?). People have described it well in the comments. All four elements of the drink come through nicely—with the Cointreau in a more supportive “glue” role.

I used the 3:1:1:1 original ratio, and found it balanced—Difford’s 2:1:1:1 I imagine offers an alternative that pulls back the bite (which might be a welcome mod for some!) If I wanted it less boozy, I’d prefer that to the option of putting it on the rocks… which runs the risk of thinning it out.
Briana Warsing’s Avatar Briana Warsing
15th September 2023 at 11:18
loved it! nice riff on the classic negroni
26th December 2022 at 11:12
Can't decide between a martini and negroni? This is the drink! I've got an olive leaf gin I can't wait to try this with.
Herbert Brant’s Avatar Herbert Brant
20th October 2022 at 19:10
Delightful. Quite right —this is much more pleasant than the regular Negroni. More refreshing, brighter, and perhaps more refined with Aperol instead of Campari.
Egor Doroshenko’s Avatar Egor Doroshenko
9th May 2022 at 19:14
Super!!!
Wes O'Morrow’s Avatar Wes O'Morrow
3rd May 2022 at 06:55
This is an underrated cocktail. Made with Monkey 47 or similar quality gin, this is an amazing drink. This should be 5 stars.
William Smith’s Avatar William Smith
15th November 2021 at 02:26
I've been a Negroni man for years, but I wanted the change things up a bit. This is quite good! I'm sipping one on the rocks as I post this. I see why Simon recommends Noilly Prat and not plain old M & R. You really need the "bite" of Noilly.
8th October 2020 at 20:40
This works on the rocks just like a Negroni (use bigger ice if you are unsure you will enjoy the dilution). It is a bit less bitter, the orange stands out better, also the color is pink and fun. Depending on the triple sec this can be a less sweet, less bitter, more citrusy alternative to Negroni. Probably won't replace it in your repertoire but can find its way as a variation so we don't get bored.