Skip advertisement Advertisement

Bernice

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (133)
Bernice image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 2⁄3 fl oz Ketel One Vodka
1⁄4 fl oz Galliano L'Autentico liqueur
1⁄2 fl oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1⁄3 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix
1 dash La Fée Parisienne absinthe

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above.

How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Coupe glass

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of mint leaf pegged to rim or the very tip of mint sprig to float.

Method

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

Garnish

  1. Garnish with mint leaf pegged to rim or float the tip of mint sprig.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Bernice contains 172 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.3 standard drinks
  • 20.76% alc./vol. (41.52° proof)
  • 18.4 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Created by "C. S. Berner", this cocktail first appears as the winning cocktail at a 1950 bartender's competition in The U.K.B.G. Guide to Drinks 1st edition published 1953 [and not in Ted Saucier's 1951 Bottoms Up! as we were previously led to believe. Having checked, I can't see it in Saucier's book.]

U.K.B.G., U.S.A. (West Coast) Cocktail Competition, 1950
"Bernice"
C. S. Berner
Shake well 1 oz. Vodka (Smirnoff), 1/2 oz. Galliano Liqueur, 3 drops Veritas (Pernod Fils), juice of 1/2 lime.

The U.K.B.G. Guide to Drinks, 1953


Review

Best described as "A vodka daiquiri with a hint of herbal peppermint courtesy of Galliano."

Difford’s Shop logo
$2.02 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 15 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.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

Comments & Discussion

Chris VanDoren
Too sweet for me, and the vodka doesn't add anything except alcohol, of course. Thought I would enjoy it with the Galiano and absinthe, but not for me.
score: 1
Loz Horner
I find myself making this for the second night running. Enough said. Go easy on the absinthe - a dash is right - and it’s great.
score: 2
Meredith Frost
I had to try this because my grandmother was named Bernice. Love the licorice flavor. I agree with a prior commenter that the vodka does really add anything to the flavor. I wonder how it would taste with gin? Nonetheless it does my grandmothers memory proud. I’ll definitely make again.
score: 2
Ruth Harvey
Medicinal...in a good way!
score: 1
Mike Hillis
Enjoyed this drink. A bit sweeter than I typically like, but I could see many people enjoying this beyond the “alcohol forward” group of enthusiasts.
score: 1
Zach Schwartz
Substituting honey syrup for the simple takes this to the next level!
score: 1
Jose Cruz
Dont play around and add 5ML absinthe to complement the Galliano. Seems like a Chartreuse drink almost. Vodka doesnt add much to this, just volume.
score: 1
Dan Casselman
This was better than I expected, although my dash of Absinthe was a tad over 2.5 ml. I like them a tad less sweet so they go down slower (Guzzle guzzle, wink wink, know what I mean). A solid cocktail, that deserves to be "sipped" more often (2 of 8 of "Her Maj's 8 Jubilee Cocktails)
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
This was wonderful as an aperitif. Nice citrus and herbal hints. The mint garnish helps bring out the touch of mint in the cocktail.
score: 2
Paola Moore
We felt it worked really well as a pre-dinner cocktail- the aniseed and sharpness linking to fennel, fish and salads maybe.
Starts quite fruity but becomes more savoury towards the bottom of the glass.
score: 3

Showing the first 10 of 15 comments.

View 15 comments and discussion

See more...

After dinner/digestif Cocktails

After dinner/digestif Cocktails image

After dinner or digestif cocktails, or digestive cocktails, often contain bittersweet liqueurs.

View more

Classic/vintage Cocktails

Classic/vintage Cocktails image

Classic cocktails are found in vintage recipe books from the mid-1800s to the 1980s.

View more

Hall of Fame & must know/try Cocktails

Hall of Fame & must know/try Cocktails image

The best-know, most enduring cocktails of all time.

View more

Herbal Cocktails

Herbal Cocktails image

Cocktails made with fresh herbs or herbals liqueurs.

View more

Summer Cocktails

Summer Cocktails image

Refreshing summer coolers, suited to enjoying on warm days and nights.

View more
Difford’s Shop logo
$2.02 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 15 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.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

Beach House

Beach House Image

Reminiscent of a Naked & Famous turned tropical.

View more

Borough

Borough Image

A Manhattan variation created to help promote US-made Dubonnet Rouge, but is best made with French Dubonnet Red, or indeed another red quinquina.

View more

Roman Punch

Roman Punch Image

This recipe (by yours truly in August 2026) combines elements from various vintage Roman Punch recipes to produce a cooling fruity sour laced with...

View more

The Aftermath

The Aftermath Image

Most bartenders would stir this cocktail, as per Robin's original recipe. However, when shaken, this cocktail develops an attractive foamy head and a...

View more

Difford's House

Difford's House Image

My old tom gin version of the classic Holland House, mostly leaning on the recipe in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book.

View more

Tango (by Mattia Capezzuoli)

Tango (by Mattia Capezzuoli) Image

A Cleansing riff on a Paloma with subtle bittersweetness.

View more