Name: Obituary
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 60 ml Old Tom gin; 10 ml Bianco/blanco vermouth; 5 ml Absinthe; 5 ml Chilled water

Obituary
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Glass:

Serve in a Coupe glass

Ingredients:
2 oz	Hayman's Old Tom Gin from freezer
¹⁄₃ oz	Strucchi Bianco Vermouth chilled
¹⁄₆ oz	La Fée Parisienne absinthe
¹⁄₆ oz	Chilled water omit if using wet ice

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Prepare:

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
Prepare green olive for garnish.

How to make:

STIR all ingredients with ice.
FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish:

Garnish with green olive.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Bianco/blanc/blanco vermouth - Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

What a way to go. A Martini with a splash of the green fairy. I like to use old tom gin to make an Obituary as it sits so much better with the absinthe than London dry gin. I also prefer bianco over the dry vermouth traditionally used to make an Obituary. However, If I only have dry gin to hand, this is my recipe:
60ml (2oz) Dry Gin (from freezer)
7.5ml (¼oz) Dry gin
2.5ml (½ spoon) Absinthe

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Variant:

Absinthe Martini

History:

This absinthe-laced Dry Martini was popularised during the 1940s at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop in New Orleans and is regarded as one of the Crescent City's cocktails.

Nutrition:

One serving of Obituary contains 159 calories

Alcohol content:

1.7 standard drinks
29.37% alc./vol. (58.74° proof)
23.5 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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Showing 10 of 12 comments for Obituary.
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David Teager

31st October at 22:06

This is MUCH drier than the recipe featured in the New York Times today. they featured this in an article about this drink and cocktail culture in New Orleans. Called for 2oz gin, 3/4 oz vermouth, and 1/6 oz absiinthe. Making this my Halloween cocktail tonight.

Simon Difford

3rd November at 07:35

Thanks, David. Your comment led me to revisit this cocktail and add the new recipe with old tom gin above.

John Hinojos

5th March at 05:24

What a way to go, indeed. Evening cocktail to end Mardi Gras 2025. Truly a martini for absinthe lovers and the spirit of Vieux Carre cocktail history in New Orleans. We added 1 drop of olive bitters along with a spray of absinthe in the martini glasses. But then I will drink absinthe on the rocks. Very spirit forward. Limit and pace yourself.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!

John CARR

31st October 2024 at 14:04

John CARR
13 seconds ago
Go easy on the absinthe but, yes, with a fresh bottle of Dolin and a nice gin (Sipsmith in this case) very nice. I went with a lemon twist. Not sure it really adds to the classic dry martini (says themartini lover).

John CARR

31st October 2024 at 14:05

… looks like I broke the software…

G. M. Genovese

10th February 2024 at 13:36

Conniption Navy Strength, Noilly Prat Dry, Vieux Carre... I kinda like this... quite piney, evergreen, alpine; welcome salty kiss of olive too... I wouldn't drink this often, but a good off-road Martini.

John Hinojos

1st November 2023 at 03:51

Had this again on Halloween night. Added a few drops of olive bitters and a spray of absinthe on top (as well as in the cocktail). Very enjoyable. I love the pearlescent cast the absinthe gives the cocktail.

Mario Bruno

30th October 2023 at 18:36

I haven't tried yet, but how about changing the absinthe for Green Chatreuse?

Mario Bruno

5th November 2023 at 19:11

I tried it with Chartreuse and as John Hinojos said the result is a bit sweet, but could do, of course under a different name. Thanks John

John Hinojos

1st November 2023 at 03:47

You could. The flavour profile will be a bit different as they both do not have the same herbal qualities. The Chartreuse may make the cocktail a bit sweeter. While you would have the green colour, you will be missing the unique coluration that the absinthe give the final cocktail.

John Hinojos

17th October 2022 at 00:37

Being an absinthe lover and a new convert to the martini, this is excellent. The martini and nicely dry while the absinthe gives it unique herbal flavours with the shot of anise. Strongly recommend for any one who likes absinthe.

John Champion

13th October 2022 at 19:26

Tried this from the list of Halloween cocktails and was surprised by how good it was, even for non-Martini drinkers. I, like Mr. Morton, also used an atomizer for the absinthe as well as a lemon twist. Crisp, clean, slightly herbal. Two in our party who HATE dry martinis both said it was "not bad." Use a good quality gin.

Jim Morton

29th October 2021 at 16:09

I find that this one works better with an absinthe rinse. I use a spritzer.

Kevin Duffy

10th April 2021 at 18:02

Needed a drop of sugar syrup for the Mrs.

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