Name: Rosita
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 45 ml Reposado tequila; 15 ml Red bitter liqueur; 15 ml Dry vermouth; 15 ml Rosso/sweet vermouth; 1 dash Aromatic bitters

Rosita
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Photographed in an UB Koto Old Fashioned 30cl

Ingredients:
1 ¹⁄₂ oz	Patrón Reposado tequila
¹⁄₂ oz	Strucchi Red Bitter (Campari-style liqueur)
¹⁄₂ oz	Strucchi Dry Vermouth
¹⁄₂ oz	Strucchi Rosso Vermouth
1 dash	Angostura Aromatic Bitters optional

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass.
Prepare garnish of grapefruit zest twist.
STIR all ingredients with ice.
STRAIN into ice-filled glass.
EXPRESS grapefruit zest twist over cocktail and use as garnish.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Dry vermouth, Rosso/rouge/sweet vermouth (di Torino) - Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

Bittersweet, tequila-based, and Negroni-like. Classically garnished with a lemon zest twist but better with grapefruit.

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History:

The origin of this drink remains unknown, but its popularity (like many things in the drinks industry) can be attributed to Gary 'gaz' Regan, even though for some years he was in denial.

The Rosita was introduced to gaz by a fellow cocktail geek back in 2005; who in turn had discovered the recipe in an article written by Terry Sullivan, a fellow drinks writer. Gaz questioned Sullivan as to where he found the recipe, but he could not remember so gaz let the matter drop until 2007 when he made the drink as an aperitif for a few friends round for dinner. Gaz's guests asked the origins of the drink and this led gaz to contact Sullivan again.

This time Sullivan remembered and told gaz that he had found it in The Bartender's Bible. Now many of you will already be smiling as The Bible, published in 1991, was gaz Regan's first book.

Gaz imbibed and wrote about thousands of cocktails over the years so it is understandable that he overlooked his own book. After an embarrassed oh-yeah moment he started rummaging around in the back of the closet of his guest room where an oversized envelope still held his working notes for the book. So it transpired that gaz purloined the recipe from a 1988 edition of Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide, but he had added a typical gaz touch, namely a dash of bitters, and predictably a bit more tequila.

The recipe has since been traced back to at 1974 edition of the Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide.

More cocktails by Gary 'gaz' Regan

Nutrition:

One serving of Rosita contains 175 calories

Alcohol content:

1.5 standard drinks
23.53% alc./vol. (23.53° proof)
21.3 grams of pure alcohol

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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 Rosita.
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Frederic D.

15th July 2024 at 23:02

Very enjoyable negroni riff. The split vermouth makes it a bit more herbal-forward, and while the Campari is still present, it does not overpower the other ingredients. I agree with previous reviewers on the bitters - I had mine with Dashfire Orange bitters and it was a subtle but welcome enhancement.

Bertrand Péraut

30th April 2024 at 19:35

Excellent cocktail, dry, aromatic and boozy. But if you just add a 1/4 shot of mezcal (maybe a 1/6 would do) , you won't regret it 😁

Colin Cook

19th January 2024 at 10:16

Did not disappoint. As suggested in the comments I went with Angostura orange bitters. Might try grapefruit bitters next time.

Russell Clark

10th December 2023 at 22:56

Being a lover of a negroni, this looked really interesting to to try, and jeez was it drinkable, I had 2 within the space of 30 mins.
I'm thinking it would be interesting to try grapefruit bitters, but as the other comments say, orange would be great too

David M.

17th September 2022 at 18:25

Great Negroni riff for the tequila lover.

Fernando Yu

22nd February 2022 at 16:40

Very close to a Negroni!

Rob Kennedy

12th February 2022 at 22:38

Delightful! I have the 1978 Mr. Boston Guide and sure enough, there it is -- albeit with less tequila (1oz) and more Campari (1oz). We'll stick with the modern proportions - it's a new favorite!