Millionaire No. 1

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Cocktail History

The Millionaire No. 1 is a vintage cocktail that was created in the 1800s and was first published in The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock in the 1930s. It’s traditionally made with dark rum, apricot brandy, citrus, and sloe gin, a British liqueur made with gin and sloes, which is a fruit similar to a plum.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Dark Rum: This is a type of rum made with sugarcane, spices, and water that has been barrel aged for a long period of time. We used Plantation Original Dark Rum because it has a unique spiced flavor with notes of banana, plum, and vanilla. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Caleño Non-Alcoholic Dark & Spicy Tropical Spirit in place of the rum.

Sloe Gin: This is a liqueur made with sloes, sugar, and alcohol. We used Plymouth Sloe Gin because it’s the original sloe gin with a rich flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Wild Berry Syrup in place of the sloe gin.

Apricot Brandy: This is a liqueur made with apricots, spices, sugar, and brandy. We used Phillips Apricot Brandy because it’s flavorful and affordable. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative and Monin Premium Stone Fruit Syrup in place of the apricot brandy.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.

Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

Tasting Notes

The Millionaire No. 1 features aromas of citrus and brandy and tastes like rum and sloe gin at first balanced by sour citrus with hints of apricot on the finish.

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We both liked this recipe more than expected! It’s sweet while still being very citrus forward, and it features a hint of both the gin and brandy, so you get to experience all of the different flavors quite nicely. Just a warning though, the Millionaire No. 1 really is as red as it looks in the photo, so if you make this one, maybe try it early on in the evening. That way you don’t stain your outfit if you happen to spill.

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Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

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Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Art of Vintage Cocktails by Stephanie Rosenbaum.

Sale
The Art of Vintage Cocktails
The Art of Vintage Cocktails
Hardcover Book; Rosenbaum, Stephanie (Author); English (Publication Language); 108 Pages – 01/07/2014 (Publication Date) – Egg & Dart (Publisher)
$10.98

AuthorThe Art of Vintage Cocktails

Yields1 ServingPrep Time5 mins

Ingredients
 ¾ oz Dark Rum
 ¾ oz Sloe Gin
 ¾ oz Apricot Brandy
 ½ oz Lime Juice

Method
1

Add rum, sloe gin, apricot brandy, lime juice, grenadine, and cubed ice to a shaker.

2

Shake for 10-20 seconds.

3

Strain into a cocktail glass.

Ingredients

Ingredients
 ¾ oz Dark Rum
 ¾ oz Sloe Gin
 ¾ oz Apricot Brandy
 ½ oz Lime Juice

Directions

Method
1

Add rum, sloe gin, apricot brandy, lime juice, grenadine, and cubed ice to a shaker.

2

Shake for 10-20 seconds.

3

Strain into a cocktail glass.

Millionaire No. 1

Make It a Mocktail: Use Caleño Non-Alcoholic Dark & Spicy Tropical Spirit in place of the rum, Monin Premium Wild Berry Syrup in place of the sloe gin, and Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative and Monin Premium Stone Fruit Syrup in place of the apricot brandy to try a booze-free version of this drink.

Shop Glassware & Tools

Find collections of cocktail glassware and bartending tools we recommend for your home bar in our Amazon shop.

Barski Wine Goblet - Crystal - Glasses - Set of 6 - Red or White Wine Glass - Beautifully Hand Cut - 6 oz. - European Quality Made in Europe
Barski Wine Goblet – Crystal – Glasses – Set of 6 – Red or White Wine Glass – Beautifully Hand Cut – 6 oz. – European Quality Made in Europe
Finest european quality crystal for ultimate sparkle and clarity; Finest european quality crystal for ultimate sparkle and clarity
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Godinger Gin Cocktail Coupe Goblet Glass - Dublin Collection, Set of 4
Godinger Gin Cocktail Coupe Goblet Glass – Dublin Collection, Set of 4
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Goblet, White Wine Crystal Glass, Water Glass, Stemmed Glasses, Set of 6 Goblets, 8 oz, Beautifully Designed, by Barski, Made in Europe
Goblet, White Wine Crystal Glass, Water Glass, Stemmed Glasses, Set of 6 Goblets, 8 oz, Beautifully Designed, by Barski, Made in Europe
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OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
Sturdy, stainless steel blade; Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle ensures a safe grip; Hand wash with warm, soapy water and promptly dry
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More Classic Cocktails

If you like this classic cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:

Brooklyn Cocktail Recipe

Brooklyn: A rye cocktail made with dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Amer Picon

Martinez Cocktail Recipe

Martinez: A gin cocktail made with sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur, and orange bitters

Vesper Martini Cocktail Recipe

Vesper Martini: A gin and vodka cocktail made with Lillet Blanc and a lemon twist

Manhattan Cocktail Recipe

Manhattan: A whiskey cocktail made with sweet vermouth, orange bitters, an orange peels, and a cherry

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-03-28.

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