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Cocktail History
The Tuxedo No. 2 is a classic cocktail that was created by Harry Craddock and included in his 1930 recipe book, The Savoy Cocktail Book. It’s believed to have been named for Tuxedo Park, a community for the elite that was established in upstate New York in the 1880s. And it is traditionally made with gin, dry vermouth, absinthe, cherry, and citrus.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is the base spirit. We went with Suntory Roku Gin because it offers the complexity of six Japanese botanicals.
Dry Vermouth: This is a fortified wine that adds sweetness. We used Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry because it’s light and airy.
Maraschino Liqueur: This adds the drink’s cherry flavor. We used Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur for its earthy aroma and sweet, creamy cherry flavor.
Absinthe: This is a spirit made with anise, wormwood, fennel, botanicals, and a neutral alcohol. We used Great Lakes Distillery Amerique 1912 Absinthe Verte. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Absinthe in place of the absinthe.
Orange Bitters: This adds a bit of the citrus’s sweet flavor for balance and more complexity. We used Scrappy’s Bitters Orange Bitters because they offer the classic taste of bitter oranges, herbs, and spices.
Lemon Twist: This is the garnish. It adds fresh lemon aroma and flavor.
Tasting Notes
The Tuxedo No. 2 features the aromas of absinthe, gin, and cherry and initially tastes of absinthe, vermouth, and gin before finishing with the aftertaste of cherry and botanicals.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: If ever there were a cocktail that perfectly captured the essence (and somehow the taste) of a well-dressed man, it’s this drink. Although still quite dry, we both really liked this one and will definitely be making it again.
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.
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.
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book: Appropriate Libations for All Occasions by Lou Bustamante.
Add gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, absinthe, orange bitters, and ice to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with lemon twist.
Ingredients
Directions
Add gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, absinthe, orange bitters, and ice to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with lemon twist.
Tools & Glassware We Recommend
More Gin Cocktails
If you like this gin-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Spiced Pumpkin Punch: A gin cocktail made with apple cider, pumpkin purée, honey syrup, lemon juice, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon sticks
Archangel: A gin cocktail made with Aperol, cucumber slices, and a lemon twist
Apple Pie Gimlet: A gin cocktail made with apple cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, a cinnamon stick, and an apple slice
White Negroni: A gin cocktail made with Lillet Blanc, Suze, and a lemon peel
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