A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE TUXEDO COCKTAIL:
The Tuxedo Cocktail dates back to the late 1800s, though like many vintage cocktails, it gained popularity during Prohibition as a way to mask the impurities of bathtub gins and inferior, unregulated alcohols. It is an adaptation of a classic gin martini.
Named for Tuxedo Park, NY, the original Tuxedo cocktail recipes were gin based, martini inspired and could contain dry vermouth or sherry or both. Some included a maraschino liqueur in later decades (the early 1930s) and all contain a few drops of orange bitters.
This Tuxedo Martini #2 is my favorite way to enjoy this vintage cocktail:
THE TUXEDO MARTINI #2
2 Ounces Plymouth Gin
3/4 Ounces Fino (dry) Sherry
1/4 Ounces Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
2 Dashes Orange Bitters
Absinthe Rinse
Maraschino Cherry (homemade!)
Lemon Twist
Chill a coupe glass in the freezer.
Fill your cocktail pitcher with ice then add the gin, sherry, Maraschino liqueur and orange bitters and stir until chilled.
Rinse the inside of your chilled coupe with absinthe then discard the excess.
Strain stirred ingredients into your chilled coupe.
Garnish with the cherry and lemon twist.
Updated 4-2018
