CLASSIC · GIN

Turf Cocktail

Name: Turf Cocktail
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 30 ml Gin; 30 ml Dry Vermouth; 5 ml Anise Liqueur; 2 dashes Aromatic Bitters; Orange Peel

A spirit-forward pre-Prohibition classic that pairs equal parts gin and dry vermouth with a whisper of anise and aromatic bitters - essentially a drier, more herbal cousin of the Martinez.

Ingredients

Gin30 ml

Dry Vermouth30 ml

Anise Liqueur5 ml

Aromatic Bitters2 dashes

Orange Peel

Glassware

Cocktail glass

Chilled.

Flavor

Anise · Juniper · Orange peel

Estimated profile

A cigar alongside More like this

Method

1
Combine gin, dry vermouth, anise liqueur, and aromatic bitters in a mixing glass.
2
Fill with ice and stir for 20–25 seconds until well chilled and properly diluted.
3
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4
Express an orange peel over the surface to release its oils, run it around the rim, and place it in the glass as garnish.

From the Bartender

The Turf Cocktail appears in late 19th-century bar manuals in several variations - some call for absinthe in place of anise liqueur, which sharpens the anise note considerably and pushes the drink closer to a Death in the Afternoon territory. If using absinthe, reduce to 2–3 ml to keep it in balance.

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