Ford Cocktail
An herbal, dry classic in which gin and vermouth meet the honeyed spice of Bénédictine.
Ingredients
- Gin, an Old Tom or a clearly flavoured London Dry, ideally45 ml
- Bénédictinee.g. DOM Bénédictine7.5 ml
- Dry vermouth, French style45 ml
- Orange bitters2 dashes
- Lemon, to garnish, expressed over the drink (optional)1 twist
Method
- Chill a coupe or martini glass in the freezer.
- Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes and add the gin, Bénédictine, dry vermouth and orange bitters.
- Stir calmly for about 30 seconds, until the drink is cold and well diluted.
- Strain into the cold glass.
- Twist a strip of lemon peel over the drink to release its essential oils, and drop it into the glass to garnish.
Credit George J. Kappeler, Modern American Drinks (1895)
About this drink
The Ford Cocktail first appeared in George Kappeler's 1895 book and is essentially a Martini with an herbal twist. Bénédictine and orange bitters give it a warm, monastic depth that makes it more complex than its otherwise strict spirit-to-vermouth ratio suggests. It has since become a favourite study piece for bartenders who want to understand the balance between dryness and sweetness.
Questions and answers
What is a Ford Cocktail?
A stirred, gin-based cocktail in the family of the Martinez and the Martini, in which Bénédictine adds a honeyed, spiced sweetness to the otherwise dry pairing of gin and vermouth.
Can you replace the Bénédictine in a Ford Cocktail?
Drambuie or another honeyed, spiced liqueur can give a related effect, but Bénédictine's particular blend of herbs is hard to copy exactly. Use a little less if your substitute is sweeter.
