Harvard Cocktail
Cognac and sweet vermouth in elegant balance, given a gentle sparkle by a splash of soda.
Ingredients
- Cognac45 ml
- Sweet vermouth, Italian45 ml
- Simple syrup, gomme, for a silky sweetness (1 part Sugar, 1 part Water)5 ml
- Aromatic bitters (Angostura)e.g. Angostura3 dashes
- Soda water, cold, to top15 ml
- Lemon, to garnish (optional)1 twist
Method
- Fill a mixing glass with plenty of ice.
- Pour in the cognac, sweet vermouth, syrup and bitters and stir for 20–30 seconds, until the mixture is well chilled and diluted.
- Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
- Top gently with cold soda water.
- Twist a strip of lemon peel over the drink to release its essential oils, and drop the peel into the glass.
George J. Kappeler, Modern American Drinks (1895)
About this drink
The Harvard Cocktail first appeared in George J. Kappeler's 1895 classic and is often described as a brandy Manhattan, with cognac in place of whiskey. The splash of soda was a way of giving the brandy drink a light, refreshing lift, and the formula has survived almost unchanged for well over a hundred years.
