Man O' War Cocktail
A bourbon-driven classic with orange sweetness and a tart edge of lemon and sweet vermouth.
Ingredients
- Bourbon, high-proof, ideally60 ml
- Orange liqueur, Cointreau, Grand Marnier or triple sec30 ml
- Sweet vermouth, a premium vermouth, ideally15 ml
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed15 ml
- Lemon, to garnish (optional)1 twist
- Cocktail cherry, to garnish (optional)1 whole
Method
- Chill a coupe or martini glass in the freezer for a few minutes.
- Fill a shaker with ice and pour in the bourbon, orange liqueur, sweet vermouth and fresh lemon juice.
- Shake hard for 15–20 seconds, until the shaker is ice-cold and frosted.
- Strain through a fine strainer into the cold glass.
- Twist the lemon peel over the drink to release its essential oils, and drop it in or rest it on the rim along with a cocktail cherry.
About this drink
The Man O' War is named after the legendary racehorse of the same name, who dominated American racing in 1919 and 1920. The drink is thought to date from the mid-twentieth century and is a tribute to American style and class. It sits between a Manhattan and a Whiskey Sour, with bourbon's depth as its foundation.
