1910 Cocktail
A bitter and smoky cocktail ∙ Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 26.1% ABV ∙
The 1910 Cocktail is a stirred mix of mezcal and Cognac with maraschino liqueur and Punt e Mes, seasoned with Creole-style bitters.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Mezcal 25 mlCognac 25 mlMaraschino liqueur 15 mlPunt e Mes 30 mlCreole-style bitters 2 dashes
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir over large cubes for about 30 seconds; that softens the drink without washing out the mezcal's smoke.
History
The 1910 was created by bartender Ezra Star at the bar Drink in Boston. It was named for the year the Mexican Revolution began and conceived as a companion to the bar's own 1919 cocktail, a rum-and-rye Manhattan variation named for the year of the Boston Molasses Flood.
Sources differ on the exact year of creation, with some dating it to 2011 and others to 2014. The drink also evolved in its early years: it was first mixed as a tequila-and-mezcal riff on the Manhattan before Star settled on a split of mezcal and Cognac as its base.
FAQ
What is in a 1910 Cocktail?
Mezcal (25 ml) and Cognac (25 ml), with Punt e Mes (30 ml), maraschino liqueur (15 ml) and two dashes of Creole-style bitters.
Is a 1910 Cocktail shaken or stirred?
Stirred. There is no juice or citrus to aerate, so stirring chills and dilutes the spirits and Punt e Mes without clouding the drink, keeping it clear in the glass.
What does a 1910 Cocktail taste like?
Bittersweet and smoky rather than sour or fruity. Mezcal smoke and Cognac's grape warmth come first, Punt e Mes adds a bitter, slightly herbal weight, and maraschino gives a faint cherry-pit sweetness before a dry finish. At roughly 26% ABV it is a strong, slow sipper, closer to a Manhattan-style drink than a citrus cocktail.
Can I substitute the mezcal with a different smoky spirit?
Yes, a smoky single malt Scotch can stand in, though the drink turns peat-forward instead of agave-forward. Mezcal is chosen here for its vegetal smoke against the Punt e Mes, so any substitute should still bring smoke rather than a clean, neutral spirit.
