1920 Cocktail
A bitter and dry whiskey cocktail ∙ Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 31% ABV ∙
The 1920 Cocktail is a stirred whiskey cocktail of rye, equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, and orange bitters, served up in a coupe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Rye whiskey 60 mlRosso vermouth 15 mlDry vermouth 15 mlOrange bitters 1 dash
- 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, until the mixing glass is ice-cold. Stir too briefly and the rye stays harsh; too long and the drink goes thin.
History
The 1920 Cocktail is a modern riff on the Perfect Manhattan, documented in 2023 at Cure, a cocktail bar in New Orleans. The Perfect Manhattan splits the vermouth into equal parts sweet and dry rather than using sweet vermouth alone — itself an offshoot of the classic Manhattan.
The 1920 Cocktail keeps that split and swaps in orange bitters for the traditional aromatic bitters, with an orange zest garnish in place of the maraschino cherry.
FAQ
What is in a 1920 Cocktail?
Rye whiskey (60 ml), rosso and dry vermouth (15 ml each), and a dash of orange bitters. The equal split of sweet and dry vermouth makes it drier than a Manhattan, which uses sweet vermouth alone.
Is a 1920 Cocktail shaken or stirred?
Stirred. All the ingredients are spirits and fortified wine, so stirring chills and dilutes the drink while keeping it clear rather than clouding it with air.
