19th Century
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 19.2% ABV ∙
The 19th Century is a shaken bourbon cocktail built with white crème de cacao, Blanc Quinquina, and fresh lemon juice, served up in a coupe. Cocoa richness meets a quinine-tinged bitterness up front, with bright lemon cutting through before a dry, faintly herbal finish — a reflective after-dinner sip.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Bourbon 40 mlWhite Crème de Cacao 20 mlBlanc Quinquina 20 mlLemon juice 20 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Shake hard for a full 12-15 seconds with plenty of ice since this drink carries fresh lemon juice and needs strong dilution and chill to balance the cacao's sweetness.
- The bourbon is 40 ml against 20 ml each of creme de cacao, Blanc Quinquina and lemon - it leads, and the other three are measured to balance it.
- Fine-strain into a chilled coupe to catch any ice shards or pulp, keeping the surface glossy since there's no foam-topped garnish to disguise texture.
- Express the lemon twist's oils over the drink's surface before dropping it in, brightening the crème de cacao's chocolate notes without adding extra juice.
History
The 19th Century is a bourbon-based riff on the Twentieth Century cocktail, a gin, Lillet blanc, and cacao drink first published in the Café Royal Cocktail Book in 1937. This variation was created by bartender Brian Miller at the Pegu Club in New York City, with sources dating the recipe to 2016. It swaps in bourbon for the gin base and uses Lillet Rouge in place of Lillet blanc, giving the drink a darker, richer profile than its namesake.
FAQ
What is in a 19th Century cocktail?
Bourbon, white crème de cacao, Blanc Quinquina, and fresh lemon juice, shaken and fine-strained into a chilled glass. The bourbon leads, with the cacao and Quinquina adding sweetness and a bittersweet, quinine-like edge.
Is a 19th Century cocktail shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The lemon juice and crème de cacao need the aeration and quick chill of a shake to blend properly; stirring would leave it flat and poorly integrated.
What glass is a 19th Century cocktail served in?
A coupe glass, served up with a lemon twist and no ice in the glass.
What alcohol did people drink in the 1800s?
Whiskey, brandy, gin, rum, and fortified wines such as quinquina and vermouth were common 19th-century spirits, often mixed with sugar, water, and bitters in early cocktails. Bourbon in particular became a defining American whiskey style during this period, and fortified aperitif wines like Blanc Quinquina were popular both as a tonic and a mixer.
Is the 19th Century cocktail vegan?
Yes, it is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, since it is built entirely from bourbon, crème de cacao, Blanc Quinquina, and lemon juice with no dairy or animal products.
