A.B.C.
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 20.2% ABV ∙
The A.B.C. is a shaken cocktail of tawny port and cognac with maraschino liqueur, fresh mint and a little sugar syrup, served up in a coupe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Fresh mint leaves 7 pcsTawny port 30 mlCognac 30 mlMaraschino liqueur 10 mlSugar syrup 5 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a lemon twist and a maraschino cherry on a skewer
Tips
- Fine strain so no torn bits of mint end up in the coupe.
- Shake hard with plenty of ice for about 12-15 seconds; port and cognac make a strong drink that needs the chill and the water.
History
The A.B.C. Cocktail traces to a recipe first printed in the 1934 edition of Bar La Florida Cocktails, the house recipe booklet of the Havana bar La Florida (later famed as El Floridita), where it combined port, cognac, and maraschino.
Sources note this port-and-cognac version, the one that endured into modern reference, is distinct from an earlier, quite different drink also called A.B.C. that appeared in the 1929 French book Cocktails de Paris, presented by RIP. No individual bartender is credited as the creator of either version, and the initials are not explained in the surviving sources.
FAQ
What is an A.B.C. cocktail?
A shaken sipping drink of tawny port and cognac with maraschino liqueur, sugar syrup, and fresh mint, served up in a coupe. An earlier A.B.C. in the 1929 French book Cocktails de Paris was a quite different drink.
What is the A.B.C. drink made of?
30 ml tawny port, 30 ml cognac, 10 ml maraschino liqueur, 5 ml sugar syrup, and seven fresh mint leaves, all shaken together.
Is an A.B.C. shaken or stirred?
Shaken, hard, for about 12-15 seconds. The shake releases the mint's oils and gives a strong mix of port and cognac the chill and water it needs.
What glass is an A.B.C. served in?
A chilled coupe, served up. Fine-strain it so no torn bits of mint end up in the glass.
