Alaska (1914 recipe)
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 34.8% ABV ∙
The Alaska is a stirred spirit-forward cocktail of Old Tom gin and yellow Chartreuse with a dash of orange bitters, served up in a coupe. Juniper and honeyed malt from the Old Tom lead, then Chartreuse brings a saffron-herbal sweetness before orange bitters dry out the finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Old Tom gin 45 mlHerbal liqueur (e.g., Yellow Chartreuse) 20 mlOrange bitters 1 dash
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir with large cubes for 20-25 seconds until the mixing glass feels ice-cold; this dilutes fast and turns thin if over-stirred.
- Measure the Yellow Chartreuse carefully — it dominates easily, and a heavy pour skews the drink sweet and herbal.
- Add the orange bitters as a single dash after the base spirits, then stir last so the aromatic oils don't oxidize before serving.
- Express the orange twist directly over the surface of the coupe to release citrus oils, then rub the rim before dropping it in as garnish.
History
The Alaska is a gin and yellow Chartreuse cocktail that first appeared in print in 1913, originally built with Old Tom gin, yellow Chartreuse, and a dash of orange bitters. A near-identical recipe was recorded the following year in Jacques Straub's 1914 book Drinks, and it is this early Old Tom gin version, sometimes labeled Straub's 1914 recipe, that this build follows. By 1930, when Harry Craddock published his own version in The Savoy Cocktail Book, the orange bitters had been dropped and the base spirit switched to London dry gin, which became the more commonly cited formula. Craddock himself only offered that the drink was probably conceived in South Carolina, while other writers have speculated, without firm evidence, that its golden hue nodded to Alaska's gold rush era.
FAQ
What is in an Alaska cocktail?
Old Tom gin, yellow Chartreuse, and a dash of orange bitters, stirred and strained into a coupe. The gin leads while the Chartreuse plays a supporting, herbal role, finished with an orange twist.
Is an Alaska cocktail shaken or stirred?
Stirred. It's an all-spirit build with no citrus or egg to aerate, so stirring chills and dilutes it while keeping the drink clear and silky.
What glass is an Alaska cocktail served in?
A coupe glass, served up with an orange twist. No ice goes into the glass since the drink is strained after stirring.
Can I use regular gin instead of Old Tom gin?
A London dry gin can be used, but it will taste drier and sharper since Old Tom gin's subtle sweetness is what tempers the yellow Chartreuse in this build.
How strong is an Alaska cocktail?
It's a strong, spirit-forward drink at roughly 34.8% ABV, closer in strength to a Martini than to a citrus-forward sour, since it contains no diluting juice.
