American Breakfast
A fruity and balanced whiskey cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 21.4% ABV ∙
The American Breakfast is a bourbon sour of pink grapefruit juice and maple syrup, shaken and served over ice with a grapefruit twist.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Bourbon 60 mlPink grapefruit juice 15 mlMaple syrup 15 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Express a grapefruit twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Maple syrup is thick, so shake hard for a full 12-15 seconds to get the 15 ml mixed in and the drink cold.
History
The American Breakfast is a variant of the Brown Derby, swapping the honey used in that cocktail for maple syrup and typically adding a grapefruit twist garnish. The Brown Derby itself is said to have been created in the 1930s by a bartender at the Vendome Cafe on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, taking its name from the famous nearby Brown Derby restaurant rather than the bar that served it. Recipe writers treat the maple-sweetened version as a named offshoot of that bourbon-and-grapefruit template, with a Scotch-and-honey version of the Brown Derby known separately as the De Rigueur.
FAQ
What is in an American Breakfast cocktail?
Bourbon, fresh pink grapefruit juice and maple syrup: 60 ml, 15 ml and 15 ml. The maple syrup takes the place of the Brown Derby's honey and gives a softer, less sharp sweetness.
Is an American Breakfast cocktail shaken or stirred?
Shaken. Maple syrup is thick and needs a hard shake to mix with the grapefruit juice and chill the drink. Stirring would leave the syrup unmixed and the drink flat.
Is the American Breakfast cocktail vegan?
Yes. This recipe is vegan, vegetarian and lactose-free: bourbon, fresh grapefruit juice and maple syrup, with no dairy or animal products. It comes in at roughly 183 calories per serving.
