Amsterdam
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 24.7% ABV ∙
The Amsterdam is a shaken sour built on Dutch genever, orange liqueur, fresh orange juice, and orange bitters, served up in a coupe. Malty and juniper-forward from the genever, it opens savory and slightly grainy before orange sweetness and a bittersweet citrus snap round out the finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Oude genever 45 mlTriple sec 20 mlOrange juice 20 mlOrange bitters 2 dashes
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Shake with cracked ice for a full 12-15 seconds to properly chill and dilute this genever base without over-diluting the citrus-forward mix.
- Strain into a pre-chilled coupe immediately after shaking since genever loses its malty character quickly once diluted and warmed.
- Squeeze the orange juice fresh just before shaking; bottled juice lacks the brightness needed to balance the genever base
- Express the orange twist's oils over the drink's surface before dropping it in, reinforcing the citrus notes from the triple sec and juice.
History
The Amsterdam cocktail's earliest known printed recipe appears in "The How and When," a 1937 Chicago bar guide by Hyman Gale and Gerald F. Marco, built around Holland gin (genever), orange juice, orange liqueur, and orange bitters. The drink resurfaced decades later in Victor Bergeron's 1972 Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide, which historians note reproduced the earlier recipe nearly unchanged, giving Trader Vic's version much wider circulation and making it the source most commonly cited today. The name reflects the use of genever, the juniper spirit historically associated with the Netherlands and its capital, though no documented account ties the drink's creation to the city itself.
FAQ
How do you make an Amsterdam cocktail?
Shake oude genever, orange liqueur, fresh orange juice, and a couple of dashes of orange bitters with ice, then fine-strain into a chilled coupe glass. It is garnished with an orange twist and served up, with no ice in the glass.
What is in an Amsterdam cocktail?
Genever, triple sec, fresh orange juice, and orange bitters, shaken and served up in a coupe with an orange twist. The genever leads, giving the drink a malty backbone that orange liqueur and juice sweeten and brighten.
Is an Amsterdam cocktail shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The orange juice and liqueur need the aeration and quick chill of a shake; stirring would leave the drink flat and under-diluted.
What glass is an Amsterdam served in?
A coupe glass, served up with no ice, garnished with an orange twist.
