Army and Navy
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 18.7% ABV ∙
The Army and Navy is a classic gin sour of London dry gin, fresh lemon juice and almond orgeat, with two dashes of Angostura bitters, served up.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 60 mlLemon juice 25 mlOrgeat (almond) syrup 15 mlAngostura aromatic bitters 2 dashesSaline solution 1 dash (opt.)
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- A rich, well-made orgeat matters here; a thin one leaves the drink flat against the lemon, an overly sweet one makes it cloying.
- Add the Angostura last and taste; two dashes bring out the almond, while more starts to taste medicinal.
- The dash of saline is optional, but it softens harsh edges and pushes the almond forward.
History
The Army and Navy, also written Army & Navy, dates to at least the 1930s. It is a Gin Sour of gin and lemon juice sweetened with orgeat instead of sugar, with Angostura bitters. It sits among a small group of early orgeat sours alongside drinks like the Cameron's Kick and the Coo-ee Special, evidence of an almond-syrup vogue that predates the tropical cocktail era and drinks such as the Mai Tai.
A modern house version at Dutch Kills in New York honors a longtime regular, a retired FDNY firefighter named Lou, who prefers hers with a cocktail cherry sunk to the bottom of the coupe and Angostura bitters dashed on top.
FAQ
Why is it called the Army and Navy cocktail?
No one knows for sure. The name is generally assumed to nod to the Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C., but no record confirms it. The drink appears in David A. Embury’s 1948 book, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks.
How do you make an Army and Navy?
Shake 60 ml London dry gin, 25 ml lemon juice, 15 ml orgeat, two dashes of Angostura and an optional dash of saline with ice. Fine-strain into a chilled coupe and express a lemon twist over the top.
Can I use simple syrup instead of orgeat in an Army and Navy?
Not if you want an Army and Navy. Orgeat, an almond syrup typically flavored with orange flower water, is what defines the drink. With plain simple syrup you lose the almond and end up with a standard Gin Sour.
Is an Army and Navy shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The lemon juice and orgeat need a hard shake to chill, aerate and mix properly; stirred, the drink comes out flat.
What kind of gin is best for an Army and Navy?
A juniper-forward London dry gin. It stands up to the sweet orgeat and tart lemon, while a softer, more floral gin can get lost behind the almond.
