Chauncey
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 29.6% ABV ∙
The Chauncey is a stirred, spirit-forward cocktail that splits its base evenly between Old Tom gin, rye whiskey, Cognac, and rosso vermouth. Layered and warm, with juniper and rye grain trading off against brandy's fruited depth and a soft vermouth sweetness that lingers into a dry, faintly bitter finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Old Tom gin 20 mlRye whiskey 20 mlRosso vermouth 20 mlCognac 20 mlOrange bitters 1 dash
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir the four equal-part spirits with ample large ice for 25-30 seconds until well-chilled and diluted; this boozy all-spirit blend needs proper dilution or it drinks hot and flat.
- Chill the coupe in the freezer beforehand since there's no citrus juice to soften the drink, and a warm glass will exaggerate the alcoholic heat.
- Add the single dash of orange bitters before stirring so it integrates evenly across the gin, rye, vermouth and Cognac rather than floating on top.
- Express the lemon twist's oils over the surface and rub it around the rim before dropping it in, adding aromatic lift to this spirit-forward mix.
History
The Chauncey comes from New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel and was recorded in the Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book of 1934, which built it from equal parts Old Tom gin, rye whiskey, Cognac and sweet vermouth with a dash of orange bitters. The book credits the name only to "a famous orator and wit," most often taken to be Chauncey Depew, the New York senator and celebrated after-dinner speaker who was a fixture at Waldorf society dinners around the turn of the twentieth century.
