Commodore No. 2
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 15.1% ABV ∙
The Commodore No. 2 is a sour of equal parts bourbon, white crème de cacao and fresh lemon juice with a touch of grenadine, served over crushed ice.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Bourbon 25 mlWhite Crème de Cacao 25 mlLemon juice 25 mlGrenadine syrup 5 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass filled with crushed ice
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry
Tips
- The grenadine is only 5 ml, an accent; pour more and the drink turns sweet enough to bury the lemon.
- Squeeze the lemon juice fresh just before shaking; bottled juice has lost the aroma that offsets the crème de cacao.
History
Commodore No. 2 is the whiskey-based sibling of Commodore No. 1, the rum-based recipe. Both appear side by side in Albert Stevens Crockett's 1931 book Old Waldorf Bar Days, which recorded the drink lore of New York's original Waldorf-Astoria bar from before Prohibition. Crockett recorded both served frappé, with No. 2 built on bourbon and white crème de cacao.
A whiskey Commodore had already been printed as a sour in the 1922 Harry's ABC of Mixing Cocktails and Harry Craddock's 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book. The name is generally linked to a "Commodore," a naval or yacht-club honorific, though sources differ on exactly who it honored.
FAQ
What is in a Commodore No. 2?
Equal parts (25 ml each) of bourbon, white crème de cacao and fresh lemon juice, plus 5 ml of grenadine as a sweet accent.
Is a Commodore No. 2 shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The lemon juice needs a hard shake with ice to chill, dilute, and blend with the bourbon and crème de cacao.
What glass is a Commodore No. 2 served in?
A coupe glass filled with crushed ice, garnished with a maraschino cherry.
Is a Commodore No. 2 vegan?
Yes, this recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, since it uses white crème de cacao rather than a cream-based liqueur.
How strong is a Commodore No. 2?
About 15.1% ABV, noticeably lighter than a spirit-forward drink like an Old Fashioned. With as much lemon and crème de cacao as bourbon, it drinks like an easygoing sour, not a stiff whiskey drink.
