Copenhagen Cocktail (1939 recipe)
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 18% ABV ∙
The Copenhagen Cocktail (1939 recipe) is equal parts gin, cherry liqueur and rosso vermouth with a little lemon juice and Angostura, shaken and served up.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 25 mlCherry liqueur 25 mlRosso vermouth 25 mlLemon juice 10 mlAngostura aromatic bitters 2 dashes
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry on a skewer
Tips
- Shake hard with fresh ice for 12-15 seconds. With only 10 ml of lemon against 25 ml of cherry liqueur, the drink needs that melt to keep the sugar in check.
- Keep the lemon to 10 ml; much more and it turns the even split of gin, cherry liqueur and vermouth sour.
History
The Copenhagen Cocktail 1939 comes from the personal bar notebook of Axel Sørensen, a bartender at Café de la Reine in Copenhagen in the late 1930s. Sørensen recorded the recipe by hand in his notebook, known as Lommebogen ("the pocket notebook"), alongside other drinks he served at the bar. The notebook remained a private family keepsake, passed down to his granddaughter, until Henrik Steen Petersen, associated with Moltkes Bar in Copenhagen, borrowed it, photographed its pages, and published it in December 2013, making Sørensen's recipes public for the first time.
The "1939" in the name distinguishes this original notebook recipe from a separate, unrelated modern cocktail also called the Copenhagen Cocktail, created decades later for a cocktail competition.
FAQ
What is in a Copenhagen Cocktail?
Equal parts London dry gin, cherry liqueur, and rosso vermouth, 25 ml each, with 10 ml fresh lemon juice and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.
Is a Copenhagen Cocktail shaken or stirred?
Shaken, hard, for 12–15 seconds. The lemon juice needs a shake to mix in, and the extra melt keeps the cherry liqueur's sugar in check.
What glass is a Copenhagen Cocktail served in?
A coupe glass, served up with no ice, garnished with a maraschino cherry.
How strong is a Copenhagen Cocktail?
About 18% ABV, with roughly 161 calories per serving.
Is a Copenhagen Cocktail vegan?
Yes. It is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free: gin, cherry liqueur, vermouth, lemon juice, and bitters, with no animal-derived ingredients.
