Coronation Cocktail (Old Waldorf-Astorias recipe)
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 21.8% ABV ∙
The Coronation Cocktail is a stirred spirit-forward apéritif of Calvados, sweet and dry vermouth, and a touch of apricot liqueur, served up in a coupe. Apple-brandy warmth leads, folded into vermouth's herbal bitter-sweetness with a faint apricot glow underneath, finishing dry and mellow — a slow, contemplative apéritif.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Calvados 30 mlRosso vermouth 25 mlDry vermouth 25 mlApricot brandy liqueur 5 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry on a skewer
Tips
- Stir, never shake: calvados and two vermouths make a soft, low-acid build that wants gentle dilution, not aeration or ice shards.
- Stir over large cubes for about 20-30 seconds until the mixing glass feels cold, giving enough dilution to soften the two vermouths.
- Measure the apricot brandy liqueur carefully since it's only a small fraction of the total volume but can easily overpower the calvados if over-poured.
- Strain into a pre-chilled coupe so the drink stays cold despite having no citrus or carbonation to mask temperature loss.
History
This is a variation on the Coronation Cocktail, a drink most accounts trace to the 1902 coronation of England's King Edward VII. The Coronation Cocktail first appears in print in Charles S. Mahoney's 1905 Hoffman House Bartender's Guide, which credits it to Joseph Rose, a bartender at Murray Brothers' Café in Newark, New Jersey, noting that his recipe had won second prize in the 1903 Police Gazette Bartenders' Contest; the exact date of its creation is not given. That original version was built on sherry, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters. This Old Waldorf-Astoria's rendition instead comes from Albert Stevens Crockett's Prohibition-era Waldorf-Astoria bar books, where the same coronation-themed name was applied to a very different build swapping in apple brandy as its base spirit alongside the two vermouths and a dash of apricot liqueur.
FAQ
What is in a Coronation Cocktail?
Calvados, sweet (rosso) vermouth, dry vermouth, and a small amount of apricot brandy liqueur, stirred and served up in a coupe with a maraschino cherry. The two vermouths balance each other, while the apricot liqueur adds a subtle fruit note behind the apple brandy.
Is a Coronation Cocktail shaken or stirred?
Stirred. There is no citrus or egg here — just apple brandy, two vermouths and a little apricot liqueur — so stirring chills and dilutes the drink while keeping it clear rather than clouding it with air.
What glass is a Coronation Cocktail served in?
A coupe glass, served up with a maraschino cherry garnish.
What does a Coronation Cocktail taste like?
It leans savory-dry rather than sweet, with baked-apple notes from the Calvados framed by the herbal bitterness of dry vermouth and softened by the rosso vermouth's sweetness. The apricot liqueur is a background note, not a dominant flavor. At roughly 21.8% ABV, it drinks lighter and more contemplative than a spirit-only stirred cocktail like a Manhattan.
Can I substitute apple brandy for Calvados?
Yes, a good applejack or other apple brandy works, though Calvados' French AOC apple character is what defines this drink's flavor. Any substitute should still be a genuine apple brandy rather than a neutral spirit, since it is the base and carries the cocktail.
Is a Coronation Cocktail vegan?
Yes, this recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, and it comes in at roughly 146 calories per serving.
