Coronation Cocktail (Old Waldorf-Astorias recipe)
A fruity and sweet brandy cocktail ∙ Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 20.2% 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.
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
- Keep the apricot brandy liqueur to 5 ml; it's a small part of the drink, but a heavy hand lets it drown out the Calvados.
History
The Old Waldorf-Astoria rendition of the Coronation Cocktail comes from Albert Stevens Crockett's Prohibition-era Old Waldorf Bar Days (1931). There the coronation-themed name was applied to a very different drink: apple brandy as the base spirit, alongside the two vermouths and a dash of apricot liqueur.
The original Coronation Cocktail, built on sherry, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters, is credited to Joseph Rose, a bartender at Murray Brothers' Café in Newark, New Jersey. Most accounts tie it to the 1902 coronation of Britain's King Edward VII; it won second prize in the 1903 Police Gazette Bartenders' Contest and first appeared in print in 1905.
FAQ
What is in a Coronation Cocktail?
Calvados, sweet (rosso) vermouth, dry vermouth and a little apricot brandy liqueur: 30, 25, 25 and 5 ml. The apricot adds a faint fruit note behind the apple brandy.
Is a Coronation Cocktail shaken or stirred?
Stirred. There is no citrus or egg, just apple brandy, two vermouths and a little apricot liqueur, so stirring chills and dilutes it and keeps it clear.
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?
Dry rather than sweet, with a savory edge. The Calvados gives baked-apple notes, the dry vermouth adds herbal bitterness, and the rosso vermouth softens it with some sweetness. The apricot liqueur stays in the background. At roughly 20.2% ABV, it drinks lighter than a stirred whiskey drink like a Manhattan.
Can I substitute apple brandy for Calvados?
Yes. Crockett's 1931 recipe simply calls for apple brandy, so a good applejack or other apple brandy works. Don't swap in a neutral spirit: the apple brandy 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.
