Honolulu Cocktail No. 2
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 35.9% ABV ∙
A stirred spirit-forward cocktail of gin, Bénédictine, and maraschino liqueur, served up with an optional dash of orange bitters. Honeyed and nutty from the Bénédictine, with a cherry-almond lift from the maraschino and a dry, juniper-laced finish — a slow, reflective nightcap.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 20 mlBénédictine D.O.M. liqueur 15 mlMaraschino liqueur 15 mlOrange bitters 1 dash
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry on a skewer
Tips
- Stir, do not shake: all three base ingredients are clear or liqueur-based, so stirring 20-25 seconds over ice keeps the drink bright and properly diluted without clouding it.
- Measure the Bénédictine and Maraschino carefully since they're equal parts and both quite sweet; imprecise pours easily tip the balance away from the gin.
- Use large, dense ice cubes when stirring to control dilution, since the gin here is a smaller portion and can be overwhelmed by too much melt.
- Add the optional orange bitters dash before stirring, not after, so it integrates fully instead of floating on top of the finished coupe.
History
The Honolulu Cocktail No. 2 traces to Hugo Ensslin's 1917 bar guide Recipes for Mixed Drinks, published in New York shortly before Prohibition, where it appeared as an equal-parts mix of gin, maraschino, and Bénédictine. The drink became far better known in 1930 when London's Savoy Hotel head bartender Harry Craddock reprinted it in The Savoy Cocktail Book, where it was listed as "Honolulu Cocktail (No. 2)" alongside a separate, unrelated "No. 1" built from citrus juices and Angostura bitters. This No. 2 designation is essentially Ensslin's original spirituous formula carried forward unchanged, distinguished from its Savoy-created citrus-based namesake rather than representing a later twist on its own.
FAQ
What is in a Honolulu Cocktail No. 2?
Gin, Bénédictine, and maraschino liqueur, stirred with ice and strained up, with an optional dash of orange bitters. It is garnished with a maraschino cherry and served in a coupe glass.
Is a Honolulu Cocktail No. 2 shaken or stirred?
Stirred. All the ingredients are clear spirits and liqueurs, so stirring chills and dilutes the drink while keeping it clear rather than clouding it with air bubbles.
What glass is a Honolulu Cocktail No. 2 served in?
A coupe glass, served up with no ice, garnished with a maraschino cherry.
How strong is a Honolulu Cocktail No. 2?
It is a strong, all-spirit drink at about 35.9% ABV, since it is built entirely from gin and two liqueurs with no juice or soda to dilute it. It runs around 144 calories per serving and is both vegetarian and lactose-free.
What does a Honolulu Cocktail No. 2 taste like?
It leans sweet and herbal rather than sour or bitter, with the gin's juniper backbone showing through a rich layer of honeyed Bénédictine spice and almond-cherry maraschino. The optional orange bitters add a dry, citrusy edge to the finish. It is fuller-bodied and less tart than a classic gin sour, closer in spirit to a Martinez or Last Word.
