La Bicyclette
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 28.2% ABV ∙
La Bicyclette is a stirred cocktail of London dry gin, rosso vermouth and elderflower liqueur with a dash of peach bitters, served up in a coupe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 60 mlRosso vermouth 15 mlElderflower liqueur 10 mlPeach bitters 2 dashes
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- With 60 ml of gin, give it a good 30-second stir; you want it softened by the melt but still sharp.
- Stick to two dashes of peach bitters; any more and they drown out the elderflower.
History
La Bicyclette in this form — gin, sweet vermouth, elderflower liqueur, and peach bitters, stirred and strained into a coupe — was created in 2007 by Canadian bartender Jamie Boudreau, then of Vessel and later Canon in Seattle. The drink dates from the period shortly after St-Germain elderflower liqueur reached American bars, when bartenders were experimenting with how to fold its floral sweetness into classic spirit-forward templates. Boudreau built La Bicyclette as a variation on a sweet martini-style formula, using the liqueur alongside peach bitters rather than as the drink's main flavor.
The name is unrelated to the older Italian aperitif Bicicletta, a simple mix of Campari and white wine; the two drinks share a name and little else, and are often confused in recipe collections.
FAQ
What is a Bicyclette cocktail?
A stirred gin cocktail with rosso vermouth, elderflower liqueur, and peach bitters, served up in a chilled coupe with a lemon twist. It is a variation on a sweet Martini-style formula, and a strong one at about 28.2% ABV.
Is La Bicyclette the same as a Bicicletta?
No. They are unrelated drinks with similar names. La Bicyclette is a strong stirred gin drink served up in a coupe. The Bicicletta is a lighter Italian highball of Campari, dry white wine, and soda water, poured long over ice.
