IBA
Remember the Maine – IBA
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 31.8% ABV ∙
Remember the Maine is a stirred rye whiskey cocktail built with sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur, and an absinthe rinse, served up in a coupe glass. Silky and cold with a deep fruited sweetness, the rinse lingers as a faint anise whisper beneath a warm, spice-laced finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour the Absinthe 7 ml into a coupe glass and swirl to completely coat the inside
- Discard the Absinthe and set the glass aside
- Add the remaining ingredients: Rye whiskey 60 mlRosso vermouth 22 mlCherry liqueur 15 ml to a mixing glass and fill it 3/4 full with ice
- Stir until chilled
- Strain into the glass rinsed with the Absinthe
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Tips
- Swirl the absinthe to coat the entire interior of the coupe, then discard it — a rinse, not a pour, is the goal.
- Stir with plenty of ice until well chilled; the rye should stay firm rather than get diluted into softness.
- Express the lemon twist over the glass before dropping it in, releasing the oils to lift the aroma.
History
Remember the Maine is credited to American travel writer Charles H. Baker Jr., who recorded encountering the drink in Havana, Cuba, during the Cuban Revolution of 1933. He published the recipe in his 1939 book The Gentleman's Companion, describing it as a cousin of the Sazerac and the Manhattan built around rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, cherry brandy, and an absinthe rinse.
The name references the 1898 sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, an event that American newspapers seized on to blame Spain and rally support for the Spanish-American War under the slogan "Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain." Although that incident predates the cocktail by more than three decades, Baker's account ties the drink's name to Cuba's earlier revolutionary history rather than to the 1933 uprising he witnessed. The cocktail was added to the IBA's official Unforgettables in the organization's 2024 update.
FAQ
What are the ingredients in a Remember the Maine?
Rye whiskey, sweet (rosso) vermouth, cherry liqueur, and absinthe, which is used as a rinse rather than mixed in. The drink is stirred with ice, strained into an absinthe-rinsed coupe, and finished with a lemon twist.
What whiskey should you use to make a Remember the Maine?
Rye whiskey is the base spirit in this build, and its spicier, drier profile stands up well to the sweet vermouth and cherry liqueur. A bourbon can be used instead for a rounder, sweeter result, but it will soften the drink's characteristic spice.
Why is Remember the Maine important?
It is a recognized modern classic included in the IBA's official cocktail list, cementing its place among internationally standardized recipes. Its name and absinthe rinse reference the sinking of the USS Maine, a link explored further in its history.
