Ritz Cocktail
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 19.1% ABV ∙
A champagne-topped cognac sour, the Ritz Cocktail blends cognac, triple sec, maraschino liqueur, and lemon juice, shaken and finished with dry sparkling wine. Bright and effervescent, the chilled shake turns silky before a crisp, bubbling finish, with a flamed orange twist lending a fragrant, faintly smoky perfume.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake the first 4 ingredients with ice: Cognac 30 mlTriple sec 15 mlMaraschino liqueur 10 mlLemon juice 10 ml
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Top with Dry sparkling wine
- Express flamed an orange twist over the cocktail, then use as garnish
Tips
- Flame the orange twist's oils over the drink just before serving; the citrus oil adds aroma that plain garnishing skips.
- Pre-chill the coupe so the topped sparkling wine doesn't lose its fizz to a warm glass.
History
The Ritz Cocktail is a modern creation by American bartender Dale DeGroff, who published the recipe in his 2002 book The Craft of the Cocktail. DeGroff described it there as his tribute to the Ritz cocktails historically served at Ritz hotel bars in Paris and Madrid, rather than a recipe drawn directly from either hotel. Some accounts trace the drink's creation to 1985, when DeGroff was head bartender at Aurora, the New York restaurant where restaurateur Joe Baum had him build a menu of revived, fresh-ingredient classic cocktails; DeGroff went on to popularize this style of bartending at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center later in the decade.
FAQ
What is a Ritz Cocktail?
The Ritz Cocktail is a shaken cognac drink topped with dry sparkling wine, served in a chilled coupe and finished with a flamed orange twist for a citrusy, effervescent sip.
What is a Ritz Cocktail made of?
Cognac, triple sec, maraschino liqueur, and lemon juice, shaken and strained into a chilled coupe, then topped with dry sparkling wine and garnished with a flamed orange twist.
