Roosevelt
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 22.2% ABV ∙
The Roosevelt is a shaken rum cocktail built from aged Caribbean rum, dry vermouth, orange juice, and a touch of sugar syrup, served up in a coupe. Silky and bright, with a citrus-oil snap from the twist waking up a mellow, faintly nutty finish that lingers softly on the palate.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Caribbean aged rum 50 mlDry vermouth 25 mlOrange juice 10 mlSugar syrup 5 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Measure the sugar syrup carefully; at just a small amount, a heavy pour will tip the balance sweet against the dry vermouth.
- Pre-chill the coupe before straining so the drink doesn't lose its chill sitting in a room-temperature glass.
- Express the orange twist directly over the surface right before serving to lay the citrus oils on top, not just as a garnish.
History
This Roosevelt is a rum-and-vermouth variation of the Cuban El Presidente, swapping in orange juice as its citrus note rather than the classic drink's curaçao and grenadine. Restaurateur Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron printed a version called the President Roosevelt Cocktail, built from rum, orange juice, and grenadine, in his Bartender's Guide, first published in 1947. The name and orange-juice touch have been read as a nod to Franklin D. Roosevelt's fondness for the Orange Blossom cocktail, and later bar writers have called this simplified, sweeter build less complex than the tart, lime-based Presidente Vincent variation created for Haiti's Sténio Vincent around the same period.
El Presidente itself is generally traced to Havana bars of the 1910s-1920s, often linked to Cuban President Mario García Menocal, though its exact origin and naming are disputed among several claimants.
FAQ
What is in a Roosevelt cocktail?
A Roosevelt is aged Caribbean rum, dry vermouth, fresh orange juice, and a touch of sugar syrup, shaken with ice and fine-strained into a chilled coupe with an orange twist. It comes in at about 22% ABV and is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free.
Is a Roosevelt shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The fresh orange juice and syrup need the aeration and quick chilling of a shake, then the drink is fine-strained so no pulp or ice reaches the glass.
What glass is a Roosevelt served in?
A coupe glass, served up. It is fine-strained and poured cold, so no ice goes into the glass with it.
