Surf and Turf
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 23.7% ABV ∙
Surf and Turf is a stirred gin cocktail of London dry and Old Tom gins, dry vermouth and Manzanilla sherry, with curaçao, maraschino and absinthe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 30 mlOld Tom gin 15 mlDry vermouth 25 mlManzanilla sherry 15 mlOrange curaçao liqueur 10 mlMaraschino liqueur 5 mlSugar syrup 5 mlAbsinthe 1 dashOrange bitters 1 dash (opt.)
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Tips
- Give it a full 30-second stir; two gins, vermouth and sherry need that much chill and water to come together.
- Keep the absinthe to one dash, and the orange bitters too if you use them; both belong in the background.
History
Surf and Turf is a modern riff on the Turf Club Cocktail, an old gin-and-vermouth drink first printed in George Winter's 1884 manual How To Mix Drinks - Bar-Keeper's Handbook. It was named for one of the turf clubs, the gentlemen's societies built around horse racing, where such house cocktails were served. Later bartenders and writers, including Harry Johnson and Charles H. Baker, published their own versions of the Turf Club under variant names through the 1930s.
This version adds Manzanilla sherry to the classic gin-vermouth base, lending a briny "surf" note to the "turf" of the original, which gives the newer drink its punning name.
FAQ
What is a Surf and Turf drink?
A stirred, spirit-forward gin cocktail: London dry and Old Tom gins with dry vermouth and Manzanilla sherry, served up at about 23.7% ABV. The briny sherry is the "surf"; the "turf" is the old Turf Club Cocktail it riffs on.
What are the ingredients in a Surf and Turf?
Two gins, 30 ml London dry and 15 ml Old Tom. Then 25 ml dry vermouth, 15 ml Manzanilla sherry, 10 ml orange curaçao, 5 ml maraschino liqueur and 5 ml sugar syrup. Finish with a dash of absinthe and, if you like, a dash of orange bitters.
