The Duchess
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 25.1% ABV ∙
The Duchess is a stirred equal-parts cocktail of London dry gin, orange curaçao, Sauvignon blanc, and dry vermouth, served up in a coupe. Juniper and bittersweet orange lead, with the wine adding a crisp, grapey edge and the vermouth drying out a long, delicate finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 20 mlOrange curaçao liqueur 20 mlSauvignon blanc wine 20 mlDry vermouth 20 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Pre-chill the coupe before straining so the drink doesn't lose its temperature edge on the way to the glass.
- Stir gently but fully over ice to dilute and chill the wine and vermouth as much as the gin and curaçao.
History
The Duchess is a modern cocktail combining London dry gin, orange curaçao, sauvignon blanc, and dry vermouth, created by a bartender in February 2018 at the Cabinet Room, a private cocktail bar in London. The name shares its title with an unrelated, much older Savoy-era cocktail made from absinthe and two vermouths, but the two drinks are distinct recipes that happen to share a name rather than a lineage.
FAQ
What is the Duchess cocktail?
The Duchess is an equal-parts stirred cocktail of London dry gin, orange curaçao, Sauvignon blanc, and dry vermouth, fine-strained into a chilled coupe and finished with an expressed orange twist. At about 25% ABV, it's a lighter, wine-inflected take on a classic stirred spirit cocktail.
