Tuxedo Cocktail (Flora Bar’s recipe)
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 35.4% ABV ∙
The Tuxedo Cocktail is a spirit-forward Martini variation of gin, blanc vermouth and maraschino, stirred with an absinthe rinse and orange bitters. Crisp and dry, with juniper leading, a whisper of maraschino cherry sweetness and a faint anise lift from the absinthe — a poised pre-dinner sipper.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Rinse the glass with Absinthe and discard excess
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 60 mlBianco vermouth 15 mlMaraschino liqueur 10 mlOrange bitters 4 dashes
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail
- Garnish with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry on a skewer
Tips
- Stir 25 to 30 seconds over cracked ice — this gin-heavy build needs proper dilution to soften its edge.
- Go light on the absinthe: rinse the glass and discard the excess so it perfumes rather than dominates.
- Express the orange twist over the surface before dropping it in — the oils tie the bitters and gin together.
History
The Tuxedo belongs to the family of gin-and-vermouth Martini variations that circulated in late-nineteenth-century American bars, and the version most bartenders make today is the Tuxedo No. 2. This particular rendering comes from Flora Bar in New York, which builds it around a heavy pour of gin — Plymouth in their spec — with sparing measures of blanc vermouth and maraschino, an absinthe rinse, and four dashes of orange bitters. Writer Robert Simonson named the Flora Bar Tuxedo among his favorite cocktails of 2017.
FAQ
What is in a Tuxedo Cocktail?
Gin, blanc (Bianco) vermouth, and maraschino liqueur, with a rinse of absinthe and a few dashes of orange bitters, stirred and served up. The Flora Bar version leans heavily on the gin, using vermouth and maraschino only in small accents.
Is a Tuxedo Cocktail shaken or stirred?
Stirred. This is a clear, spirit-forward drink, so stirring over ice chills and dilutes it while keeping it bright and silky; shaking would cloud it and dull the botanicals.
What glass is a Tuxedo Cocktail served in?
A chilled coupe glass, served up. It is strained off the ice and garnished with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry.
What does the absinthe do in a Tuxedo Cocktail?
Used only as a rinse, the absinthe coats the glass and adds a faint anise aroma without taking over. Rinsing and discarding the excess is what keeps it a subtle perfume rather than a dominant flavor.
