Tuxedo Cocktail No. 1 (Savoy recipe)
Stir ∙ Coupe glass ∙ 3 min ∙ 27.5% ABV ∙
The Tuxedo Cocktail No. 1 is a classic Martini-style aperitif of dry gin and dry vermouth in equal parts, sharpened with two dashes of absinthe and a lemon peel. Bone dry and spirit-driven, with a whisper of anise and licorice from the absinthe over crisp juniper and vermouth — a bracing pre-dinner sipper.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients: Lemon peel 1 swathLondon dry gin 45 mlDry vermouth 45 mlAbsinthe 2 dashes
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry
Tips
- Stir with the lemon peel included, then strain — the oils lift into the drink rather than sitting on top.
- Just two dashes of absinthe is enough; more will bury the gin and vermouth under anise.
- Stir 25 to 30 seconds over ice to chill and dilute this all-spirit build before straining up.
- Pre-chill the coupe so the drink stays cold in a stemmed glass without extra dilution.
History
This recipe follows the version of the Tuxedo Cocktail No. 1 printed in Harry Craddock's The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) and later in Patrick Gavin Duffy's The Official Mixer's Manual (1934 and 1940). Both books specify a piece of lemon peel, two dashes of absinthe, and equal measures of French (dry) vermouth and dry gin. Craddock's original directs bartenders to shake and strain into a cocktail glass, and Duffy's edition served it in a Nick and Nora glass. The drink is one of several documented Tuxedo variations, sitting alongside numbered versions built on old tom gin, sherry, maraschino, and orange bitters.
FAQ
What is in a Tuxedo Cocktail No. 1?
Equal parts London dry gin and dry vermouth, two dashes of absinthe, and a swath of lemon peel, stirred over ice and strained into a chilled coupe. It is finished with a maraschino cherry.
Is a Tuxedo Cocktail stirred or shaken?
This version is stirred. The 1930 Savoy original called for shaking, but as an all-spirit drink with no juice or egg it is now usually stirred to keep it clear and silky rather than clouded.
What glass is a Tuxedo Cocktail served in?
A chilled coupe glass, served up with no ice. It is a Martini-style aperitif, so a stemmed glass keeps the drink cold without warming it in the hand.
How is the Tuxedo No. 1 different from the Tuxedo No. 2?
The No. 1 is the simplest version: gin, dry vermouth, absinthe, and lemon peel. The No. 2 keeps the equal-parts gin and vermouth base but adds maraschino liqueur and orange bitters alongside the absinthe.
