IBA
Tuxedo – IBA
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 25.5% ABV ∙
The Tuxedo is a stirred martini-family cocktail of Old Tom gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, absinthe, and orange bitters. Juniper and dry vermouth lead, a whisper of absinthe lifting the nose before a faint cherry sweetness rounds the finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir: Old Tom gin 30 mlDry vermouth 30 mlMaraschino liqueur 3 mlAbsinthe 1 mlOrange bitters 3 dashes
- Strain into the chilled martini cocktail glass
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a lemon twist
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass before straining so the drink stays cold without extra dilution from sitting ice.
- Add the orange bitters dash by dash and taste, since they season the balance between the gin and vermouth.
- Rinse rather than pour the absinthe if you prefer a lighter anise note without it dominating the stir.
History
The IBA's Tuxedo cocktail is a codification of the historic Tuxedo Cocktail, listed among the International Bartenders Association's official recipes with a stirred build of Old Tom gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, absinthe, and orange bitters, closely following the equal-parts "original" formula rather than the many later sweeter or drier variations that appeared over the decades.
The Tuxedo Cocktail itself is generally dated to the late 1880s or 1890s at the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park, New York, from which it takes its name, and was first documented in print in Harry Johnson's New and Improved Bartenders' Manual in 1900. It is essentially a riff on the equal-parts dry Martini, and it went on to spawn numerous numbered and renamed variants as bartenders adjusted its gin, vermouth, and bitters over the twentieth century; the IBA's version preserves the earlier, more traditional proportions rather than these later reworkings.
FAQ
What is in a Tuxedo cocktail?
Old Tom gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, absinthe, and orange bitters, stirred and strained up into a cocktail glass. It is garnished with a maraschino cherry and a lemon twist.
What are the IBA-specified ingredients for the Tuxedo cocktail?
The IBA lists gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, absinthe, and orange bitters as the official Tuxedo specification. This build follows that roster using Old Tom gin, stirred and strained into a chilled cocktail glass with a maraschino cherry and lemon twist.
What is an IBA official cocktail?
An IBA official cocktail is one of the recipes listed by the International Bartenders Association in its official cocktail list, used as a global reference standard for competitions and training. The Tuxedo is included among these official specifications.
How can I make a Tuxedo No. 2 cocktail?
A Tuxedo No. 2 is a variation that drops the sweet maraschino liqueur in favor of a drier, more citrus-forward profile, typically adding a touch of orange curacao or leaning the ratio further toward gin. This card's build is the original Tuxedo recipe with maraschino liqueur and absinthe, not the No. 2 variant.
