Valencia Cocktail
A fruity and citrus brandy cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 12.6% ABV ∙
The Valencia Cocktail is a shaken drink of apricot brandy liqueur, fresh orange juice and orange bitters, served up in a coupe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Apricot brandy liqueur 45 mlOrange juice 25 mlOrange bitters 4 dashes
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Squeeze the orange just before shaking; its acidity is what keeps the sweet apricot liqueur in check.
History
The Valencia Cocktail's earliest documented recipe appears in Harry Craddock's The Savoy Cocktail Book, published in 1930, where it is built from apricot brandy, orange juice, and orange bitters. Beyond that citation, its deeper origin is not clearly documented, though its name is generally linked to the Spanish city of Valencia, in a region long associated with orange production. The same book also lists a second version, the Valencia No. 2, as a variant of that formula.
FAQ
What is the Valencia Cocktail?
A shaken apricot brandy liqueur cocktail with fresh orange juice and orange bitters; its earliest documented recipe is in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book. It is about 12.6% ABV, and its name is generally linked to the Spanish city of Valencia, famed for its oranges.
What is in a Valencia Cocktail?
45 ml apricot brandy liqueur, 25 ml fresh orange juice and 4 dashes of orange bitters.
