El Presidente
White rum, blanc vermouth, orange liqueur and grenadine. A 1920s Havana classic.
Stirred · Coupe · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 24% ABV
Ingredients
- 45 ml White rum
- 22.5 ml Blanc vermouth
- 7.5 ml Triple sec / Cointreau
- 5 ml Grenadine
- Orange twist (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 45 ml white rum into the mixing glass
- Pour 22.5 ml blanc vermouth into the mixing glass
- Pour 7.5 ml Triple sec / Cointreau into the mixing glass
- Pour 5 ml grenadine into the mixing glass
- Add ice
- Stir
- Strain
- Garnish
About the El Presidente
The El Presidente was created in Cuba in the 1910s or 1920s and named after a Cuban president. It was a favourite of Americans who visited Havana during Prohibition.
The vermouth cocktail family. Vermouth reached American bars in the 1860s and 1870s, and bartenders began stirring it with whiskey, gin and brandy. That gave us the Manhattan and the Martinez, the ancestor of the Martini. Drinks in this family are stirred rather than shaken, and they are all about the balance between the spirit and the aromatised wine.
El Presidente FAQ
What's in an El Presidente?
45 ml white rum, 22.5 ml blanc vermouth, 7.5 ml triple sec / cointreau, 5 ml grenadine, garnished with orange twist.
How strong is an El Presidente?
About 24% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 1.9 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is stronger than a glass of wine.
Should I shake or stir an El Presidente?
Stir it. It is made only of spirits and wines, so stirring keeps it clear and silky. Shaking would make it cloudy and frothy.
What glass do you serve an El Presidente in?
A coupe, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No coupe? Use a martini glass or small wine glass.
