Improved Whiskey Cocktail

Rye stirred with sugar, maraschino, absinthe and bitters. The 1876 "improved" cocktail.

Stirred · Rocks glass · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 34% ABV

Ingredients

• 60 ml Rye whiskey
• 5 ml Sugar syrup
• 5 ml Maraschino liqueur
• 1 dash Absinthe
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Lemon twist (garnish)

Method

1. Pour 60 ml rye whiskey into the mixing glass
2. Pour 5 ml sugar syrup into the mixing glass
3. Pour 5 ml maraschino liqueur into the mixing glass
4. Add 1 dash of absinthe
5. Add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
6. Add ice
7. Stir
8. Strain
9. Garnish

Tip

Serve on one big cube.

About the Improved Whiskey Cocktail

The Old Fashioned family. In 1806 a New York newspaper defined a "cocktail" as spirits, sugar, water and bitters. By the 1880s drinkers asked for their whiskey "the old-fashioned way", and the name stuck. It is the original cocktail formula: a strong spirit, a little sweetness and bitters, stirred over ice.

Improved Whiskey Cocktail FAQ

What's in an Improved Whiskey Cocktail?

60 ml rye whiskey, 5 ml sugar syrup, 5 ml maraschino liqueur, 1 dash absinthe, 2 dashes angostura bitters, garnished with lemon twist.

How strong is an Improved Whiskey Cocktail?

About 34% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 2.4 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is close to a straight spirit, so sip it slowly.

Should I shake or stir an Improved Whiskey Cocktail?

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 Improved Whiskey Cocktail in?

A rocks glass, about 300 ml. Serve it over ice. No rocks glass? Use any short, heavy tumbler.