Army & Navy Cocktail

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

By land or by sea, the Army & Navy Cocktail will salute your taste buds with an almond-flavored and citrusy profile.

Growing up as an Army brat, my childhood was a little different than most. Every few years I was always the new kid at school. The older I got, the harder that became, especially when you’re starting a new junior high school mere days after your father is deployed. But it was also pretty great. I was born in Germany and had been all over Europe before I turned three. Do I remember any of it? Not at all. But, I was there. I’ve seen a good majority of the sites in the States, and can say I’m a Space Camp graduate. My dad even had me thrown out of an airplane. It was my choice, so don’t think the worst. That wasn’t how us kids were reprimanded for acting up. No, threatening to drive the car off the first cliff he saw if we didn’t calm down, that was his thing. Never did it.

When the name of today’s cocktail came up, the Army & Navy, my brain was hit by a wave of memories. During my high school years, our family was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia as my father worked with the Atlantic Fleet. I was raised around the playful and friendly rivalry between those two branches of the military. A rivalry that often centered around the famous Army/Navy football game. I assumed the drink we’re looking at had its origins in the yearly event, but I was wrong.

The Army & Navy cocktail is a citrusy tipple with nutty notes. Made with gin, lemon juice and orgeat, this simple mixture first appeared in David A. Embury’s book The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks in 1948. While nobody knows exactly who created it, many theorize it was first served in Washington D.C. at The Army and Navy Club. According to legend, this establishment also has another place in cocktail lore, as being the bar where the Daiquiri was first introduced in the United States.

As I sip on this strong and flavorful elixir, I think about its name and my own experience. We were never “Go Army, beat Navy!” in our house—well, maybe a little, but with a smirk. That’s why I love the moniker this cocktail has. It’s called the Army AND Navy, featuring fantastic tastes, working together.

What Is The Best Gin To Use In An Army & Navy Cocktail?

Try a few different gins out to discover your preferred version of this drink. I always go for a good, crisp London Dry. Tanqueray is very juniper-forward, while Bombay Sapphire is more balanced. Both play well in this cocktail, so choosing one over the other depends on how much you like juniper. Hendrick’s works well, too, with the fresh finish from the cucumber and rose infusions also mixing beautifully with the lemon juice and orgeat.

FAQs & Tips

Some versions of the Army & Navy call for a pinch of salt or a few drops of saline solution, in honor of the salty seas the Naval fleet sail upon. According to Tom Clancy’s novel The Hunt For Red October, it’s also a tradition in the Navy to add a little salt to a hot cup of coffee, too.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

Chill a cocktail coupe in your freezer for up to thirty minutes. Once you’ve poured your drink in, garnish with a lemon twist.

IS THIS A TIKI DRINK?

While orgeat syrup is a popular ingredient in many Tiki cocktails, like the Mai Tai, this drink is not considered to be a part of that scene.

Similar Drinks To The Army & Navy Cocktail

The Army & Navy has given me a better appreciation for orgeat syrup. I took the ingredient for granted, often not giving it a second thought whenever I’d enjoy a Mai Tai or two at one of Los Angeles’s famous Tiki Bars, such as Damon’s or the Tonga Hut. But without the almond-tinged syrup, some of the best mixed drinks out there would lose so much of what makes them great. Check out these recipes below to give that bottle of orgeat you have at home a workout.

• Saturn – A fruity and gin-based drink, with the nutty flavor of orgeat.
• Trinidad Sour – Bitters is the star of this tipple, which also features orgeat.
• Tia Mia – Rum, mezcal and orgeat combine in this smoky fresh drink.
• St. Stephen’s Sour – Cognac, rum, lemon juice and orgeat make this a holy experience.