Grab your bowler hat and chomp on your favorite cigar as you sip on the historic Churchill cocktail.
Over ten years ago, I was sitting in the stands at the Jones Beach amphitheater, banging my head along to an almost three-hour, incredible barrage of heavy metal music at an Iron Maiden concert. They played everything you’d ever want to hear at a Maiden show… “The Trooper”, “Phantom of the Opera”, “Running Free”, and so many more. The amount of classics they threw out to the crowd was stunning, and before you knew it, the night was sadly over. Up the Irons, indeed.
At one point, the voice of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill began to echo out into the night:
“We shall fight on the beaches.
We shall fight on the landing grounds.
We shall fight in the fields and in the streets.
We shall fight in the hills.
We shall never surrender!“
And the crowd of inebriated New Yorkers went bananas as the band launched into “Aces High”, an ode to the Battle of Britain during World War II. Tonight’s cocktail was invented as its own tribute to PM Churchill, a Scotch-based tipple that was christened… the Churchill.
A creation of bartender Joe Gilmore, who worked at the Savoy Hotel’s American Bar in London from 1940 thru 1976, the Churchill took Winston’s love of Scotch whisky and crafted a shaken concoction comprised of Cointreau orange liqueur, lime juice and sweet vermouth, reminding one of a distant cousin to the Manhattan.
Even though this cocktail was inspired by its namesake, the Prime Minister himself did not imbibe drinks like this despite his love of Scotch. Instead, he preferred his spirit with soda water, but legend does tell of him gifting Joe Gilmore with one of his famed cigars after being presented with the cocktail.
Tonight, you can shake up a bit of history and sip on it while watching a World War II movie, or an Iron Maiden concert. In fact, make it a double feature.
What is the best Scotch to use in a Churchill cocktail?
Delving into the world of Scotch can be a tad daunting, so tonight we’ll keep to what this cocktail calls for: a blended dram. The Scotch you choose will determine the flavor profile of your completed mixture. For example, using a Monkey Shoulder Scotch will bring notes of cinnamon, vanilla, apricot and buttered toast, while a Dewar’s will offer a sweeter experience with honey, fruit and subtle hints of almonds.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces blended Scotch whisky
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau
- 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 lime twist for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the whisky, Cointreau, sweet vermouth, and lime juice.
- Shake well and strain into your chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lime twist.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Chill a coupe in your freezer for up to 30 minutes, then shake and pour your cocktail in, and garnish with a lime twist on the rim.
What was Churchill’s favorite Scotch whisky?
From what I’ve been able to gather, Winston primarily enjoyed sipping on Johnnie Walker Red—and sometimes Black—with copious amounts of soda water throughout his day.
Similar cocktails to the Churchill
Looking to get into more Scotch-based concoctions, but are unsure where to start searching? Oftentimes, I’ll usually just sip on Scotch neat, so when the idea of mixing a cocktail or two with the spirit comes up, I’ll draw a blank. Thankfully, Twist & Toast is always there to help by sparking an idea or two, like these below.
- Scotch and Soda – Nothing beats this bubbly, simple and smoky sipper at the end of a long day.
- Scotch Sour – A smooth and complex mixture, finished with a satisfying bite.
- Godfather – Scotch and amaretto make an offer you can’t refuse.
- Rob Roy – This warming tipple is comprised of Scotch, sweet vermouth and a dash or two of bitters.
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