A flavorful and robust cocktail, the El Presidente is crisp, tropical and refreshing.
Tonight’s cocktail has a little history to it, but one that’s a little contested. Many mixed drinks often come with a slightly hazy, or muddled backstory. It’s almost as if drinking and getting inebriated were somehow involved in the creation of these alcoholic beverages, with many of them becoming classics. The El Presidente is one such tipple.
This elegant and sophisticated-looking cocktail is a unique and balanced blend of rum, vermouth, triple sec and grenadine. The resulting elixir is both beautiful and full-bodied. With tropical hints from the rum, and some sweet and citrusy notes supporting the spirit, the El Presidente provides a pleasant and enjoyable experience, finishing with a satisfying and delightful sting after each sip.
Some say this cocktail was born in Havana, Cuba, sometime during the 1920s or 1930s, as a tribute to one of two Cuban presidents, either Gerardo Machado or one of his predecessors, Mario García Menocal. It was also during those years that the cocktail became popular with American tourists who would visit the country during Prohibition. Not long after, the El Presidente began to disappear from memory, but was later rediscovered during the cocktail renaissance of the early 2000s.
What Is The Best Alcohol To Use In An El Presidente Cocktail?
Whenever a recipe calls for white or silver rum, I’ll always turn to my reliable home bar buddy, Bacardi Silver. Originally a Cuban spirit but now made in Puerto Rico, the spirit has a long and storied history with many classic cocktails, including the Daiquiri, and is both easy on your budget as well as your palate. There are other brands available, and they’re very good, but Bacardi Silver has never let me or my friends down.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces white rum
- 3/4 ounce white or dry vermouth
- 1/4 ounce triple sec
- 1/2 teaspoon grenadine syrup
- 1 orange peel for garnish
- 1 maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Add the white rum, vermouth, triple sec, and grenadine to a mixing glass.
- Fill the glass with ice and stir until well chilled. Fine strain into a pre-chilled coupe glass.
- Squeeze an orange peel over the drink to release its oils and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Nutrition
WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?
Chill a coupe in the freezer until you’re ready to serve. Once your drink is poured in, garnish with a maraschino cherry (wrapped in a thin orange peel, if you like).
WHAT IS THE BEST GRENADINE YOU CAN USE?
While Rose’s is probably the most common brand on the market, there are other options as well that are also excellent, like Liquid Alchemist, Barsmith and Liber & Co.
Similar Drinks To The El Presidente Cocktail
Where would some of our most beloved and popular adult beverages be without the distinct charms of vermouth? The question is more rhetorical than anything, but the more you think about such a notion, the more you’d shudder to imagine a world without Dry Martinis or Negronis. Thankfully, we don’t have to think about that, so here are a few recipes to help you celebrate instead.
- Vermouth Cocktail – This drink lets vermouth take the spotlight.
- 50/50 Martini – Half gin, half vermouth, hence its name.
- Orange Blossom – A gloriously crisp and citrusy treat.
- Blood & Sand – Scotch and sweet vermouth help make this robust classic come alive.
Leave a Comment