Have an elegant and well-dressed drink when you sip on the Tuxedo No. 2 cocktail.
Tonight’s cocktail is a classic, having been around since the early 20th century. The first Tuxedo is said to have been a popular request since the late 1800s, and by the 1920s, the No. 2 came into existence. Replacing the sherry from the original with maraschino liqueur and adding subtle herbaceous hints by using an absinthe rinse, the Tuxedo No. 2 quickly forged its own identity.
History claims the Tuxedo cocktails were named as such after the prestigious and gilded Tuxedo Park community in New York City. It was there that many a party, gathering and sophisticated soirée were held amongst the upper-crust of society. The tipples that they enjoyed would often reflect the elegance and culture these folks were awash in.
The Tuxedo No. 2 was forever immortalized in Harry Craddock’s legendary tome The Savoy Cocktail Book, published in 1930. The inclusion of the drink’s recipe here only cemented its staying power, and it also became one of the drinks that experienced a resurgence during the cocktail renaissance of the early 2000s.
What is the best gin to use in a Tuxedo No. 2 cocktail?
There are a few different varieties of gin that will work nicely in a Tuxedo No. 2. The classic and most traditional of these would be an Old Tom, which is a little sweeter than most gins that modern drinkers are used to. A London Dry will also be a great choice for any gin-based drink, but especially this one. The herbal and citrus infusions will play beautifully with a Luxardo maraschino liqueur and Dolin dry vermouth.
Ingredients
- Absinthe for rinsing the glass
- 2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce dry vermouth
- 1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- Orange twist and brandied cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse a chilled cocktail glass with a small amount of absinthe and discard any extra.
- In a mixing glass, combine gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters with ice. Stir well.
- Strain into the absinthe-rinsed cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist and a brandied cherry before serving.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
You’ll want a long-stemmed cocktail coupe to pour this lovely libation into. Garnish with an orange twist and a brandied cherry on top.
Is this a type of martini?
It is close to a martini, as both utilize gin and vermouth, but this cocktail is a completely different drink. Traditionally, an official martini is just gin—or vodka—and dry vermouth.
Similar cocktails to the Tuxedo No. 2
If tonight’s tipple inspired you to don your finest top hat and gowns for an evening on the town, you may be searching for that perfect sipper to enjoy before the limo arrives to pick you up. Twist & Toast has a fine number of elegant offerings that will help set any mood.
- Waldorf Cocktail – Have a taste of old New York with this rich and unique recipe.
- Old Pal – Whiskey, Campari and dry vermouth become your newest friend.
- Scofflaw – Here’s an elixir that’s designed to bring out the sophisticated scoundrel.
- Bobby Burns – Become the poet you always knew you were with this scotch-based dram.
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