Waldorf Cocktail

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Have a taste of old New York with the rich and unique Waldorf cocktail.

The Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan is one of the most famous hotels on earth. And while the original building was demolished in 1929, you can still feel an enormous amount of unspoken history floating within its walls. Presidents, movie stars and literary legends have all lodged in the Waldorf’s comfy confines. Even your humble narrator has a story to tell…

Years ago, when I was young and living in New York City, I was searching for a job in the hospitality industry. My aunt had worked in the executive offices of the Grand Hyatt for years, and tossed my name around to a few folks at other luxury hotels in the Big Apple. One cold winter evening, I found myself heading out to the Waldorf-Astoria.

With a resume under my arm, secured in a crisp, manila folder—this was still during the days of paper credentials—and dressed in khakis and a button-down shirt, I hopped up the opulent, carpeted steps into the lobby. And then there I was, in a building I had only heard about in plays, movies and history books. Even though I had lived in the same city for years by then, my first entrance into that quiet, lush and extravagant lobby will always stick with me. Vividly.

I didn’t get the job, but I did get to see Harrison Ford napping on one of the comfiest-looking couches I had ever seen in my life. It was also late in the day, and I remember at that time wishing I was able to just catch a snooze in the Waldorf lobby. I like to think he had just come back from a meeting, maybe hit the hotel bar and ordered himself the cocktail we’re looking at tonight, the Waldorf.

The Waldorf cocktail is named after the hotel it was created at in the early 20th century. Prepped with an absinthe-rinsed glass, then filled with a stirred mixture of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and a few dashes of bitters, this century-old cocktail is both potent and complex. It’s not something that you drink all night long, but one or two in an elegant, candle-lit oyster bar somewhere in the City That Never Sleeps is a fine way to get the evening started.

Is Absinthe Legal and Safe?

When most people hear the word “absinthe”, they have images of opium dens, hallucinations and insanity that resulted from drinking the anise-flavored liquor. While no longer illegal in the United States, what is now available is “thujone-free”. Thujone is the element in absinthe that is claimed to cause visions and sometimes seizures, helping to give the drink its notorious reputation. What you can find at your local store won’t make you crazy, so have no fear.

What Is The Best Alcohol To Use In A Waldorf Cocktail?

A peppery, spiced and hot rye whiskey is what you’ll want when making this drink. And by hot, I mean some of that nice heat on the finish at the end of every sip. Bulleit makes a fantastic rye, and that’s a great entry point if you don’t have much experience with the spirit. For the sweet vermouth, don’t ever buy the cheapest brand you see. Something like an Antica Formula or Dolin Rouge will cure you of that impulse.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH IS USED?

Chill a cocktail coupe in your freezer for around fifteen to thirty minutes before making your drink. Garnish the rim with a lemon twist.

WHAT IS A GOOD SUBSTITUTE FOR ABSINTHE?

If you can’t get ahold of any absinthe for the rinse, Herbsaint is an anise-flavored liqueur that works well in its place.

Similar Cocktails To The Waldorf

Vermouth isn’t just for Martinis and Negronis, as tonight’s drink has proven to us. In fact, whiskey and vermouth make a great pair. If you’re curious about recipes that feature these spirits working in harmony together, check out some of these fine and sophisticated tipples that we have at Twist & Toast.

• Longshoreman – Rye whiskey, amaro and sweet vermouth work beautifully together in this drink.
• Scofflaw – Rye Whiskey and dry vermouth feature in this satisfying sipper.
• Bobby Burns – This poetic dram features Scotch whiskey and sweet vermouth.
• Old Pal – Campari joins with vermouth and whiskey in this classic.