Bronx

Instructions

1. Chill your Martini glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.

2. Add the gin, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and fresh orange juice to a shaker.

3. Fill the shaker generously with ice cubes.

4. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.

5. Discard the ice from your chilled Martini glass.

6. Double strain the mixture through a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer into the chilled glass.

7. Express the oils from an orange peel over the drink by twisting it, then drop it into the glass or place it on the rim as garnish.

Trivia

• What is a Bronx cocktail?

  The Bronx is a classic cocktail dating back to the early 20th century, typically made with gin, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and orange juice. It's essentially a Perfect Martini (equal parts sweet and dry vermouth) with the addition of orange juice, giving it a distinctively fruity and refreshing character.

• How does the Bronx cocktail taste?

  The Bronx offers a balanced flavour profile. You'll taste the botanicals of the gin, complemented by the herbal sweetness of the sweet vermouth and the drier notes of the dry vermouth. The orange juice adds a bright, citrusy sweetness that rounds out the drink, making it smoother and more approachable than a standard Martini.

• What's the difference between a Bronx and a Martini?

  The key difference is the inclusion of orange juice in the Bronx. A classic Martini primarily consists of gin (or vodka) and dry vermouth, often garnished with an olive or lemon twist. A Perfect Martini uses both sweet and dry vermouth. The Bronx takes the Perfect Martini base and adds orange juice, fundamentally changing its flavour profile towards fruitiness.

• What is the origin of the Bronx cocktail?

  The most popular origin story attributes the Bronx cocktail to Johnnie Solon, a bartender at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City around the turn of the 20th century (likely between 1900 and 1906). It's said he created it for a customer who wanted something new and named it after the recently opened Bronx Zoo.

• Can you use bottled orange juice for a Bronx?

  While you can use bottled orange juice, freshly squeezed orange juice is highly recommended for the best flavour. Fresh juice provides a brighter, more vibrant citrus taste and avoids the potential flatness or added sugars found in some bottled varieties, significantly elevating the cocktail's quality.

• Is the Bronx cocktail shaken or stirred?

  The Bronx cocktail is traditionally shaken, not stirred. Shaking is preferred because it incorporates the orange juice properly with the spirits and vermouths, chills the drink thoroughly, and provides slight dilution and aeration, contributing to its refreshing quality. Cocktails containing citrus juice are typically shaken.