How To Make An Algonquin Cocktail

Serve up sophistication in a glass when you learn how to make an Algonquin. This elegant concoction is said to be named for the Algonquin Hotel, New York’s famous home of the Round Table – the literary society that included Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley. No one knows why this cocktail would be eponymous with what was reputedly a “dry” hotel even before the days of Prohibition, but nearly everyone agrees the combination of rye, pineapple juice, and vermouth make for a beautifully balanced drink. Make an Algonquin at your next cocktail party and recreate that air of mystique for yourself.

• 1 1/2 oz. rye whiskey
• 3/4 oz. dry vermouth
• 3/4 oz. pineapple juice
• 1 cup ice
• Cocktail shaker
• Martini glass

1. When you make an Algonquin, it’s important to use rye whiskey. While rye used to be popular among American distillers, its popularity dwindled as bourbon and malt whiskey became the preferred choices of whiskey connoisseur. However, rye has made a comeback in recent years, and it’s readily available in most liquor stores. Spicier than other varieties of whiskey, rye is also less sweet, which will help make an Algonquin more balanced and less cloying.
2. Pick up a new bottle of vermouth. If you’re like many people, you bought a bottle of vermouth ages ago, and it’s been collecting dust ever since. Vermouth is wine that has been infused with herbs and botanicals and then fortified with unaged brandy, and it’s prized by bartenders for its ability to temper full-flavored spirits. To make an Algonquin, you’ll need dry vermouth, also know as “Italian vermouth,” which is made from white wine with a neutral flavor and enhanced with botanicals that often include nutmeg and bitter orange peel. If your bottle has been sitting around for years, pick up a new one to ensure that when you make an Algonguin, it tastes fresh.
3. To make an Algonquin, pull out your cocktail shaker. Add 1 ½ ounces of rye whiskey, ¾ of an ounce of vermouth, ¾ of an ounce of pineapple juice. Add 1 cup of ice and place the lid on your shaker. Shake your Algonquin vigorously for 30 seconds until cold and strain it into a Martini glass. Serve it immediately.