Name: Man O' War Cocktail Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients: 45 ml Bourbon; 15 ml Triple Sec; 15 ml Sweet Vermouth; 15 ml lemon juice (freshly squeezed); 3 ml Sugar syrup; 1 piece Lemon peel; 1 piece Maraschino Cherry

Man O' War

Description

What it is: A bright bourbon sour variation with orange liqueur, sweet vermouth and lemon.

The story: The drink is commonly linked by name to the legendary American racehorse Man o’ War, winner of 20 of 21 races in 1919 and 1920. The cocktail’s actual early provenance is less certain than the story suggests, and reliable printed evidence for the familiar modern recipe is comparatively recent.

Why it works: Bourbon gives vanilla and oak, orange liqueur adds bright sweetness, vermouth deepens the mid-palate and lemon keeps the combination energetic. A tiny amount of rich syrup is optional depending on the lemon.

Ingredients

45 ml Bourbon
15 ml Triple Sec
15 ml Sweet Vermouth
15 ml lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
3 ml Sugar syrup
1 piece Lemon peel
1 piece Maraschino Cherry

Equipment needed

Cocktail Shaker – For the citrus-based build. Fine Mesh Strainer – For a clean straight-up serve.

Instructions

Chill a coupe and prepare a lemon twist and cherry.
Add bourbon, triple sec, sweet vermouth, lemon juice and optional rich syrup to a shaker.
Fill with ice and shake hard until very cold.
Fine strain into the chilled coupe.
Express the lemon peel over the surface, add it to the drink and finish with the cherry.

Recommended glassware

Coupe Glass (recommended)

An elegant stemmed glass for shaken or stirred cocktails served up.

120–240 ml Stemmed glass with a broad shallow bowl.

Best for: Daiquiri, Sidecar, Manhattan served up, Gimlet, Clover Club.

Garnish: Great for expressed citrus peels, cherries, and small edible flowers.

Quick facts

5 mins Easy Approx. 22.8% ABV 2.7 units 180 kcal None in serving glass

Man O' War recipe.