Webster

From Harry Craddock and the Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930 comes the gin-based WEBSTER. This cocktail is balanced, dry, slightly tart from the lime juice and has apricot notes from the apricot brandy. Depending on personal preference and the brand of apricot brandy used, it may or may not require sweetening with simple syrup.

Requirements: dry gin, dry vermouth (Noilly Prat preferred), apricot brandy and lime juice.

• 1 oz. dry gin
• 1/2 oz. dry vermouth
• 1.5 tsp. or 1/4 oz. apricot brandy
• 1/4 oz. lime juice (up to 1/2 of a juiced lime)

Add ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

History: Harry Craddock noted that this was “a favorite cocktail at the Bar of the S.S. Mauretania.” The Mauretania was a luxury liner and one of Cunard’s most successful ships. It was the world’s fastest ship in 1907 and held the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing for many years.

Comments: This is a unique drink that took me a couple of sips to appreciate. The flavors come in waves, ending with the floral notes of gin. To me, it’s not a summer drink; it’s dry and better suited for colder weather. If the lime juice is replaced by lemon juice and Peychaud’s bitters are added, it becomes a Boomercocktail (unrelated to the generation born shortly after WWII).

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