El Presidente

The EL PRESIDENTE is a Manhattan-style cocktail invented in Cuba around 1919. It remains a cocktail classic, even though Cuba’s Mojito and Daiquiri became more famous. The El Presidente is unlike the other Cuban cocktails in that it doesn’t require any citrus juices or mint leaves. Its balance, complexity and smoothness are its selling point, making one wonder why it’s not on every bar menu worldwide. It’s certainly easier to make than the Mojito and once tried may become a cocktail repeater.

Requirements: light (white) rum, dry vermouth, orange curacao, grenadine, orange peel for garnish

• 1.5 oz. light rum
• 3/4 oz. dry vermouth
• 1/2 oz. orange curacao
• 1 dash grenadine (1 barspoon)

Add ingredients to an ice-filled mixing glass and stir to chill. Strain into a chilled coup glass and garnish with an orange peel.

History: Cuba’s President at the time the drink originated would have been Mario Garcia Menocal (1913-21).

Comments: The recipe above is my preference and probably dates back to the original; but variations include up to 1.5 ounces dry vermouth, 1.5 ounces aged or golden rum instead of white, and a lemon-peel garnish instead of orange. You can adjust to your own preference. I enjoyed this recipe using light Bacardi rum, Dolin dry vermouth, Pierre Ferrand dry orange curacao and Rose’s grenadine.

Similar Cocktails:

Manhattan — https://keetscocktails.com/manhattan-classic/

Acapulco — https://keetscocktails.com/acapulco/

Culross — https://keetscocktails.com/culross-cocktail/

Batiste — https://keetscocktails.com/batiste-2/

Casablanca — https://keetscocktails.com/casablanca/