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Cocktail History
The American Beauty is a classic cocktail that was first published in The Stork Club Bar Book by Lucius Beebe in 1946. Similar to the Enchantress, it pairs brandy with ruby port wine and adds vermouth, a hint of mint liqueur, and citrus juice. It also uses rose petals as the garnish as a nod to its name, which comes from the long-stemmed roses that are typically carried by beauty queens after being crowned in beauty pageants.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Cognac: This is a type of brandy made in Cognac, France with distilled white wine. I used Courvoisier VSOP Cognac.
Ruby Port: This is a fortified wine made in Portugal with a blend of red grapes. I used Sandeman Fine Ruby Porto.
Dry Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry.
Orange Juice: This is the liquid juice of an orange. I used freshly squeezed orange juice.
Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar. I used this stovetop recipe.
White Crème De Menthe: This is a liqueur made with mint, sugar, and alcohol. I used DeKuyper Crème De Menthe White Liqueur.
Rose Petals: These are the loose petals of a flower rose.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.
Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is a small, sharp kitchen knife with a narrow blade that’s used for peeling, trimming, and garnishing. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is a handheld tool that’s used to extract juice from fruits by pressing or twisting it against a reamer or cone. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring, layering, and reaching the bottom of tall cocktail glasses. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes. I used one from the Homestia Gold Crown Cocktail Pick Set.
Nick & Nora Glass: This is a small, stemmed glass with a gently curved bowl that used for serving cocktails with smaller portions. I used the Cocktail Kingdom Gold Trim Nick & Nora Glass.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-01-15.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Vibrant red-pink color
• Aroma: Port wine and vermouth
• Taste: Well-balanced spiced brandy, deep wine, and orange flavor
• Finish: Vermouth twinge with pomegranate notes
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “Although as beautiful as its name suggests it would be, the American Beauty was a bit too tart for me. Now that I’ve tried both, I prefer the deeper taste of the Enchantress, another classic cocktail made with brandy and ruby port. If you’re not used to those flavors though, I would start with this one before trying the Enchantress; I can see how this one would be more palatable to those who don’t usually drink brandy or dessert wines.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Art of Vintage Cocktails by Stephanie Rosenbaum.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-01-14.
American Beauty
The American Beauty is a classic cocktail that was first published in The Stork Club Bar Book by Lucius Beebe in 1946. Similar to the Enchantress, it pairs brandy with ruby port wine and adds vermouth, a hint of mint liqueur, and citrus juice. It also uses rose petals as the garnish as a nod to its name, which comes from the long-stemmed roses that are typically carried by beauty queens after being crowned in beauty pageants.
Ingredients
Method
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Add brandy, orange juice, vermouth, grenadine, crème de menthe, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Carefully float wine on top with a bar spoon.
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Garnish with rose petals.
