Bronx

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Cocktail History

The Bronx is a classic cocktail that was created by Johnny Solon in the early 1900s at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York. It is essentially a lighter, fruitier take on a perfect martini that is made with gin, citrus, and vermouth, and although it’s since been overshadowed by the Manhattan, it was considered the #3 cocktail in the world at one point. It was also named for the Bronx Zoo in New York.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Gin: This is a spirit made by redistilling a neutral spirit with juniper berries and other botanicals to develop a distinctive, aromatic flavor.

Orange Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe oranges that has a light, sweet citrus flavor and pale orange color.

Dry Vermouth: This is a type of wine made with white wine and a blend of herbs and botanicals, which are fermented, fortified with a neutral spirit, and then lightly sweetened to develop a crisp, aromatic flavor.

Sweet Vermouth: This is a type of wine made with red grapes and a blend of herbs and botanicals, which are fermented and then fortified with a neutral spirit and sweetened to develop a rich, grape flavor.

Orange Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with orange peels, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter citrus flavor.

Orange Wedge: This a slice of an orange that has been cut into a wedge shape.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Bold yellow-orange color

• Aroma: Citrus and juniper

• Taste: Tangy orange flavor that evolves into herbal gin and nutty fortified wine

• Finish: Botanical aftertaste

Kendall’s Take: “I tried three different versions of this cocktail, each with varying amounts of the ingredients, and although still too dry for my taste, this is definitely the best take I found. I do prefer the Bronx over the Manhattan, but I understand why this one’s been somewhat lost to time. Even with my adjustments, it’s really just not that complex. I doubt I would make this classic again. It’s good but not all that memorable.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Art of Vintage Cocktails by Stephanie Rosenbaum.