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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 with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Prairie Organic Spirits Navy Strength Gin.
Orange Juice: This is the liquid juice of an orange. I used freshly squeezed orange juice.
Dry Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry.
Sweet Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth.
Orange Bitters: This is a food product made with oranges, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Orange Bitters.
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.
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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 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
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.
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 2025-01-13.
Bronx
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.
Ingredients
Method
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Add gin, orange juice, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, orange bitters, 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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Garnish with orange wedge.
