This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Charlie Chaplin is a vintage cocktail that was created in the early 1900s at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, New York. The recipe, which is named after the comedic actor from the early film era, is made with an equal-parts mixture of three common pre-Prohibition ingredients: sloe gin, apricot brandy, and lime.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Sloe Gin: This is a liqueur made with sloes, sugar, and alcohol. I used Plymouth Sloe Gin.
Apricot Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with apricots, spices, sugar, and brandy. I used Phillips Apricot Brandy.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.
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.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Vibrant red-ish pink color
• Aroma: Sloe fruit and citrus
• Taste: Candy-sweet taste of fruit and sloe gin
• Finish: Tangy lime
Kendall’s Take
“This vintage cocktail’s mix of sloe gin, apricot liqueur, and lime makes for a surprisingly charming combination of flavors. The fruit elements create a lovely balance between sweet and tart, giving the drink a bright, almost candy-like quality. The Charlie Chaplin is a great example of how older recipes often leaned into simple but satisfying flavor pairings, and the result is a cocktail that feels both classic and pleasantly playful.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was found in the book Steve The Bartender’s Cocktail Guide by Steve Roennfeldt.
Charlie Chaplin
Description
The Charlie Chaplin is a vintage cocktail created in the early 1900s at New York’s Waldorf Astoria. Named for the silent film star, it’s a simple equal-parts mix of sloe gin, apricot brandy, and lime—an old-school recipe with timeless charm.
Ingredients
Method
Add sloe gin, apricot liqueur, and lime juice to a shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer, strain into a Nick & Nora glass.
