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Cocktail History
The El Duque is a modern cocktail that was created by Gabriel Orta and Elad Svi at Twenty-Seven Restaurant & Bar in Miami Beach, Florida. The recipe is essentially a coffee-flavored variation of the Manhattan that uses four untraditional ingredients you don’t typically see in the classic, including rum, cream sherry, cold-brew coffee, and chocolate.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Dark Rum: This is a type of rum made with sugarcane, spices, and water that has been barrel aged for a long period of time. We used Flor De Caña 4 Year Añego Oro Rumbecause it has light and airy aromas of vanilla and almond with flavors of white chocolate and citrus. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Caleño Non-Alcoholic Dark & Spicy Tropical Spirit in place of the rum.
Cream Sherry: This is a type of sherry made with a blend of dry wine and sweet wine. We used Don Benigno Cream Sherry because it has a nutty almond taste that is noticeable but still subtle. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Non-Alcoholic Sherry Flavoring in place of the sherry.
Cold-Brew Coffee: This is a type of coffee made by steeping coffee beans in room temperature water for 12-18 hours. We used Soul Brewed Coffee Cold-Brew Coffee because it’s made locally to us.
Chocolate Bitters: This is a food product made with chocolate, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters.
Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. We used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. We used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. We used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
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Tasting Notes
The El Duque features aromas of citrus and coffee and tastes like a combination of the pleasant shock of ice-cold coffee mixed with cream sherry’s slight sweetness for balance, all followed by the noticeable taste of rum.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: While neither of us are the biggest fans of the classic Manhattan, we both enjoyed this take on it quite a bit. And as a coffee lover, Alex especially liked the way its spirituous flavors complemented the lush, bitter taste of the local cold brew we used. The El Duque is worth a try, for sure!
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“There’s no denying that Espresso Martinis are in right now, but if you’re not one to follow trends, this is a coffee-flavored cocktail that’s much more sophisticated, in my opinion. I don’t personally drink coffee so it wasn’t my favorite drink we’ve tried recently, but I could see a frequent downer of the beverage absolutely loving this cocktail. Seeing Alex’s reaction to the first sip was proof.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the editors of PUNCH.
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 2024-10-12.
El Duque
The El Duque is a modern cocktail that was created by Gabriel Orta and Elad Svi at Twenty-Seven Restaurant & Bar in Miami Beach, Florida. The recipe is essentially a coffee-flavored variation of the Manhattan that uses four untraditional ingredients you don’t typically see in the classic, including rum, cream sherry, cold-brew coffee, and chocolate.
Ingredients
Method
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Add rum, cream sherry, cold-brew coffee, chocolate bitters, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
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Stir for 30-45 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Garnish with lemon twist.
