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Cocktail History
The El Presidente is a classic cocktail that was created in Havana, Cuba in the early 1900s. It was named for Mario García Menocal, Cuba’s president from 1913 to 1921, and it’s traditionally made with white rum, dry vermouth, citrus, and grenadine. The recipe became especially popular among Americans during Prohibition when they traveled to Cuba to enjoy mixed drinks while they were outlawed in the United States.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
White Rum: This is a type of rum made with molasses or sugar cane juice and a neutral spirit that is filtered and bottled right away without the aging process. We used BACARDÍ Superior White Rum because it has a soft and slightly sweet rum flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic White Cane Spirit in place of the rum.
Dry Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. We used Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry because it has a light and airy flavor profile with notes of Alpine herbs. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Apéritif Dry in place of the dry vermouth.
Orange Curaçao: This is a liqueur made with oranges, sugar, and brandy or rum. We used Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge because it has a rich Cognac base with notes of bitter orange, hazelnut, and toffee. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Triple Sec Syrup in place of the orange liqueur.
Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Orange Peel: This the peel of an orange that is cut into a strip.
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 Presidente features aromas of citrus and vermouth, the initial taste of rum mixed with the fortified wine’s flavor, and a hint of grenadine and citrus on the swallow.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We thought this drink was tart, refreshing, and tasty and that it would be especially delicious with savory meals. We’d definitely make it again, just with a little less vermouth next time. The original recipe called more, and we thought that overpowered the other ingredients too much.
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 2024-10-14.
El Presidente
The El Presidente is a classic cocktail that was created in Havana, Cuba in the early 1900s. It was named for Mario García Menocal, Cuba’s president from 1913 to 1921, and it’s traditionally made with white rum, dry vermouth, citrus, and grenadine. The recipe became especially popular among Americans during Prohibition when they traveled to Cuba to enjoy mixed drinks while they were outlawed in the United States.
Ingredients
Method
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Add rum, dry vermouth, orange curaçao, grenadine, 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 orange peel.
