Stork Club

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Cocktail History

The Stork Club is a classic gin cocktail that was created during American Prohibition. The recipe is traditionally made with gin and multiple types of citrus, and it was named after the New York City bar that was “the nightclub of choice” for Hollywood stars from the late 1920s through the mid 1960s. According to historians, the gold chain out front that was lifted for society’s elite as they entered the club is what made it famous.

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 Gin.

Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter oranges, lemons, sugar, and alcohol. I used Cointreau.

Tangerine Juice: This is the liquid juice of a tangerine. I used freshly squeezed tangerine juice.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.

Orange Bitters: This is a food product made with oranges, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Orange Bitters.

Lime Slice: This is a slice of lime that has been cut into a half wheel 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.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Bright orange-yellow color

• Aroma: Citrus and botanicals

• Taste: Tangerine flavor that explodes into strong juniper notes

• Finish: More sour citrus and herbal aftertaste

Kendall’s Take: “The vintage recipe in the book called for too much tangerine juice, in my opinion, which in true Prohibition-era fashion would’ve masked the taste of the gin. I decided to pare it down a bit to bring out the other flavors, and the result is a tasty, fruity, and yellow-hued cocktail that I enjoyed quite a bit. The Stork Club is nothing too complex, but it is a delicious recipe that can highlight the differences in gin brands if you do multiple tastings.”

Recipe

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