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Cocktail History
The Tuxedo No. 2 is a classic cocktail that was created by Harry Craddock in the 1920s and included in his recipe book The Savoy Cocktail Book. It’s traditionally made with gin, dry vermouth, absinthe, cherry, and citrus, and it’s believed to have been named for Tuxedo Park, a community for the elite that was established in upstate New York in the 1880s.
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 Suntory Roku Japanese Gin.
Dry Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry.
Maraschino Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with Maraschino cherries, honey, herbs, spices, sugar, and alcohol. I used Luxardo Maraschino Orginale Liqueur.
Absinthe: This is a spirit made with anise, wormwood, fennel, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Great Lakes Distillery Amerique 1912 Absinthe Verte.
Orange Bitters: This is a food product made with oranges, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Orange 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. I 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. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I 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. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Frosty almost clear color
• Aroma: Absinthe and juniper
• Taste: Initial absinthe flavor that gives way to fortified wine, botanicals, and slight citrus
• Finish: Cherry and more gin
Kendall’s Take: “If ever there were a cocktail that perfectly captured the essence (and somehow the taste) of a well-dressed man, it’s the Tuxedo No. 2. Although quite dry, I really liked its flavor combination, probably thanks to the cherry, and I could see myself making it again sometime.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book: Appropriate Libations for All Occasions by Lou Bustamante.
Tuxedo No. 2
Description
The Tuxedo No. 2 is a classic cocktail that was created by Harry Craddock in the 1920s and included in his recipe book The Savoy Cocktail Book. It's traditionally made with gin, dry vermouth, absinthe, cherry, and citrus, and it's believed to have been named for Tuxedo Park, a community for the elite that was established in upstate New York in the 1880s.
Ingredients
Method
Add gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, absinthe, and orange bitters to a mixing glass.
Fill mixing glass with cubed ice.
Using a bar spoon, stir for 30-45 seconds until well-chilled and slightly diluted.
Using a julep strainer, strain into a Nick & Nora glass.
Garnish with lemon twist.
