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Ford

After dinner/digestif · Aperitivo/aperitif · Classic/vintage

4.5 208 ratings

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz Old Tom gin
1 1/2 oz Dry vermouth
1/3 oz Bénédictine D.O.M.
2 dash Orange bitters
2 drop Saline solution 4:1

How to make

Serve in a coupe glass

Prepare

  1. 1 Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. 2 Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

  1. 3 STIR all ingredients with ice.
  2. 4 FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. 5 EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour profile

24.2% alc./vol. · 1.7 standard drinks · 180 calories

History

The original recipe called for equal parts gin and dry vermouth. However, the current version uses two parts (60ml/2oz) old tom gin to one part (30ml/1oz) dry vermouth, with 10ml (⅓oz) Bénédictine D.O.M. liqueur (not Bénédictine B&B) and two dashes of orange bitters, plus an orange zest twist. Following comments from fellow Discerning Drinkers, the recipe has been revised to the original equal parts old tom gin and dry vermouth. The original recipe also specifies "three dashes of Bénédictine D.O.M. (B&B was not made back then)", but 7.5ml (¼oz) is insufficient, so 10ml (⅓oz) is used here. Orange bitters and zest are essential to this cocktail's success.

This cocktail is an adaptation from George J. Kappeler's 1895 book, Modern American Drinks – How to mix and Serve All Kinds of Cups and Drinks. The Ford Cocktail calls for three dashes of Benedictine, three dashes of orange bitters, half a jigger of Tom gin, and half a jigger of French vermouth. It is to be mixed with fine ice in a mixing-glass, strained into a cocktail-glass, and finished with a twisted orange peel.