Melba
4.1 11 ratings
Ingredients
How to make
Serve in a coupe glass
Method
- 1 Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
- 2 Prepare garnish of float mint leaf or peg to rim.
- 3 SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
- 4 FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
Flavour profile
19.3% alc./vol. · 1.6 standard drinks · 184 calories
History
This drink is influenced by Swedish punsch, absinthe, and grenadine. The original equal parts rum and Swedish punsch from The Savoy Cocktail Book have been changed, with grenadine increased, for a different profile.
This cocktail is adapted from a recipe found in Harry Craddock's 1930 publication, The Savoy Cocktail Book. MELBA COCKTAIL. 2 Dashes Grenadine. 2 Dashes Absinthe. The juice of ¼ lemon or ½ lime. ½ Glass Bacardi Rum. ½ Glass Swedish Punch. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. The drink was created to honor Dame Nellie Melba, the stage name of Helen Porter Mitchell (1861–1931), a renowned Australian operatic soprano. Her chosen name, Melba, is derived from the city where she gave her first performance at the age of six, at a concert held in the Melbourne Town Hall. She later made her professional debut at age 23 in Melbourne as well, at a benefit concert. Her career frequently included performances at London's Covent Garden, which is situated a short distance from The Savoy. In 1918, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Dame Melba's fame was so considerable that, in addition to this cocktail, her name was also associated with the Peach Melba dessert and Melba toast. The latter was patented in 1929 by Bert Weil.