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Opera

Classic/vintage · Nightcap/sipping · Short and stirred

3.9 32 ratings

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz Gin
2/3 oz Red quinquina e.g. Dubonnet, Byrrh
1/6 oz Maraschino liqueur
1/6 oz Mandarin liqueur
2 dash Orange bitters

How to make

Serve in a nick & nora glass

Prepare

  1. 1 Select and pre-chill a NICK & NORA 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

26.2% alc./vol. · 1.4 standard drinks · 143 calories

History

This gin-laced, vinous cocktail for late-night enjoyment combines classic recipes from Jacques Straub (1914) and Harry Craddock (1930), featuring delicate notes of mandarin and maraschino.

The Opera cocktail, as it is most commonly prepared today, can be traced to Harry Craddock's 1930 publication, The Savoy Cocktail Book. However, an earlier mention of the drink appears in Jacques Straub's 1914 book, Drinks. From The Savoy Cocktail Book: OPERA COCKTAIL. 1/6 Maraschino. 1/6 Dubonnet. 2/3 Dry gin. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. Squeeze orange peel on top. From Jacques Straub's Drinks: Opera Cocktail. ½ jigger Dubonnet. ½ jigger dry gin. 2 barspoons crême de mandarine. Twist orange peel on top. Shake, strain and serve.