The Army & Navy Cocktail: A Classic Gin Drink

The Army & Navy Cocktail: A Classic Gin Drink
A nutty and fragrant twist on the traditional Gin Sour.

Not directly related to the armed forces, this cocktail likely originated at the Army & Navy Club in Washington DC.

First recorded in David A. Embury's classic cocktail book The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, the Army & Navy makes use of Orgeat, a perfumed, almond-based syrup. Whilst this ingredient might not be the most familiar, it's worth seeking out: adding a crucial creamy quality that balances the sourness of the lemon, and brightness of the gin.

Orgeat is also used in all manner of Tiki cocktails, and is well worth adding to any home-bar.

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Ingredients
60ml Gin
20ml Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
15ml Orgeat Syrup
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Garnish Lemon zest

Ice Cubes (for shaking)

Glass Cocktail glass

Equipment Checklist

Hawthorne Strainer Shaker
Fine Strainer Jigger

Recommended Gins

Prohibition Navy Strength Gin

Instructions

1. Add all your ingredients to the shaker.

2. Fill shaker to the brim with cubes of ice.

3. Shake hard for 30 seconds.

4. Fine strain into an ice-cold cocktail glass.

Bartender’s Top Tips

Remember to chill your glass in the freezer for 5 minutes before you fill it, to keep your drink colder and fresher for longer.

Fine straining through a mesh strainer (like a tea strainer), removes all the small chips of ice to create a silky smooth texture.

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