Opening Cocktail
Rye, sweet vermouth and grenadine, stirred. A Savoy-era Manhattan with pomegranate instead of bitters — short, sweet-edged and pink-tinged, and better than the recipe reads.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Chill a coupe.
Add the rye, sweet vermouth, grenadine and bitters (if using) to a mixing glass.
Fill with ice and stir for 25 seconds.
Strain into the chilled coupe and drop in a cherry.
A thoughtful finish
- A quarter-ounce of grenadine, not the Savoy's quarter of the drink.
- Real grenadine; the dyed syrup makes it candy.
- A dash of Angostura keeps it a cocktail rather than a sweet.
Common mistakes
- The 1930 proportions at full strength, which are a dessert.
- Bourbon, which doubles the sweetness; rye is the balance.
- Shaking.
A few good questions.
What does an Opening Cocktail taste like?
A Manhattan with a soft pomegranate sweetness — rye spice, vermouth herbs and a pink fruit finish.
Why 'Opening'?
Opening night, most likely; the Savoy served the theatre crowd.
Is it sweet?
At a quarter-ounce of grenadine, barely; at the Savoy's measure, very.
Rye or bourbon?
Rye; the grenadine and vermouth need its dryness.
Variations
- Manhattan — Rye, sweet vermouth and bitters.
- Hunter — Rye and cherry liqueur.
- Blinker — Rye, grapefruit and grenadine.
- Ward Eight — Rye, lemon, orange and grenadine.
Where it comes from
c. 1930 · London · Savoy Hotel
The Opening Cocktail is in the Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930 — a quarter grenadine, a quarter Italian vermouth, half rye whiskey, stirred — named, presumably, for opening night at the theatre, which the Savoy served. It is a Manhattan with grenadine standing in for the bitters and some of the vermouth, and the Savoy’s quarter-measure of grenadine makes it sweet; modern bars cut the grenadine to a barspoon or a quarter-ounce against two ounces of rye and add a dash of bitters, which turns it into a dry, faintly fruity Manhattan with a pink glow. With real pomegranate grenadine it is a good, quick drink for a rye that is a little rough.
Sources
- Harry Craddock, The Savoy Cocktail Book, 1930 (book)
- Ted Haigh, Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, 2009 (book)
- Difford's Guide, Opening Cocktail, 2015 (reference)
Strength. About 1.72 US standard drinks at an estimated 28.4% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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