Stirred rather than shaken, this is a rum drink for Martini and Manhattan lovers. Aromatic vermouth and orange curaçao soften the rum, and a barspoon of grenadine gives a soft blush and a whisper of pomegranate.
1½ oz
white rum a lightly aged Cuban-style rume.g. Bacardi · Havana Club · Plantation · Don Q · Flor de Caña
¾ oz
dry vermouth or a French blanc vermouthe.g. Noilly Prat · Martini · Dolin · Cinzano
¼ oz
orange curaçaoe.g. Pierre Ferrand · Bols · Marie Brizard · Senior Curaçao of Curaçao
1 bar spoon
grenadine
Garnish: Orange twist · Ice: Served up, no ice
El Presidente
Silky and aromatic, with light rum, herbal wine notes, bitter orange and a delicate red fruit sweetness. Spirit forward but gentle.
El Presidente was one of the fashionable drinks of Havana in the 1920s, when Prohibition sent thirsty Americans to Cuba and its elegant bars. Recipes for it were printed in books about Cuban nightlife by the late 1920s.
Which president it honours is disputed. The two names most often given are Mario García Menocal, president from 1913 to 1921, and Gerardo Machado, who took office in 1925. Early recipes also differ on the vermouth: some call for a French style, and many modern bartenders argue that a sweeter blanc vermouth rather than a very dry one gives the most balanced result.
That is not settled. Mario García Menocal and Gerardo Machado are the two Cuban presidents most often mentioned.
Both appear in recipes. Dry vermouth gives a crisper drink, blanc a rounder, slightly sweeter one.
It contains no juice, only spirits, vermouth and liqueur, so stirring gives a clear, silky texture.
The perfect sound
Old Havana glamour under slowly turning ceiling fans.
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