As is the case with many cocktails, the story about the origin of the Bronx Cocktail recipe is a little bit murky. The most accepted version of this cocktail’s history is that it was created by Johnnie Solon back in the early 1900s. He worked as a bartender at the famous Astoria-Waldorf Hotel and created this aperitif cocktail after visiting the Bronx Zoo in New York.
Oh, and here’s a fun fact (if it ever comes up at pub quiz): Apparently, Solon didn’t actually drink alcohol. Like, not even a drop. But, he was somehow insanely good at making cocktails. Hats off to you, Johnnie-boy! Don’t know how you did it!
What is the Bronx Cocktail?
Have you ever tasted a Perfect Martini mixed with equal parts sweet and dry vermouth? If you have, and you liked it, it’s good to know that the Bronx Cocktail is a pretty cool spin-off of this. But, thanks to the added orange juice and bitters, this version has some serious summertime vibes. To make the Bronx drink, you’re going to shake together gin, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, fresh orange juice, and bitters.
And let’s be clear. We’re not talking just any vermouth. ‘Ya gotta get the quality stuff!’ (Insert best Bronx accent here). Our version of the Bronx cocktail uses Cinzano Vermouth Rosso and Cinzano Vermouth Extra Dry. And for an extra citrusy flavor, we chose O’ndina Gin. It’s infused with orange and creates a more citrus-forward drink. Quality ingredients make all the difference.
Strained and served in a chilled martini glass, it’s an impressive summertime cocktail that looks and tastes the part.
This citrus and vermouth martini is best served as a pre-dinner drink. Alternatively, mix it up a little and serve Bronx Cocktails instead of the usual Mimosa business at brunch.
Why Vermouth matters
Why? Because we use a lot of it in cocktail-making. Like a lot, a lot. And this aromatized fortified wine is more complex than you might think.
You’ll find vermouth in either sweet or dry versions. Both varieties get a good infusion of herbs and spice flavors. First up is dry vermouth, hailing from France. Don’t let the light, sweet smell fool you. When it comes to its taste, dry vermouth is bitter, herbal, and as dry as the French. And that’s precisely what you want when shaking up a batch of perfect martinis.
The second important vermouth to know about is the sweet kind, proudly brought to you by Italy. Our favorites (shamelessly) are Cinzano Vermouth Rosso and Cinzano Vermouth Bianco. We love the Rosso for its smooth and slightly sweet taste and creamy caramel hints that round off perfectly with a botanical bitterness. On the other hand, the Bianco has a lovely white peach and floral blossom character with hints of vanilla and thyme and a bittersweet finish.
For a cocktail where sweet vermouth plays a starring role, try the Negroni or Manhattan. You can also enjoy it with a splash of soda served on the rocks before dinner.
Sweet vermouth and dry vermouth combined in a cocktail create absolute magic. It keeps the cocktail perfectly balanced, ensuring that it’s not too dry and not too sweet. And that’s why it works so well as an essential part of the Bronx cocktail ingredients.
The Bronx Cocktail recipe
OK, now that we’ve covered pretty much everything you need to know about the Bronx Cocktail ingredients, let’s get on with the recipe.
