The El Presidente is a Cuban-born cocktail from the Dark Days of American tippling – Prohibition. The history of the cocktail is somewhat hazy, with several different bartenders credited with creating it in honor one or more Cuban presidents in various different bars.
The drink has often been lamented as a lost treasure from the heyday of Cuban mixology, when thirsty Americans – unable to quench their thirst for great cocktails at home – would sail from Florida to Havana. While most people think of daiquiris and mojitos when they think of Cuba, there are quite a few great drinks that were poured for travelers – many of which have been almost completely forgotten.
Early this year I went on something of an El Presidente kick, making them just about every night for a few weeks. The original recipe calls for a ratio of 2:1:1 rum to dry vermouth to curacao, with a half teaspoon of grenadine. The problem is that while the drink is definitely palatable, it just wasn’t great at that particular ratio.
After trying so many, I came to the conclusion that the problem was the curacao, which was utterly dominating the drink. The drink was too orange-heavy, and the rum, vermouth, and grenadine were bit players at best, completely lost at worst. So I made a modification to how I made mine, and suddenly the drink went from “interesting lost cocktail” to “nightly home menu option.”
El Presidente (modified)
1.5 oz Aged Rum
.75 oz Dry Vermouth
.25 oz Curacao
.5 tsp GrenadineStir with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange or lemon twist.
I found out in a chat with Wayne Curtis (whose …and a Bottle of Rum
Question of the Day:
Tweaking classic or forgotten cocktail recipes has really grown to be one of my favorite past-times. What twists or modifications to other classics do you really enjoy?
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I’m off to the bat-bar, old chum! I think I will try some variations on the grenadine.
Its good to see people giving forgotten or almost forgotten cocktail recipes a new lease of life. I especially like to see people play with the ratios of mix.
Keep it up
)
James
Dood…this is an amazing drink. The aged rum really makes it. My first attempt was with MGXO…fell in love.
I am going to try with some others(Cruzan SB and Pampero)….
It will be a good night watching the Backyard Brawl!!!
Thanks
The Pampero is great in this. Oddly, I haven’t tried with Cruzan Single Barrel. I think I know what I’m drinking tonight!
OK….although Pitt lost the brawl – I enjoyed my el Presidentes!!!
1 – Mount Gay XO
2 – Pampero
3 – Cruzan
Funny…that would probably he how I would rate them neat…
dude this is an awesome site…lovin it…i have always loved drinking rum and just recentley have started purchasing of the finest rums that i can find. i have been reading your site for information on differant rums of the world and cocktails that i may mix them in. so far to date i have purchased 1 case of GRAN RESERVA ZAYA 12 year old a product of trinidad…also i have now purchased 2 cases of DIPLOMATICO RESERVA EXCLUSIVA …i love this rhum…next on my list is a case of ELDORADO 15 YEAR OLD SPECIAL RESERVE DEMARERA RUM….wondering if i should go for that or the 21 year old…however i have already ordered the 15 year old, wondering what your views on the two might be….also if you could recomend other fine rums of the world that i could look into i would really appreciate your help….also i live out on beautiful shuswap lake in British Columbia Canada so i do find myself limited through our government liquor stores on what i can and cannot bring in….any ideas around this?….cheers and have yourself an awesome day