The Bronx cocktail is really an interesting one, with an unusual combination of ingredients. Gin, equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, orange bitters, and orange juice, makes it half Martini, half Manhattan. Altho it may not be as popular as its cousins, it still has a place amongst them and the orange juice makes it appropriate for brunch.

Another strange thing about this cocktail is that its invention points at 2 different people from 2 different places. According to the first story, one Joseph S. Sormani, who was a Bronx restaurateur, and in 1905, he created the drink at his restaurant in Philadelphia of all places.

The other story points at, again, the early 1900s and the New York bartender, Johnny Solon (or Solan) who was working at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. Solan was popular for his mixing skills behind the bar and according to this story, he invented the cocktail. Apparently, he named the drink after visiting the Bronx Zoo, which opened in 1899.

The Bronx cocktail relies heavily on the quality of the ingredients. Freshly squeezed orange juice and good citrus gin will make for an amazing and refreshing drink.

Ingredients:

  1. 2 Ounces (60 ml) of gin.
  2. ½ Ounce (15 ml) of sweet vermouth.
  3. ½ Ounce (15 ml) of dry vermouth.
  4. A dash or 2 of orange bitters.
  5. Freshly squeezed orange juice.

How to make the Bronx cocktail:

  1. Add all ingredients into a shaker.
  2. Fill with ice and shake well.
  3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  4. Garnish with an orange twist.
  5. Enjoy.

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