1 1⁄2 oz Madeira
1 1⁄8 oz Bourbon
2 Maraschino cherry (as garnish)
Instructions

Shake, strain into a claret glass, garnish.

Notes

Later versions corrupt the maraschino component into grenadine, which makes for an entirely different (and inferior, I think) drink.

Cocktail summary
Year
1900s
Is an
authentic recipe
Curator
Not yet rated
Average
4 stars
(2 ratings)
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From other users
  • I quartered the (2:2:1 originally posted) recipe and was satisfied with the volume! This was better than I expected. At room temp, pleasant cherry acidity.
  • More pleasurable than it seemed at first, clearly meant as a sippable drink rather than a quick cocktail. It is a good way to use Madeira.
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Comments

I curated this to conform to the Straub version for a couple of reasons: (1) It's the earliest and best of the three sources (2) A jigger is 1.5 oz, and even though the fraction conversion is wonky, it's a lot better as a 3 ounce chilled drink than a 5 ounce warm drink. Thanks,  Zachary


Sound curation, though I'll side with the later recipes as far as stirring rather than shaking this. 

(And call me crazy, but I might prefer the room-temp version.)


I was familiar with the Straub recipe, but I believe that found in the Old Waldorf Bar Days (published long after the bar manual was written) to represent the earlier form, that is, a stirred, room temperature drink. It has been quite successful at parties.


Looking again at the older sources, I'm wondering if the cherries here are meant to be shaken/strained (Straub) or stirred (Waldorf)--that is, incorporated into the drink at mixing rather than added as a garnish at the end. 


yarm commented on 11/27/2019:

Also, this needs a dry Madeira -- no Bual or Malmsey. I did this as 1 1/4 : 1 1/4 : 1/2 with Sercial on the menu at Loyal Nine and with Verdelho at home. I've also made the room temperature/no ice version from The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book which makes good use of the Maraschino's sugar to balance the drink instead of dilution + sugar.