1 1⁄2 oz Bourbon, Old Grand Dad 114
3⁄4 oz Sweet vermouth, Carpano Antica Formula
1⁄4 oz Bénédictine
1 ds Bitters, Bitter Truth Aromatic
1 twst Orange peel (as garnish)
Instructions
Stir, strain into a coupe, garnish
History
Created for the first Preakness Ball. Originally called for rye and only 1/2 tsp of Benedictine. Recipe shown here is slightly altered by Death & Co.
Cocktail summary
Created by
George Backert, Emerson Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland
Year
1936
Is an
altered recipe
Reference
Death & Co cocktail book, p.149 and http://cocktails.pnewman.com/preakness.shtml
Bourbon, Sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, Bitters, Orange peel
PT5M
PT0M
Cocktail
Cocktail
1
craft, alcoholic
4.27273
11
This particular combination from Death & Co., using the high rye (and over proof) bourbon Old Grand-Dad 114, is excellent, although I am sure it would work well with ~90-100 proof rye (maybe upping the volume a little to compensate, proof wise.) The Carpano Antica and Benedictine proportions are spot on to provide the herbal notes without being too sweet. From what I understand, Wondrich indicated the original 1936 recipe only called for 1/2 tsp (1/12 oz) of Benedictine, and Death and Co.'s 1/4 oz is an improvement on that. Difford and some others call for 1/2 oz which would likely push it too far.