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Monkey Island

3⁄4 oz Gin
3⁄4 oz Damson gin liqueur (original called for bullace gin)
1 oz Dry vermouth, Noilly Prat (Used "original" rather than "extra dry.")
1⁄4 oz Khoosh Bitter
Instructions

Stir with ice, strain into cocktail glass. (Historical cocktail called for shake, I don't recommend doing that.)

Notes

Khoosh bitter was established in 1882, went through liquidation in 1900, but was still selling product until it went defunct sometime before WWII, with the last advertising seen in 1937. It has been revived/re-imagined by Phoenyx Spirits in 2022/2023.

The current iteration of Khoosh is a 40 proof orange bitter amaro, with turmeric for color; cardamom, anise, black tea and Indian spices for flavor; quassia amara as the primary bittering agent: and an infusion from a mix of citrus peel, including kumquat.

The Monkey Island recipe from 1937's Cafe Royale Cocktail Book is:
1 dash Khoosh Bitters.
1/4 Bullace Gin (bullace is a fruit related to sloe or damson.)
1/4 London Dry Gin.
1/2 French Vermouth.

Alterations:
I have used 1/4 oz of Khoosh in the altered recipe, to account for possibly higher strength and bitterness of original, and ill defined/larger dashes often used at the time.

Substituted Averell damson gin for bullace gin--a good sloe gin would also work.

Noilly Prat Dry "original dry" (hard to come by in the U.S) rather than the extra dry that has replaced it. Reduced the vermouth from ~1/2 the drink to little more than 1/3 while boosting the others.

History

Originally published in the 1937 "Cafe Royale Cocktail Book" by W. J. Tarling. Ratios adjusted for modern ingredients and tastes.

Yields Drink
Year
1937 or earlier
Authenticity
Altered recipe
Creator
M. McGarry
Source reference

1937 "Cafe Royale Cocktail Book" by W. J. Tarling

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(1 rating)
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Complementhe

3⁄4 oz Rye, Rittenhouse 100
3⁄4 oz Bourbon, Evan Williams Bottled in Bond
3⁄4 oz Lemon juice
1⁄2 oz Crème de Menthe, Tempus Fugit
2 1⁄2 Strawberry (2 muddled; 1/2 as garnish)
1 lf Mint (as garnish)
Instructions

Muddle two strawberries, shake, double strain, rock, garnish.

Notes

Use a quality creme de menthe for this as that is the feature flavor.

History

Winner of the Reddit Original Cocktail Competition, March 2025: Strawberry and mint.

Picture of Complementhe
Craig Eliason
Yields Drink
Year
2025
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Craig Eliason, Saint Paul, Minnesota (USA)
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3 stars
(1 rating)
From other users
  • Drink is a cloudy red-orange. Nose is minty, fresh, and green. Sip is strawberry lemonade. On the swallow, that flavor turns in a julep direction. Citrus tang in the finish, with gentle spiciness.
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Instructions

Shake with ice and strain into a frozen coupe glass.

History

"Little Maggie"
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovC1jULtcMM

Yields Drink
Year
2025
Authenticity
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History

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History

Relaxing before dinner, watching "Robin Hood" (1939) with Errol Flynn.

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Authenticity
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Notes

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Todd Brant
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