Bronx Cocktail: Classic Gin Cocktail with a Twist
This article contains affiliate links. We may receive compensation if you make a purchase using one of these links at no additional cost to you. See our Disclaimers and Terms of Use for more information.
Move over Manhattan! See you later Brooklyn! The Bronx isn’t just one of New York City’s most culturally diverse boroughs. It’s also a drink that blends gin with orange juice and two different vermouths. The result is a classic gin cocktail that’s as easy to sip as it is to craft.
The Bronx holds a special place in our hearts. Not only is it the home of the Yankees and some of the best Italian food on the west side of the Atlantic, but it’s also the borough where Mindi’s mom lives.
We’re not alone. Songs have even been written about the northern borough.
It’s only logical that we’d want to try a cocktail named after the NYC borough that we love despite its admittedly sordid reputation. And we’re nothing if not logical.
So what did we think? To be honest, the Bronx cocktail wasn’t what we expected. It’s much more mellow than the rough-and-ready borough located north of the Harlem River with flavors that are as slow as a drive on the Cross Bronx Expressway.
What Is the Bronx Cocktail?
The Bronx is a classic pre-Prohibition cocktail crafted with gin, orange juice, orange bitters and equal parts of dry vermouth and sweet vermouth. Some mixologists add lemon juice to the classic recipe (presumably to kick up the drink’s acidity), but that addition is optional.
While the Bronx cocktail isn’t so famous today, it rivaled both the Martini and Manhattan in terms of popularity a century ago. However, don’t make assumptions about how the cocktails compare. With an infusion of freshly squeezed orange juice, the Bronx is fruitier and easier to sip compared to those two beverage behemoths.
Discover more pre-Prohibition cocktails.
History of the Bronx Cocktail
The Bronx was probably invented in Manhattan unless it was invented in Philadelphia or maybe even the Bronx. While nobody is exactly certain where it was invented, most cocktail historians attribute the Bronx’s creation to Johnny Solon, a bartender who worked at Manhattan’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel during the first decade of the 20th century.
Legend has it that Solon chose the name in honor of the relatively new Bronx Zoo. The cocktail later achieved pop culture status when it was referenced in The Thin Man.
Ingredients
You’ll need to raid your home bar to craft a Bronx cocktail considering its diverse ingredient list:
Ingredient quantities are detailed in the printable recipe card below.
How to Craft a Bronx Cocktail
The first step is to measure the gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth and orange juice. As you measure them, pour each directly into a shaker. We use a Japanese jigger to ensure accurate measurements and make clean pours.
Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.
The next step is to add a dash of orange bitters.
Add ice to the shaker and shake until the liquids are chilled and combined (approximately 20 seconds). We use a Boston shaker for this step.
Strain the cocktail into a coupe or martini glass.
Garnish with an orange twist.
All that’s left to do is sip and enjoy. We recommend doing both while eating brunch or watching the sun set.
Variations
The Bronx may or may not hit your cocktail sweet spot. Here are some ideas if you want to modify the classic gin cocktail’s recipe:
Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.
Bronx Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ½ ounce vermouth (dry)
- ½ ounce vermouth (sweet)
- 1 ounce orange juice
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1 orange peel (garnish)
- ice cubes (for shaking)
Instructions
- Pour gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth and orange juice into a shaker.
- Add a dash of orange bitters.
- Add several ice cubes and shake vigorously until liquids are chilled and mixed.
- Strain into a coupe glass or small martini glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Notes
- Add fresh lemon juice if you prefer imbibing tarter cocktails.
Nutrition
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
The Bronx is a classic cocktail crafted with dry gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, orange bitters and orange juice. An orange twist completes the Bronx cocktail.
The Bronx cocktail was probably invented in Manhattan.
Dry Gin, Dry Vermouth, Sweet Vermouth, Orange Bitters, Orange Juice, Orange Peel (garnish) and Ice Cubes (for shaking)
The Bronx cocktail is shaken, not stirred.
We like to serve this cocktail in a coupe glass, but you could use a small martini glass instead.
📍 Pin This Recipe
