Metropole Cocktail

About this Cocktail

First published in Modern American Drinks (1894), this was the house cocktail at the Hotel Metropole (now the Casablanca Hotel) on 43rd Street near Times Square. Originally a 1:1 ratio brandy to vermouth ratio, it only took about 10 years before published recipes featured a 2:1, which is highly recommended. I also prefer using Cocchi Americano in place of the standard dry vermouth.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz brandy
• 3/4 oz dry vermouth
• 1/8 oz simple syrup
• 1 dash orange bitters
• 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters
• garnish with lemon twist

Preparation:

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, stir and strain into a cocktail glass.