Jane Russell

Gentlemen may prefer blondes, but they drink Jane Russells. 

Cocktail madman Brian Miller is known for one thing and one thing only – tiki. Through the early 2000s, Miller worked his way through some of New York City’s biggest cocktail bars including Pouring Ribbons, Pegu Club, and Death & Co. No matter the location, his one mission was to bring tiki back in a cool, modern way. And for the most part, he succeeded. Miller churned out modern tiki masterpieces like the Winchester, Gone Rumming, and Duppy Conqueror that brought tiki drinks out of the 80s and into the light. Then he kicked back, relaxed, and opened up his own bar in Midtown NYC – The Polynesian. 

So what does all of this tiki have to do with Jane Russell? What a great question. In the 1940s and 50s, long before Brian Miller was saving tiki, Jane Russell was starring in major Hollywood films. Known as one of the Old Hollywood “it” girls and all around sex symbol, Jane Russell starred in big productions like, “The Outlaw” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Unfortunately for Russell, her performance in the 1953 production of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” was slightly eclipsed by the performance of her young, barely known, co-star, Marilyn Monroe. At the time, Monroe was a film rookie and it was assumed that Jane Russell would mainly be carrying the film. But Monroe’s legendary performance of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” basically solidified her and the movie in Hollywood fame. From that point on, Monroe was the only “it” girl/sex symbol anyone cared about, pushing actresses like Russell into obscurity. 

Yet luckily for Russell, her legacy wasn’t all forgotten. In fact, she has a whole cocktail named after her, courtesy of one Brian Miller. (See – we didn’t quite lose the thread on this one). Now what exactly the connection is between Brian Miller (self-proclaimed “pirate” and father of modern tiki) and Jane Russell (1940s movie bombshell who probably hates Marilyn Monroe), we have no idea. However, what we do know is that their shared cocktail is an absolute showstopper. 

The Jane Russell cocktail is kind of like a riff on a rye whiskey Manhattan, if you squint and don’t think about it too hard. Just like a Manhattan, whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters are all present, with a few cool modifications. Grand Marnier and Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth stand in for the traditional sweet vermouth, mole bitters bring a spicy edge to the normal bitters, and Bénédictine is brought along for fun. Now for the rye whiskey. In a pinch, you can use one type, any type of rye for this cocktail, but recipe purists should opt for both Rittenhouse Rye and Russell’s Reserve Rye. While Rittenhouse Rye brings the pepper and baking spices, Russell’s brings the sweetness and, coincidentally, the same name as Jane Russell herself. 

It’s hard to say if this drink should be enjoyed on an island beach to honor Brian or in an upscale, L.A. bar to honor Jane. No matter the location, this cocktail is guaranteed to be the star of your show.