This cocktail will require a late check-out.
The Waldorf cocktail first appeared in the early 1900s at the famous Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. For more than a century, the hotel has been known for its glitz and glamor and played host to royalty, dignitaries, presidents and politicians, and celebrities. The Waldorf-Astoria practically cemented itself into pop culture history as the set of multiple movies, the venue for famous weddings like Zsa Zsa Gabor and Conrad Hilton, and a home-away-from-home for celebrities like Frank Sinatra and even mobster Bugsy Siegel.
But through all the fame and drama, the Waldorf-Astoria still managed to serve up its signature cocktail: The Waldorf.
The Waldorf formally and officially came to be in Albert Stevens Crockett’s 1934 publication of, “The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book.” Crockett worked as the hotel’s publicist/historian and published the book to celebrate the end of Prohibition. What a hero. The book included over 150 recipes, including the hotel’s namesake drink.
Although this cocktail has an undeniably unique place in history, its “unique” flavors may seem a bit familiar. Depending on how you like to look at things, the Waldorf is either a rye whiskey variation on a Manhattan or a sweet vermouth variation on a Sazerac. The cocktail calls for a mixture of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters all served in an absinthe-rinsed cocktail glass. However, according to Crockett, the original version of the Waldorf was a lot more daring. An equal mixture of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and absinthe were shaken together and served for a punchy, boozy cocktail. Interestingly, around the same time the cocktail was invented, the Waldorf-Astoria became the first hotel to offer room service. Perhaps it was just for the unrelated convenience or maybe for the guests’ wild hangovers after slurping down a few of those cocktails – we’ll never know.
Whether you choose the classic or modern rendition, the Waldorf is a suite, luxurious cocktail that stands the test of time.
Waldorf
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Glass
- 1 Bar Spoon
- 1 Hawthorne Strainer
- 1 Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
Classic Waldorf Cocktail
- 1½ ounces Rye Whiskey
- 1½ ounces Sweet Vermouth
- 1½ ounces Absinthe
- 2 dashes Orange Bitters
Modern Waldorf Cocktail
- 2 ounces Rye Whiskey
- ¾ ounce Sweet Vermouth
- 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
Instructions
Classic Waldorf Cocktail
- To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1½ ounces of Rye Whiskey, 1½ ounces of Sweet Vermouth, 1½ ounces of absinthe, and 2 dashes of orange bitters.
- Shake until very chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass.
Modern Waldorf Cocktail
- Fill a cocktail glass with ice and place in the freezer to chill.
- Meanwhile, add 2 ounces of Rye Whiskey, 1½ ounces of Sweet Vermouth, and 3 dashes of bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir the mixture until well chilled.
- Remove the chilled cocktail glass from the freezer and discard the ice.
- Rinse the chilled glass with a few teaspoons of absinthe.
- Strain the ingredients from the mixing glass into the prepared cocktail glass.
