Calvados Cocktail recipe
This vintage French apple brandy sour features rich orange liqueur and aromatic bitters.
Method: Shake and fine strain ·
Glass: Chilled coupe glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Calvados (fine French apple brandy)
- 0.75 oz Cointreau (triple sec or orange liqueur)
- 0.75 oz fresh orange juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 dashes orange bitters (Regan's or Angostura orange)
How to make a Calvados Cocktail
- Add Calvados, Cointreau, fresh orange juice, and orange bitters to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for approximately 12 to 15 seconds until thoroughly chilled and diluted.
- Double strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a fresh orange peel twist resting on the rim.
Garnish
Garnish with a fresh orange peel twist resting on the rim.
Pro tip
Use freshly squeezed orange juice rather than commercial bottled juice to keep the sweetness balanced against the apple brandy and orange liqueur. A vigorous shake is essential to aerate the citrus and integrate the aromatic bitters.
History of the Calvados Cocktail
First recorded in Harry Craddock's seminal 1930 publication, The Savoy Cocktail Book, the Calvados Cocktail represents an intriguing intersection of Norman apple brandy and classic Parisian cocktail craftsmanship. While Craddock popularized the formula during his tenure at the American Bar in London, historians debate whether the drink originated in Parisian bistros or British hotel bars prior to its codification. The distinctive pairing of Calvados with orange liqueur and a generous proportion of orange bitters highlights an era when bartenders frequently utilized intense aromatic modifiers to temper heavy fruit components.
Flavour profile
Citrusy, Apple-forward, Tart, Complex
Variations
- Normandy Sidecar — Substitute fresh lemon juice for orange juice and add a sugar rim for a drier, sharper sour profile.
- Apple and Spice — Infuse the Cointreau with cinnamon and star anise to introduce warm baking spice notes suited for autumn menus.
Practise making the Calvados Cocktail in the free Virtual Bar game.