El Presidente recipe
A polished Cuban rum cocktail where dry vermouth, curaçao, and grenadine turn white rum into silk.
Method: Stir ·
Glass: Nick & Nora glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Martini Family
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz White Rum
- 3/4 oz Dry Vermouth
- 1/4 oz Orange Curaçao
- 1 tsp Grenadine (preferably real pomegranate grenadine)
How to make a El Presidente
- Chill a Nick & Nora glass.
- Add rum, dry vermouth, curaçao, and grenadine to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir until very cold.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Express an orange twist over the drink.
Garnish
Orange twist.
Pro tip
A teaspoon of real grenadine is enough. Store-bought red syrup will overwhelm the delicate rum-and-vermouth balance.
History of the El Presidente
El Presidente became fashionable in Havana during the 1910s and 1920s, when Cuba's hotel bars were a meeting point for American travelers, rum producers, and European aperitif culture.
Flavour profile
Citrus, Dry, Pomegranate, Light
Variations
- Aged El Presidente — Use lightly aged rum for a fuller, oakier drink.
- Presidente Royale — Top with a splash of dry sparkling wine.
- Pink Presidente — Use blanc vermouth and a little extra real grenadine.
Practise making the El Presidente in the free Virtual Bar game.