Millionaire recipe
A sophisticated prohibition-era cocktail balancing whiskey, orange liqueur, tart citrus, and anise.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Chilled Coupe ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
- 0.75 oz Grand Marnier
- 0.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.5 oz Grenadine
- 0.25 oz Absinthe
- 0.5 oz Egg White (optional)
How to make a Millionaire
- Add the bourbon, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, grenadine, absinthe, and egg white to a cocktail shaker.
- Dry shake vigorously without ice for ten seconds to emulsify the egg white.
- Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake hard for another twelve seconds until chilled.
- Double strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a brandied cherry resting on the edge or floated on top.
Garnish
Garnish with a brandied cherry on a pick.
Pro tip
Perform a thorough dry shake before adding ice to achieve a silky, stable foam layer on top of the drink without diluting the whiskey profile.
History of the Millionaire
First appearing in Harry McElhone's famous 1927 cocktail collection, this drink gained popularity during the American prohibition era. The recipe combines traditional French liqueur influences with American whiskey traditions in a complex sour format.
Flavour profile
Citrus, Rich, Complex, Aromatic
Variations
- Millionaire No. 1 — Uses Jamaican rum and apricot brandy in place of whiskey and orange liqueur.
- Millionaire Cocktail with Cognac — Substitutes cognac for bourbon to lean closer to a traditional French sidecar profile.
- Smoky Millionaire — Replaces standard bourbon with peated scotch whisky to add a rich campfire aroma.
Practise making the Millionaire in the free Virtual Bar game.