Japanese Cocktail
A historic pre-Prohibition sipper featuring cognac enhanced with orgeat's almond richness and aromatic bitters, creating an elegant, subtly sweet cocktail with Middle Eastern undertones.
- 2 ozcognac
- ½ ozorgeat
- 2 dashesangostura bitters
- Lemon twistgarnish
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Despite its name, this cocktail contains no Japanese ingredients. Legendary bartender Jerry Thomas created it in 1860 to honor the first Japanese diplomatic delegation visiting the United States. He debuted the drink at New York's Metropolitan Hotel during a reception for the ambassadors. The recipe appeared in Thomas's 1862 "Bar-Tender's Guide," the first American cocktail book, making this one of the oldest documented cocktail recipes still enjoyed today.
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