Savor the aroma of dry vermouth, Benedictine, and Absinthe in this delightful Chrysanthemum Cocktail recipe! It's the perfect drink to enjoy on an aperitivo with friends.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
1 minute
Servings:
1
Calories:
216
Ingredients
- 2 oz dry Vermouth
- 1 oz Benedictine
- 3 dashes Absinthe - or sprays if using a spray bottle
- Orange twist - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Cocktail Glass (Martini or Coupe style)
- Measuring Jigger
- Mixing Glass
- Stirrer or Bar Spoon
Instructions
- Fill your cocktail glass with ice to chill it. Set it aside.
- Pour 3 dashes Absinthe into the mixing glass.
- Add 2 oz dry Vermouth.
- Finally, add 1 oz Benedictine to the mix.
- Fill the mixing glass with ice. Using a bar spoon or a long stirrer, stir well (for about 15-20 seconds). Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary.
- Take your cocktail glass and discard the ice. Using the cocktail strainer, strain the mixture into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist. You can either place it on the rim of the glass or directly inside the drink.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Dry Vermouth: You can substitute dry vermouth with white vermouth, which is slightly sweeter. It should make for a really good cocktail too!
- Benedictine: This is a unique herbal liqueur and hard to replace, but in a pinch, you could try using Drambuie, Chartreuse, or Galliano. They all have a complex herbal flavor that can stand in for Benedictine, although you may need to adjust the quantities (especially if using Chartreuse, which is a very strong spirit, both in terms of taste and alcohol content).
- Absinthe: Pernod or any other pastis can be used as a substitute for Absinthe. They both have that strong anise flavor that is key to this cocktail.
Making a Pitcher of Chrysanthemum Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of dry vermouth, 8 oz of Benedictine, and 16 dashes of Absinthe.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the dry vermouth, Benedictine, and Absinthe. Add ice and stir well. Strain to remove the ice, serve immediately into chilled cocktail glasses, and garnish with orange zests. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep them in the fridge as vermouth is prone to oxidation when kept at room temperature.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into chilled cocktail glasses, garnish with an orange twist, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Dry Vermouth Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic vermouth (Martini Floreale for instance). These are usually widely available in liquor stores.
- Benedictine Substitute: Make a simple syrup infused with various herbs and spices. Try combinations like vanilla and clove, or cinnamon and star anise. You can also add a bit of rosemary to your preparation; it will give a touch of freshness and great herbal notes to your syrup. If you choose to use a syrup to make your drink, you may want to use less than 1 oz or your cocktail may get very sweet. Start by using only ½ oz, taste, and adjust from there.
- Absinthe Substitute: You can use culinary star anise essence or flavoring in place of the absinthe. Please note that 2 dashes of absinthe in an otherwise alcohol-free drink won’t raise the overall ABV of the drink. The drink will indeed chemically contain a drop of alcohol, but won’t make you intoxicated at all. Depending on your reason for not drinking alcohol and your degree of tolerance on the topic, this can also be a suitable option.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
Absinthe and vermouth are usually vegan, but Benedictine contains honey. You may want to replace it with another herbal liqueur, but make sure to check the ingredient list as a lot of them use honey as a sweetening agent (that’s also the case for Chartreuse and Drambuie for instance). Depending on where you live, the brands may be different but this kind of liqueur is usually pretty common and relatively easy to find.What is a Chrysanthemum Cocktail?
A Chrysanthemum Cocktail is a vermouth-based drink made of dry vermouth, Benedictine, and Absinthe. This drink is relatively easy to prepare as it only requires three ingredients. However, achieving the perfect balance can be slightly tricky due to the solid herbal notes from both Benedictine and Absinthe – but fear not, we’re here to guide you through.
What is a Chrysanthemum Cocktail made of – The ingredients
Get ready to make your Chrysanthemum Cocktail with these ingredients:
- Dry Vermouth: The cocktail’s base provides a dry, aromatic flavor.
- Benedictine D.O.M.: A herbal liqueur that adds a complex, sweet, and spicy layer to the drink.
- Absinthe: Used sparingly, it gives the cocktail a subtle aniseed kick. It also contributes to the drink’s full-bodied structure.
- Orange Peel: Serves as garnish and adds a citrusy aroma to enhance the overall experience, both in terms of taste, appearance and smell.
