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Churchill Cocktail Drink

Churchill Cocktail Recipe

Gavin Wrigley Written by Gavin Wrigley
Make the Churchill Cocktail this winter! Follow this recipe to blend Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, Cointreau, and fresh lemon juice into a perfect cozy cocktail.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 177

Ingredients
 

  • 1½ oz Blended Scotch Whisky
  • ½ oz Sweet Vermouth
  • ½ oz Cointreau or Triple Sec liqueur
  • ½ oz fresh lemon juice
  • Ice cubes
  • Orange zest twist - for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • Coupe or Martini Glass
  • Measuring Jigger
  • Shaker
  • Cocktail Strainer
  • Fine strainer

Instructions

  • Prep Glass: Fill a Martini or Coupe glass with ice. Give it a quick stir and set it aside.
  • Add Lemon Juice: Pour ½ oz fresh lemon juice into the shaker.
  • Add Sweet Vermouth: Add ½ oz Sweet Vermouth.
  • Add Cointreau: Measure and pour ½ oz Cointreau or Triple Sec liqueur into the shaker as well.
  • Add Scotch Whisky: Finally, add 1½ oz Blended Scotch Whisky to the mix.
  • Shake Well: Fill the shaker with ice, close it and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
  • Strain: Take the Coupe or Martini glass and discard the ice inside. Then, using both the cocktail strainer and the fine strainer, strain the shaken drink into the chilled glass.
  • Garnish: Garnish with an orange zest twist: to do so, express the orange zest on top of the drink and place it on the rim of the glass. Serve immediately.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Scotch: If you don't have Scotch, use bourbon for a sweeter profile. I've also used rye whiskey for a spicier kick.
  • Sweet Vermouth: In a pinch, I've used dry vermouth and added a small splash of simple syrup to balance the flavors.
  • Cointreau: Triple sec works well as an alternative if you still need to get Cointreau on hand. Grand Marnier can also add a richer flavor.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice can work, but I prefer fresh for its vibrant taste.

Making a Pitcher of Churchill Cocktail:

  • Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 12 oz of Scotch, 4 oz of sweet vermouth, 4 oz of Cointreau, and 4 oz of fresh lemon juice.
  • Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Scotch, sweet vermouth, Cointreau, and fresh lemon juice with ice. Stir well.
  • Serve: Strain the mixture into chilled coupe glasses, garnish with an orange twist, and serve immediately.

Making it Non-Alcoholic:

  • Scotch Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic whiskey substitute; these are available and do a reasonable job mimicking whiskey's depth.
  • Sweet Vermouth Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic vermouth or use grape juice with a touch of balsamic vinegar for complexity.
  • Cointreau Substitute: Make an orange syrup by boiling orange zest with sugar and water until it thickens slightly.
  • Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.