Chrysanthemum
ClassicA low-proof aperitif of vermouth, Bénédictine, and absinthe.
Aromatic and gently sweet, with crisp dry vermouth carrying Bénédictine's honeyed, herbal warmth. Absinthe adds a cooling anise lift, and the orange peel brightens the whole — delicate, layered, and low in proof.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Dry Vermouth
- 0.75 oz Bénédictine
- 3 dashes Absinthe
- Orange peel · optional garnish
Method
- 1
Add every ingredient to a mixing glass with ice.
- 2
Stir until well chilled.
- 3
Strain into a chilled coupe.
- 4
Express an orange peel over the surface and drop it in.
The Story
The Chrysanthemum appears in Hugo Ensslin's 1916 "Recipes for Mixed Drinks," one of the earliest and most influential American cocktail books. Built on dry vermouth rather than a spirit, it is a wine-forward aperitif from an era when low-proof drinking was fashionable. Its blend of Bénédictine's honeyed herbs and absinthe's anise makes it far more complex than its short ingredient list suggests.
Recipe card
The whole recipe in one shareable image.
