Leap Year
ClassicHarry Craddock's toast to February 29th — gin, Grand Marnier and sweet vermouth.
Round and orange-kissed. Juniper meets Grand Marnier's cognac-and-orange warmth and sweet vermouth's herbal depth, with a squeeze of lemon keeping the sweetness in check. Elegant, aromatic and just off-dry — a celebratory sipper.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- 0.5 oz Grand Marnier
- 0.5 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 0.25 oz Lemon Juice
- Lemon 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 a lemon peel over the surface and drop it in.
The Story
The Leap Year was created by Harry Craddock at the Savoy Hotel's American Bar for the leap-year celebrations of February 29th, 1928 — a date it has been tied to ever since. Craddock claimed it was "responsible for more proposals than any other cocktail." It is a richer, orange-scented cousin of the Martini: gin lengthened with Grand Marnier and sweet vermouth, brightened by a touch of lemon.
Recipe card
The whole recipe in one shareable image.
