The Military & Navy is a mid-century cocktail comprised of gin, freshly squeezed lemon juice, orgeat and bitters. The intense and fragrant drink is basically a Gin Bitter variation that swaps out easy syrup for orgeat, a fancy, nut-based syrup typically utilized in tropical drinks. 

Some historians tie the drink’s origins, based mostly on title alone, to the Military and Navy Membership, a non-public, members-only membership in Washington, D.C., supposedly the identical place the Daiquiri had its U.S. debut in 1909. The membership, nonetheless in operation, continues to serve the signature cocktail however has little details about the historical past of its creation. 

One of many first recognized references to the Military & Navy cocktail was within the 1937 version of the Café Royal Cocktail E-book, however didn’t embrace a recipe. In David A. Embury’s 1948 version of The High-quality Artwork of Mixing Drinks, the recipe is included with a be aware from the writer in regards to the drink’s specs, initially written as one half lemon juice, one half orgeat, two components gin.

Within the e book, Embury writes, “I’ve given the unique recipe which, to my thoughts, is horrible. If made to my 1:2:8 method, it’s merely the Gin Bitter with orgeat used instead of sugar syrup.” 

For sure, Embury’s variation would yield a really dry, spirit-forward drink.

Why the Military & Navy works

The traditional Gin Bitter, typically made within the conventional 2:1:1 bitter ratio with an possibility so as to add egg white for froth and texture, is brilliant, balanced, and botanical. The Military & Navy hews near the traditional’s ingredient make-up and construction. The notable differentiator is the candy, creamy nut syrup, orgeat. 

An important ingredient in tropical classics such because the Mai Tai and Scorpion, orgeat lends the mandatory sweetness {that a} easy syrup would possibly, however with added viscosity, complexity, and marzipan-like qualities.

The recipe featured right here pulls again on the sweetness, calling for barely much less orgeat than the unique. The total ounce of contemporary lemon juice retains the sweetness in examine and makes for a correct bitter.