There are countless classic cocktail recipes everybody knows. Just think of the Dry Martini, Negroni, or Old Fashioned. But some of the classics are less popular and unknown to the broad mass. One of them is the Paradise cocktail.
What sounds and looks like an invention from the 70s or 80s is, in fact, a drink that's way older, developed by one of the masters of this craft - Harry Craddock.
Even though the Paradise is not a classic sweet cocktail, it is also not ideal for people preferring classic dry drinks. Instead, it's an excellent fit for all those who like an easy-to-sip, unpretentious cocktail.
Learn more about the Paradise Cocktail and how Snoop Dogg is connected to it.
Ingredients
The recipe for the Paradise Cocktail is among the easiest of Gin cocktails. To make this fruity cocktail, you need only three ingredients: Gin, Apricot Brandy, and orange juice.
Yet, it is a brilliant example of how to balance a drink. The aromatic notes from the botanicals and herbs in the Gin, the sweetness of Apricot Brandy, and the freshness of hand-squeezed orange juice work perfectly together.
- Apricot Brandy: The most intriguing part of this drink is that it seriously highlights the Apricot Brandy. The taste of Gin cocktails often depends on which type of Gin you choose, but here, it is just a way to complement the star of the drink. It's vital to make a Paradise cocktail with quality and not too sweet Apricot Brandy or Apricot Brandy liqueur. I like to use Leroux Apricot-flavored Brandy or the Apricot Brandy liqueur from DeKuyper.
- Gin: Because Brandy is the main act of the drink, you should go with a classic and non-dominant Gin. Most classic dry Gins will do the trick. -Also, entry-level ones like a Bombay Sapphire.
- Orange juice: Via the medium of orange juice, you will bring some freshness to the cocktail. Therefore, you should always use freshly squeezed juice from ripe oranges. There is a massive difference between fresh and bottled juices. So, whenever you can, go with fresh juices for your drinks. Bottled fruit juices usually don't do your drinks justice - especially when it's citrus.
History of the Paradise cocktail
Invented by Harry Craddock, one of the most famous bartenders of his time, the Paradise cocktail truly is a classic. Craddock also published a recipe for this fruity Gin cocktail in his book: The Savoy Cocktail Book (released in 1930). In this recipe, he used Gin, Apricot Brandy, and orange juice in a 2:1:1 ratio.
Today, you can find various recipes with adjusted ratios. Nonetheless, the original one still works perfectly fine. -The only thing I recommend adding to round off the original formula is a dash or two of orange cocktail bitters.
Later, only two years after being published in Craddock's book, the drink played a vital part in the movie "One Way Passage". In the romance, the main characters, Dan Hardesty and Joan Ames have some sort of signature move:
The couple first shares a Paradise cocktail, then would break the bowls of their glasses and leave the stems crossed on the bar counter. -A pretty dramatic way to market a cocktail, I think.
In recent times, the US rapper Snoop Dogg contributed to the history of the cocktail:
On May 27th, 2018, he set a new world record for the largest Gin and juice. He mixed a 500-liter version of a Paradise cocktail consisting of 180 bottles of Gin, 154 bottles of Apricot brandy, and 144 liters of orange juice.
Other cocktails with Apricot Brandy
Two Cocktails featuring Apricot Brandy that I truly appreciate are the Stone Sour and the Angel Face Cocktail.
The Stone Sour is a riff on the classic Whiskey Sour, adding orange juice and apricot liqueur to the mix.
The Angel Face, like the Paradise Cocktail, is based on Gin. It too appeared first in Harry Craddock's Savoy Cocktail Book and mixed Apricot Brandy with Calvados.
Equipment
- 1 Jigger
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Dry Gin
- 0.75 oz Apricot Brandy
- 0.75 oz Freshly squeezed orange juice
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into your cocktail shaker with plenty of ice.1.5 oz Dry Gin, 0.75 oz Apricot Brandy, 0.75 oz Freshly squeezed orange juice
- Shake until the drink is well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled Martini glass.