El Presidente

The El Presidente is a stirred cocktail — treat it like a Manhattan or Martini. Stir until cold and properly diluted, then strain cleanly into a chilled glass. The grenadine is used in a very small amount — just a teaspoon — to add a faint blush of color and a whisper of pomegranate sweetness. Use real grenadine made from pomegranate juice, not the artificial red syrup.

Use a quality white rum with some character — Plantation 3 Stars or Bacardí Superior work well. The dry vermouth should be fresh; an open bottle of vermouth oxidizes quickly — store it in the fridge and use it within a month. Dolin Dry is the benchmark. The orange curaçao adds sweetness and citrus; Cointreau or Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao are excellent choices.

The El Presidente was created in Havana, Cuba, in the 1910s or 1920s — the exact origin is disputed, but it was named in honor of Cuban president Mario García Menocal. It was one of the most popular cocktails in pre-Prohibition America and a staple of Havana's golden age of cocktail culture. It's a drink that deserves far more attention than it currently receives.

Sweet Vermouth El Presidente

Replace the dry vermouth with sweet vermouth. The result is richer and more complex — closer to a rum Manhattan. Use Carpano Antica Formula and reduce the grenadine to a few drops.

Aged Rum El Presidente

Use aged rum instead of white rum. The oak and vanilla notes add depth and warmth that make this a more serious, contemplative drink. Use Appleton Estate Signature or Mount Gay Eclipse.