Monkey Gland
A Prohibition-era sour masking absinthe with orange and grenadine.
Base spirit
Gin
Style
Sour
Glassware
Coupe
The Monkey Gland is a historic sour that uses the sweetness of grenadine and orange juice to tame the anise punch of an absinthe rinse. While the name refers to a bizarre 1920s pseudo-scientific longevity treatment, the drink itself is a sophisticated, fruity gin cocktail. It balances the botanical heat of London Dry gin with a soft, confectionary finish. It is a staple of the Harry's New York Bar canon in Paris.
Ingredients
Servings
- • 2 oz gin
- • 1 oz fresh orange juice
- • 0.25 oz grenadine
- • Absinthe for rinse
Did you know?
“Named after Dr. Serge Voronoff's controversial experiment of grafting monkey testicle tissue into humans to achieve longevity—a sensation in 1920s Paris.”
Source:Harry MacElhone, Harry's ABC; PunchDrink
Bartender's Note
Use fresh orange juice and high-quality pomegranate grenadine; artificial syrup makes this drink cloying.
How to make the Monkey Gland
- 1Rinse a chilled coupe with absinthe and discard excess
- 2Add gin, orange juice, and grenadine to a shaker with ice
- 3Shake well
- 4Strain into the prepared glass
- 5Garnish with an orange twist
