Monkey Gland
A Prohibition-era sour masking absinthe with orange and grenadine.
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.
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.”
Bartender's Note
Use fresh orange juice and high-quality pomegranate grenadine; artificial syrup makes this drink cloying.
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How to make the Monkey Gland
- 1 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
