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Rose

A French aperitif cocktail of gin, cherry brandy, and dry vermouth.

Base spirit
Gin
Style
Spirit-forward
Glassware
Coupe
Technique
Stir

The Rose is a pale French aperitif built on gin with kirsch or cherry brandy and dry vermouth, often with a touch of syrup or currant. It is delicate, floral-fruity, and stirred. The drink fills a classic gap between a Martini and a fruit-forward aperitif.

Rose cocktail in a coupe, pale pink, cherry garnish.

Ingredients

Servings
  • • 2 oz gin
  • • 1 oz dry vermouth
  • • 0.5 oz kirsch or cherry brandy
  • • 1 dash raspberry syrup optional

Did you know?

“The Rose appears in early-20th-century French cocktail books as a Parisian aperitif, distinct from the wine-based Kir.”

Source:Early French cocktail manuals

Bartender's Note

Recipes vary; keep cherry brandy light so the drink stays aperitif-dry rather than dessert-sweet.

Missing a bottle? See smart swaps in Learn.

How to make the Rose

  1. 1Stir all ingredients with ice
  2. 2Strain into a chilled coupe
  3. 3Garnish with a cherry

Drinks similar to Rose

Martini

Martini

A dry, spirit-forward mix of gin and dry vermouth stirred cold and served with olive or lemon twist.

Martinez

Martinez

A lush gin–vermouth ancestor of the Martini with cherry and spice depth.

Vesper Cocchi Americano

Vesper Cocchi Americano

A bitter, Kina-style Vesper built with Cocchi Americano instead of Lillet Blanc.