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The Japanese Cocktail

Classic | Cocktail | by Jerry Thomas | from Anders Erickso n

Adapted from a recipe first published in Jerry “The Professor” Thomas’ 1862 Bartender’s Guide. This is one of the few cocktails in the book which is believed to be his own creation.

Japanese Cocktail.
(Use small bar glass.)
1 table-spoon of orgeat syrup.
½ teaspoonful of Bogart's bitters.
1 wine-glass of brandy.
1 or 2 pieces of lemon peel.
Fill the tumbler one-third with ice, and stir well with a spoon.</blockquote> It is thought that he created and named the drink in 1860 to commemorate the first Japanese mission to the USA. While in New York, the delegates stayed at the Metropolitan Hotel, just a block away from Jerry Thomas' bar at 622 Broadway. And as David Wondrich writes in his 2015 Updated and Revised Imbibe!, "I can't imagine that in their strolls around the neighbourhood, they wouldn't have stopped in to see the Professor for a quick one. And if you were Jerry Thomas, wouldn't you come up with something special to mark the occasion?"

The Original (Jerry Thomas)

Ingredients

Amount Ingredient Brand
2 oz / 50 ml 3 oz / 75 ml 4 oz / 100 ml 6 oz / 150 ml Cognac Pierre Ferrand 1840
12 oz / 13 ml 34 oz / 19 ml 1 oz / 25 ml 1 12 oz / 38 ml Orgeat Syrup  
2 dashes 3 dashes 4 dashes 6 dashes Boker’s Style (Cardamom) Bitters  

Notes

  • Method: Stirred
  • Pour: Julep Strain
  • Glassware: Nick & Nora
  • Garnish: Expressed lemon oil
  • Special Prep: None

The Improved Japanese Cocktail (Toby Cecchini)

Ingredients

Amount Ingredient Brand
1 12 oz / 38 ml 2 14 oz / 56 ml 3 oz / 75 ml 4 12 oz / 113 ml Cognac Pierre Ferrand 1840
34 oz / 19 ml 1 18 oz / 28 ml 1 12 oz / 38 ml 2 14 oz / 56 ml Orgeat Syrup  
34 oz / 19 ml 1 18 oz / 28 ml 1 12 oz / 38 ml 2 14 oz / 56 ml Fresh Lemon Juice  
2 dashes 3 dashes 4 dashes 6 dashes Peychaud’s bitters Peychaud’s bitters

Notes

  • Method: Shaken
  • Pour: Double Strain
  • Glassware: Nick & Nora
  • Garnish: None
  • Special Prep:

Cognac

Double strained

Stirred

Nick and nora

Lemon twist

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