The Bronx

COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS:
- 45 ml London Dry Gin
- 15 ml Dry Vermouth
- 15 ml Sweet Vermouth
- 30 ml Fresh Orange Juice
- 1 Dash Orange Bitters

GARNISH:
- Orange Twist

INSTRUCTIONS:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
• Add ice and shake until chilled.
• Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Express orange peel oils over the top.
• Garnish with an orange twist.

Cocktail author: this particular version has been created by Frank Caiafa.

The Bronx is surely an interesting and intriguing cocktail. For the most part because it is featuring orange juice, which is not a common cocktail ingredient, especially in the martini style drinks.

This cocktail is basically a martini riff with orange juice. Gin forms the base of the cocktail with its signature dry juniper notes paired with floral tart notes of dry vermouth - a killer combination. Complexity is then further expanded by introducing some rich herbal tones of sweet vermouth and adding a touch of subtle fruity sweetness and bitterness of the orange juice. Final addition of orange bitters helps to let those refreshing citrus notes pop up to the forefront for a fuller better-balanced drink.

The Bronx is a somewhat lighter and subtler riff on the martini. In my mind, it is a good stepping stone if you want to try more booze forward stir down style cocktails, but perhaps are not all the way there. On the other hand, addition of orange juice can sometimes work as just a further dilution, reducing the overall flavour “strength”of the cocktail. That is why, I decided to add my own little spin on The Bronx, but that is a story for next week, so keep an eye on the next week posts.

Source material:
https://vinepair.com/cocktail-college/the-bronx/