The American Beauty is a classic brandy cocktail with dry vermouth, orange juice, grenadine and crème de menthe, finished with port. It is fruity, slightly herbal and rather gorgeous to look at, but its history is more complicated than many modern accounts suggest.
A Little History of the American Beauty Cocktail
The earliest American Beauty Cocktail I can document appears in Beverages de Luxe, published in Louisville in 1911 by George R. Washburne and Stanley Bronner. Interestingly, that drink was completely different from the one we know today, combining French vermouth, Old Tom gin and lime juice.
By 1913, Jacques Straub’s Manual of Mixed Drinks included an American Beauty Punch, bringing the drink much closer to its modern form. Then, in Harry MacElhone’s 1927 Barflies and Cocktails, the American Beauty appears as a long drink made with crème de menthe, orange juice, grenadine, French vermouth and Cognac, topped with port and garnished with fruit and fresh mint.
Harry Craddock included a shorter cocktail version in The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930, using crème de menthe, orange juice, grenadine, dry vermouth and brandy, with a little port on top. That combination became the basis for the American Beauty we recognize today.
What Is in an American Beauty Cocktail?
You’ll need the following ingredients:
- brandy
- dry vermouth
- fresh orange juice
- grenadine
- white crème de menthe
- ruby port
Brandy forms the backbone of the drink, while dry vermouth prevents the fruitier ingredients from making it overly sweet. Fresh orange juice brings acidity and citrus flavor, grenadine adds sweetness and color, and that small dash of crème de menthe gives it its distinctive character. Ruby port is floated over the finished cocktail rather than shaken with the other ingredients.
What Tools You’ll Need
You don’t need much to make an American Beauty: a cocktail shaker, jigger and strainer will do the job. A bar spoon is also useful for gently floating the port over the top before serving.
FAQs
What does an American Beauty cocktail taste like?
It is fruity and slightly sweet, with brandy at its heart and fresh orange, grenadine and vermouth adding complexity. The crème de menthe should be subtle, while the port adds a richer finish.
What kind of port should I use?
Ruby port is the best choice for an American Beauty. Its ripe fruit flavors work beautifully with the brandy and grenadine, while its deep red color adds to the cocktail’s distinctive appearance.
Can I make an American Beauty without crème de menthe?
You can, but it won’t have quite the same character. Only a small amount is used, so the cocktail shouldn’t taste strongly of mint. It simply adds a fresh herbal note that makes the American Beauty a little different from other brandy cocktails.
Tips for Making the Best American Beauty
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice rather than bottled juice. There isn’t much of it in the recipe, so its flavor matters.
- Go gently with the crème de menthe as well. A dash really does mean a dash here. Add too much and you’ll lose the delicate balance between the brandy, vermouth and fruit.
- Finally, don’t skip the port. It isn’t simply decorative. Its dark fruit and richness are an important part of what makes the American Beauty taste like the American Beauty.
Why Lush Life Loves It
The American Beauty is exactly the kind of forgotten classic I love rediscovering. The unexpected touch of crème de menthe and that final float of port make it unlike almost anything else in the cocktail canon.
Here Is the Recipe
If you’re looking for another classic to shake up next, head over to my cocktail recipes for plenty more drinks to try.
American Beauty
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ounce brandy
- 1 ounce dry vermouth
- ¼ ounce fresh orange juice
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- 1 dash white crème de menthe
- ½ ounce ruby port
Instructions
- Add brandy, orange juice, vermouth, grenadine, and crème de menthe to a shaker.
- Fill shaker with cubed ice.
- Shake for 10-20 seconds.
- Using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer, strain into a Nick & Nora glass.
- Using a bar spoon, carefully float red wine on top.
- Garnish with rose petals.