Park Avenue Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 12/19/22
Park Avenue Cocktail

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The Park Avenue cocktail puts a pineapple spin on the gin martini. It's a classic recipe which, according to Ted Haigh's book "Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails," dates to around the 1940s.

This drink pairs gin and sweet vermouth with pineapple juice, then adds a little curaçao for a citrus kiss. It's an excellent drink to shake up a martini routine and is especially nice on hot summer days or as a refreshing aperitif. Also, if you don't particularly care for the dryness of the classic martini but are looking for something very similar, it's an excellent choice.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin

  • 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth

  • 2 teaspoons orange curaçao liqueur

  • 3/4 ounce pineapple juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, vermouth, orange curaçao, and pineapple juice. Fill with ice.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Dry gin is often poured for the Park Avenue, just make sure it's top-shelf and worthy of a martini. You can also try it with other styles of gin, including an old-school version like Old Tom or a modern take such as Hendrick's.
  • To make this drink with fresh pineapple instead of juice, place about 3/4 cup of pineapple chunks in the shaker. Muddle the fruit really well to release as much juice as possible. Then add the other ingredients and ice, shake, and strain.
  • The choice of orange curaçao is important even though it's a very short pour. Premium options like Gabriel Boudier and Senior Curaçao are excellent choices, though some people enjoy Grand Marnier instead.
  • Make sure your sweet vermouth is fresh. Once open, the fortified wine's shelf life is just three months, after which it will go stale. When in doubt, pick up a new bottle.

Recipe Variations

  • The ingredients in this recipe can be adjusted to suit your taste. One common recipe, for instance, includes up to 1 ounce of pineapple juice with 1/2 ounce each of the curaçao and vermouth.
  • Another pours equal amounts of the three accent ingredients, cutting them back to as little as 1/3 ounce.
  • Some recipes also skip the curaçao completely.
  • At least one semi-classic variation on the Park Avenue is a perfect martini with a little pineapple juice. To make it, shake 1 1/2 ounces of gin with 1/4 ounce each of sweet and dry vermouths and pineapple juice.

How Strong Is a Park Avenue Cocktail?

The Park Avenue cocktail falls in line with the rest of the martini family in that it's not a light drink. It will vary depending on what you pour and how much of each ingredient, though its alcohol content should always be around 22 percent ABV (44 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
205 Calories
0g Fat
8g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 205
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 10mg 51%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 52mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)