The mix of flavors in the satan's whiskers is really quite pleasant. However, it is pretty potent and taller than most "up" drinks (grab those oversized cocktail glasses) and that may be where it got its ominous name. It is a great drink and a fun spin on the perfect martini that would be especially fitting for Halloween, though it's a nice choice for an innocent dinner party, too.
This recipe is nothing new and it's been dated to the 1930s, most famously published in Harry Craddock's "Savoy Cocktail Book." With a drink this old, you can expect that it has been remade a few times, and it's definitely worth exploring some of the variations. The changes may be subtle, but you might just find your ideal mix by playing around with the ingredients.
Ingredients
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1 ounce gin
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1 ounce dry vermouth
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1 ounce sweet vermouth
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1/2 ounce brandy-base orange liqueur
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1 ounce orange juice
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2 dashes orange bitters
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, dry and sweet vermouth, orange liqueur and juice, and bitters. Fill with ice.
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Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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Serve and enjoy.
Tips
- Most often, you'll find bartenders pouring a London dry gin in this cocktail. Feel free to use any style of gin as most will work very well and the array of flavors available is fun to explore.
- Be sure your vermouth is fresh because the fortified wine doesn't have the long shelf life of distilled spirits. If it's been longer than three months since you opened a bottle and it has not been in the refrigerator, you'll want to replenish your supply.
- With high-end ingredients, it's best to use fresh-squeezed orange juice. The average orange yields 2 to 3 ounces, so you'll have more than enough for a few drinks from a single piece of fruit.
Recipe Variations
- A common variation on this recipe is to pour 1 ounce of gin, then just 1/2 ounce each of all the other ingredients.
- Grand Marnier is the brandy-based orange liqueur of choice for this recipe. If you were to replace it with orange liqueur like curaçao, the drink would then be called a "curled satan's whiskers." It's a small technicality, and the two liqueurs will produce slightly different tastes. The Grand Marnier version is sometimes called a "straight satan's whiskers."
- In the curled version, some people add as many as six dashes of orange bitters. One dash is also common in the straight drink.
How Strong Is a Satan's Whiskers Cocktail?
This cocktail is actually one of the more mild variations on the gin martini, and you can thank the orange juice for that. On average, it should shake up to around 18 percent ABV (36 proof). Keep in mind that it's almost twice the volume of similar drinks, so don't assume you won't get a little tipsy after a couple of rounds.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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217 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
14g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 1 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 217 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 6mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 14g | 5% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
Total Sugars 9g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 16mg | 78% |
Calcium 8mg | 1% |
Iron 0mg | 1% |
Potassium 117mg | 2% |
*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. |