Twentieth Century 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.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/24/21
Twentieth Century Cocktail in a glass

The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

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

The Twentieth Century cocktail is a somewhat forgotten little gem in the list of classic drinks. It's a brilliant cocktail that brings together a few unlikely companions and has come back into fashion as more aficionados get a taste of its elegance.

While you may not think that gin, chocolate, and lemon work well together, this recipe offers a pleasant surprise. The mix of gin and crème de cacao is amazing and, as Gary Regan points out in "Joy of Mixology," the lemon "acts as a foil to the sweet liqueur." Adding the elegance of Lillet Blanc brings it all together to create a timeless sour drink.

The genius behind the Twentieth Century was British bartender C.A. Tuck, according to William J Tarling's 1937 "Cafe Royal Cocktail Book," a compilation of drinks from the bars of London. Though it has British origins, the inspiration for the cocktail is American. The 20th Century was a famous passenger train that ran between New York City and Chicago from 1902 to 1967. Known for its elegant travel accommodations and opulent dining experience, the cocktail is a fitting match for the luxurious rail travel that inspired it.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Twentieth Century Cocktail ingredients in glasses

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, crème de cacao, Lillet Blanc, and lemon juice. Fill with ice.

    gin, crème de cacao, Lillet Blanc, and lemon juice poured into a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  3. Shake well.

    Shake the cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Twentieth Century Cocktail strained into a glass

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Tip

  • You can vary the accent ingredients to suit your taste. Many people enjoy 3/4 ounce of Lillet Blanc and 1/2 ounce of lemon juice. Others up the lemon in the recipe to 3/4 ounce, keeping the other two at 1/2 ounce for a cocktail that's rather tart.

How Strong Is a Twentieth Century Cocktail?

When it comes to the strength, this cocktail is a little lighter than the original gin martini and similar to other drinks of this style. It should shake up to 25 percent ABV (50 proof), which is pretty potent. Enjoy this one slowly and that shouldn't be an issue, though.

Recipe Variation

There is another variation of the Twentieth Century cocktail that has the same flavor profile but makes a few changes to the ingredients. In this recipe, you can use Cocchi Americano rather than Lillet Blanc. The chocolate flavor comes from Amaro Meletti, an herbal digestif that is flavored with anise and saffron and still has a finished flavor reminiscent of chocolate. The chocolate mole bitters accent this aspect quite nicely.

  • To make it, shake 1 1/2 ounces of gin, 3/4 ounce of either Cocchi Americano or Lillet Blanc, 1/2 ounce of Amaro Meletti, and 1/4 ounce of lemon juice with a dash of Bittermen's Xocolatl Mole Bitters and ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
156 Calories
0g Fat
7g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 156
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 2mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 23mg 0%
*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.)