Ah the Monkey Gland. The first time I heard the name of this cocktail it gave me a bit of a shudder because let’s face it, the name doesn’t conjure up images of a delicious cocktail but nevertheless, it is indeed a great gin cocktail.
This felt like the right kind of cocktail to present in my treasured vintage pirate coupes. These glasses are some of my favorite in my collection because the art has such a cool vintage feel to it. You can see a similar style from my collection in the photos for my Salty Dog Cocktail.
How to Make a Monkey Gland
The Monkey Gland requires four key ingredients; Gin, Absinthe, Orange Juice and Grenadine. If you aren’t familiar with Absinthe, it’s a cocktail that was famously rumored to cause hallucinations; something that has never been proven true. Absinthe is a green colored spirit that is quite strong and is only suitable when mixed in small quantities in a cocktail.
To make the drink, you combine the ingredients in a Boston Shaker and shake until cold. Then pour into a coupe or similar glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry ( I recommend using Luxardo Maraschino cherries if you are serious about your cocktails. While they are a bit expensive, they are a far better quality than the junk ones found in your average grocery store).
Where did the Monkey Gland get it’s name?
Look, we’re family friendly here and sharing how this cocktail got it’s name just isn’t something I want to blog about BUT should you for some reason feel the desire to know the details (which btw make zero sense as to how it’s relevant to a cocktail) then by all means go read it up on Wikipedia (but don’t say I didn’t warn you!).
Who Created the Monkey Gland?
Perhaps we should be asking Harry MacElhone from Harry’s New York bar in Paris why he chose to name it as he did as he is the original creator of the cocktail which he named back in the 1920’s. You can learn more about the history of cocktails in the book, Field Guide to Cocktails by Quirk Books.
Other Great Cocktails to Try
Here are some other excellent cocktails to try if you need more ideas:
How to Make a Sea Breeze Cocktail
Safe Drinking!
~Mike
The Monkey Gland Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- 1½ ounces fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon grenadine
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup 1:1
- 1 teaspoon absinthe
Instructions
- Shake ingredients with ice in a Boston Shaker and strain into a chilled glass.
Nutrition
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SheilaMay says
Mike, How about a recipe and glass recommendation for a Sazerac? You don’t believe the tales about the Green Fairy? Thanks for the cocktails and sharing pictures of your great glassware!