Gin, stirred
Fitchett
Barline 1h,Q,q,1,cc
The code is the shorthand off my printed menu; the Key tab decodes every letter.
- 1 1/2 oz Gin
- 3/4 oz Sweet vermouth
- 1/4 oz Bénédictine
- 1 dash Orange bitters
Stir with ice until cold, then strain.
Coupe, cherry.
Taste
An ounce and a half of gin against three-quarters of sweet vermouth, then a quarter ounce of Bénédictine for honey and herbs. One dash of orange bitters. Stirred, coupe, cherry. Gin first, grape, then a thin herbal coat. Wetter and less herbal than the Vancouver on this menu.
History
The Fitchett prints in the same About Town Cocktail Book as the Vancouver, around 1925. The unnamed writer credits Joseph A. Fitchett, head bar steward of the Vancouver Club: of the thousand and one drinks he can mix, it is the best. The formula is fifty percent gin, thirty percent Italian vermouth, twenty percent Bénédictine, a dash of orange bitters, olive or cherry. It is the sweet-vermouth sibling of the Vancouver in that book. The gin and sweet vermouth follow the book; the Bénédictine is cut to a quarter ounce, coupe, cherry.
Same shape, other bottles
The Martini family, with the bottle that changed.
- Automobilewith scotch
- Vancouverdry vermouth for sweet vermouth
- Ford Cocktaildry vermouth for sweet vermouth
- BijouChartreuse for Bénédictine
- Vieux Carrérye and cognac for gin
- 1910mezcal, cognac, and maraschino liqueur for gin and Bénédictine
This is one drink on my home bar's menu. Tick the bottles you own and the menu lists which of all 185 drinks they pour.