Chopin Recipe

Prepare glass

Chill a coupe or martini glass in the freezer for at least 5 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail.

Combine ingredients

In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz vodka, 0.5 oz dry vermouth, 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.25 oz simple syrup. Add 2 dashes of orange bitters.

Add ice and shake

Fill the shaker with ice (about 1 cup). Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 12–18 seconds, until the shaker is very cold and the outside is frosted.

Prepare glass with absinthe

If using an absinthe rinse: discard the ice water from your chilled glass, add 0.25 tsp absinthe into the glass, swirl it to coat the inside, then discard any excess. If you prefer a lighter aroma, place the absinthe in a separate small spoon and flame briefly, then pour into the glass and swirl (optional and advanced).

Strain and garnish

Double-strain the shaken cocktail into the prepared glass using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer to remove small ice shards. Express a lemon twist over the drink by holding the twist skin-side down over the glass and giving it a firm pinch to release oils, then rub the rim with the twist and drop it in as garnish.

Serve immediately while cold. Optionally, present with a small piece of dark chocolate on the side as an homage to the composer’s Polish heritage and to complement the cocktail’s subtle herbal and citrus notes.