The rum-based El Presidente cocktail is a sleeper hit that joins us all the way from the 1920s. This slow sipper is beautifully sweet with a subtle bitter note, laced with a zappy zing of citrus. Sleek and sophisticated, it makes a great after-work drink, and a captivating signature cocktail for events like weddings and rooftop cocktail dos.
El Presidente Cocktail
PREP TIME 2 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
Add the rum, vermouth, Grand Marnier and grenadine to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until cold
02
Strain into a cocktail glass
03
Squeeze the orange peel over the drink, and run it along the edge of the drink before dropping it into the cocktail
04
Serve and enjoy
El Presidente cocktail history
As its name suggests, the El Presidente rum cocktail was first stirred up in honor of a statesman, likely José Miguel Gómez who was the leader of Cuba between 1909 and 1913. As Cuban cocktails go, it takes the road less traveled, veering from a classically sour profile to the sweet, boozy end of the flavor spectrum, putting a delightful spin on the classic Manhattan template.
How to drink an El Presidente cocktail
If you really want to enjoy the El Presidente rum cocktail in all its glory, there are a few things you can do to set the scene for the drink to steal the show. This includes:
Choosing the right glass
The various types of liquor glasses we know today have been developed over decades, and even centuries, mostly with the aim of enhancing the drinking experience. Different types of cocktail glasses are shaped to enhance the complexities of different layered and blended drinks in terms of color, flavor, temperature, and aroma.
To allow your El Presidente Cocktail to come into its own, we recommend serving it in a coupe glass, which boosts aeration and allows for snappy aroma development.
Pairing it with amazing appetizers
Pairing cocktails with the right appetizers is another way to shine the spotlight on a lovely drink. We recommend a smoked meat platter or flavorful terrine. Creamy goat cheese and a fresh arugula salad with figs also go down a treat.
Read more: Fuel the Fire! How to Pair Cocktails with Spicy Food
Other amazing rum cocktails to try
If the El Presidente cocktail ingredients tick all your must-have boxes, there are a few other cocktails you can try that turn a great rum into the star of the show. Here are a few of our favorites:
Jungle Bird Cocktail
The Jungle Bird cocktail is such a showstopper, it’s no wonder it’s Malaysia’s national drink. While it contains Campari, it differs from the classically bitter cocktails with Campari like the Negroni, as the Jungle Bird cocktail recipe makes a much sweeter sip.
Autumn Spiced Rum Cider Cocktail
Spiced fall rum cocktails are a brilliant choice to help you settle into changing weather when the seasons shift. A warm mug of spiced apple cider spiked with rum brings comfort on a chilly day. Hoorah for our Autumn Spiced Rum Cider cocktail recipe, it’s the easiest one of them all!
Mai Tai Cocktail
Of all the brilliant Tiki drinks out there, the classic Mai Tai cocktail is probably one of the most famous. The traditional Mai Tai recipe uses five ingredients: two types of rum, orange liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup. This rum-based Tiki drink is on the IBA’s official list of cocktails, and for good reason – it’s completely delicious.
Read more: 10 of the Best Tiki Cocktails
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
An El Presidente Cocktail combines 2 oz rum, 2 oz dry vermouth, 1 oz orange liqueur, and one teaspoon grenadine. This is stirred in a mixing glass with ice, strained into a cocktail glass and garnished with an orange twist and cocktail cherry.
To make an El Presidente Margarita, combine 1.25 oz Espolòn tequila, 1.5 oz Grand Marnier, 1.5 oz brandy, 4 oz sweet-and-sour mix, and a splash of fresh lime juice in a shaker with ice, and shake until well combined. Strain into a martini glass rimmed with salt, and serve with a lemon wedge.
