Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Shot(s) Gin
- 1/4 Shot(s) Orange Liqueur
- 1/4 Shot(s) Bitters
- 3/4 Shot(s) Lemon Juice
- Cracked Ice
Instructions
Stir Ingredients:
- In a mixing glass filled with cracked ice, combine 1 1/2 shots of gin, 1/4 shot of orange liqueur, 1/4 shot of bitters, and 3/4 shot of lemon juice.
Stir Well:
- Stir the mixture until well chilled.
Strain and Serve:
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
Serve:
- Serve immediately and enjoy the bold, citrusy flavors of your Jasmine cocktail.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The Jasmine cocktail is a relatively modern creation, with its exact origins often attributed to Paul Harrington from the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 2000s. It quickly gained traction in the burgeoning craft cocktail scene for its unique balance and approachable complexity. While not an ancient classic, it has earned its place on contemporary cocktail lists.
This drink sits comfortably in the gin sour family, drawing parallels to a White Lady or a traditional Gin Sour itself. What sets the Jasmine apart is the addition of orange liqueur and a significant amount of aromatic bitters, which lend it a deeper, more complex profile than a simple sour. It avoids the egg white often found in sours, offering a cleaner texture.
You’d typically order a Jasmine at a serious cocktail bar or a high-end restaurant with a well-trained bar staff. It’s a drink you make when you want to impress someone with your home bar skills, or when you are tired of the usual suspects and want something with a bit more bite and refinement. It’s not a dive bar special.
What it tastes like
The first sip of a Jasmine delivers a bright, assertive punch of lemon and gin botanicals, quickly followed by the mellow sweetness and citrus notes of orange liqueur. The finish is where the bitters shine, providing a dry, slightly spicy, and pleasantly bitter aftertaste that balances the initial tartness. It’s a journey from bright to bitter, without ever being cloying.
Assuming a shot is 1 ounce, with 1.5 ounces of gin and a quarter ounce each of orange liqueur and bitters, this cocktail clocks in around 29.5 percent ABV. That makes it significantly stronger than your average beer, which typically hovers around 5 percent. Compared to many standard cocktails, which are often 20-25 percent ABV, the Jasmine holds its own as a robust drink. Treat it with respect.
The technique
Building a Jasmine is straightforward. Combine your gin, orange liqueur, bitters, and fresh lemon juice in a mixing glass filled with cracked ice. Give it a good, hard stir until the glass is frosty cold to the touch. This ensures proper dilution and chilling. Then, strain the perfectly chilled liquid into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. No shaking needed here.
The most critical technique for this drink is the stirring. You need to stir long enough to achieve optimal dilution and a truly cold temperature. Rushing this step results in a ‘hot’ drink that tastes boozy and unbalanced, or one that’s under-diluted and harsh. Stir until the outside of your mixing glass is noticeably frosted, about 20-30 seconds, to get it right.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Gin
- Use
- London Dry Gin is the standard here. Think Beefeater, Tanqueray, or Plymouth. Their juniper-forward, crisp profile is essential.
- Skip
- Avoid heavily botanical or overly floral gins that might clash with the orange and lemon. Steer clear of cheap ‘bathtub’ gins, they will ruin the drink.
- Why
- Gin is the backbone; its botanicals provide the aromatic complexity that defines the drink’s character.
Orange Liqueur
- Use
- A quality triple sec or curaçao like Cointreau or Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao. These offer a clean, balanced orange sweetness.
- Skip
- Supermarket brand orange liqueurs that taste like artificial candy. Definitely avoid Blue Curaçao unless you’re specifically going for a different color and flavor profile.
- Why
- It provides essential sweetness and a layer of orange citrus that smooths out the gin and lemon, adding depth.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Grapefruit Jasmine
- A Tart Twist
- Swap the lemon juice for fresh grapefruit juice. This creates a slightly more bitter and intensely aromatic version of the drink, leaning into the pink grapefruit notes.
Spiced Jasmine
- Aromatic Depth
- Add a dash of a complementary bitter, such as cardamom bitters or orange bitters, in addition to the aromatic bitters. This can introduce a subtle layer of spice or further enhance the citrus.
Gin Basil Jasmine
- Herbal Undertones
- Muddle a few fresh basil leaves in the mixing glass before adding other ingredients. The herbal notes of basil pair surprisingly well with gin and citrus, adding a fresh dimension.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Vodka can work in a pinch for a neutral spirit base, but you’ll lose the distinctive botanical character that makes the Jasmine unique. It will be a much flatter drink.
A small amount of simple syrup (1/4 oz) with a twist of orange peel muddled in can approximate the sweetness and orange essence, though it won’t have the same depth.
The drink will be noticeably flatter and sweeter without the balancing bitterness. It will taste more like a standard gin sour with an orange twist, losing its signature edge.
A small coupe glass, a chilled rocks glass without ice, or even a small wine glass will serve the purpose for presentation, just ensure it’s well chilled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Jasmine?
A Jasmine cocktail contains gin, orange liqueur, aromatic bitters, and fresh lemon juice. These are stirred together and served in a chilled cocktail glass.
Is the Jasmine a strong drink?
Yes, the Jasmine is a relatively strong cocktail, typically around 29.5 percent alcohol by volume. It’s a spirit-forward drink, so sip it accordingly.
What kind of gin should I use?
A classic London Dry Gin is recommended for a Jasmine. Its juniper-forward profile provides the essential botanical backbone for the drink.
Why is it called Jasmine?
The exact origin of the name ‘Jasmine’ is not definitively known, but it’s widely speculated to be named for the color of the drink, which can resemble the pale yellow of jasmine flowers.
Is it sweet or tart?
The Jasmine is primarily tart and citrusy from the lemon, balanced by the sweetness of the orange liqueur and a dry, bitter finish from the bitters. It’s not a sweet drink.
Can I make a batch of Jasmine cocktails?
Yes, you can pre-mix the gin, orange liqueur, and lemon juice ahead of time and store it chilled. Add the bitters and stir with ice just before serving to maintain freshness.
What’s the best way to chill a cocktail glass?
The best way to chill a cocktail glass is to place it in the freezer for at least 15 minutes, or fill it with ice and a splash of water while you prepare the drink, then discard before straining.
What kind of bitters are used?
While the recipe simply states ‘bitters,’ aromatic bitters like Angostura are the standard choice for a Jasmine. They provide a complex, spicy, and bitter counterpoint to the citrus and gin.
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