The Millionaire Cocktail is a celebration of flavors and textures, offering a drinking balanced experience. Each ingredient contributes to the cocktail’s complexity, from the rich foundation of bourbon to the aromatic lift of absinthe and the smoothness of the egg white foam.
Whether you’re a seasoned cocktail aficionado or a newcomer to the world of sophisticated drinks, the Millionaire Cocktail is sure to impress with its depth of flavor and elegant presentation.
As you savor this luxurious beverage, take a moment to appreciate history that make classic cocktail recipes like the Millionaire an enduring part of cocktail culture.
Millionaire Cocktail Ingredients:
- Bourbon (2 ounces / 60 ml): The base spirit, bourbon, lends a warm, rich foundation with its characteristic notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel. The choice of bourbon can significantly influence the cocktail’s overall profile.
- Grand Marnier (3/4 ounce / 22.5 ml): This orange-flavored liqueur adds a refined sweetness and complexity, blending beautifully with the bourbon and enhancing the cocktail’s citrus notes.
- Absinthe or Pastis (1/4 ounce / 7.5 ml): A small amount of absinthe or pastis introduces an intriguing layer of herbal and anise flavors, contributing to the drink’s unique character.
- Grenadine (1/2 ounce / 15 ml): Adds color and a touch of sweetness, balancing the cocktail’s stronger and more bitter components.
- Egg White (1/2 ounce / 15 ml): The egg white is crucial for creating a silky texture and a foamy top, which adds a visual and tactile appeal to the drink. (How to separate egg whites).
- Lemon Juice (1/2 ounce / 15 ml, freshly squeezed): Fresh lemon juice cuts through the sweetness with its brightness and acidity, bringing balance to the cocktail.
- Garnish: Nutmeg, freshly grated: A sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg on top adds a fragrant finishing touch that complements the drink’s rich flavors.
Millionaire Cocktail Recipe:
- Combine Ingredients for Dry Shake: Start by adding the bourbon, Grand Marnier, absinthe or pastis, grenadine, egg white, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker. Initially, do not add ice. This first step, known as a dry shake, is essential for emulsifying the egg white, ensuring a smooth and frothy texture.
- Dry Shake Vigorously: Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds. The vigorous shaking without ice allows the egg white to aerate and froth up, which is key to achieving the cocktail’s signature creamy texture.
- Add Ice and Shake Again: After the dry shake, fill the shaker with ice and seal it once more. Shake the mixture vigorously again until well-chilled. This second shake with ice cools the drink and adds a slight dilution, which is necessary for the perfect balance.
- Double-Strain into Glass: Using a fine mesh strainer, double-strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass. The double-straining process ensures a smooth texture by removing any ice shards or residual egg white clumps.
- Garnish with Nutmeg: Complete the cocktail by grating fresh nutmeg over the top. The nutmeg not only adds a beautiful aromatic quality but also enhances the drink’s flavor profile with its warm, spicy notes.
The Millionaire Cocktail:
The Millionaire cocktail belongs to the traditional sour category, characterized by a harmonious blend of sweetness and acidity, typically from citrus fruits like lemon or lime. Believed to have originated during the Prohibition era, the name “Millionaire” has been associated with various cocktail recipes over the decades.
These recipes can generally be categorized into two main types: Millionaire No. 1, featuring Jamaican rum, sloe gin, and apricot brandy, and Millionaire No. 2, a bourbon-based sour that is discussed here.
This version of the Millionaire combines bourbon with Grand Marnier (a luxurious French orange liqueur made from cognac), lemon juice, grenadine, absinthe, and egg white. For optimal taste, it’s recommended to use freshly squeezed lemon juice and homemade grenadine.
Making Your Own Grenadine
Maing your own grenadine might sound daunting but is quite manageable with ingredients like fresh pomegranates or pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses, sugar, and orange flower water. Once you’ve experienced the depth of flavor from homemade grenadine, the commercial versions simply won’t compare.
In instances where absinthe isn’t available, pastis serves as a suitable substitute. Pastis, known for its distinct licorice flavor, is derived from star anise, whereas absinthe is made using wormwood and green anise. The inclusion of egg white in the cocktail contributes a smooth, silky texture that elevates the drink, aligning perfectly with its opulent theme.
While the Millionaire is a standout cocktail in its own right, it has also inspired creative variations. One such example is the Billionaire cocktail from the New York bar Employees Only, which forgoes the egg white and orange liqueur in favor of absinthe bitters, taking the concept of luxurious drinks to even greater heights.
Check out some other absinthe cocktail recipes.
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