Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide

A namesake of the famous hotel in Louisville, KY, this cocktail is loaded with bitters, so decrease the amount if you wish.

Makes 32 servings

Makes 8 servings

Background information on the Moneypenny cocktail is even more elusive than background information on Miss Moneypenny herself. It's creation remains an enigma. Miss Moneypenny, a 007 character, is the secretary of M, the head of MI6 throughout much of the James Bond saga. She shares a very flirtatious relationship with Mr. Bond, but she never pursues him as she is too much of a lady. This is a tart cocktail, to say the least. The combination of grapefruit and lemon yields a rather acidic mixture, while gin and Lillet Blanc add drier floral notes. The raw sugar rim pulls everything together and saves the day. To put it into Bond terms, this cocktail is “shocking—positively shocking.”

Many cocktails (one might say the majority) have a fruity or sweet/sour element. Yet the beloved Bloody Mary is a fine example of a savory cocktail, zinged with Worcestershire, hot red pepper sauce, and often horseradish.