El Presidente Cocktail No. 2

Pro tips

• Chill your glassware before serving to maintain temperature—vermouth and light rum dilute quickly.
• Use fresh, quality dry vermouth; oxidized vermouth will taste flat and musty.
• Stir with cracked or large ice cubes rather than small cubes to minimize dilution.
• Add bitters last, after pouring rum and vermouth, to distribute evenly and avoid clumping.

Substitutions

• Light Rum → rhum agricole (adds grassy, vegetal notes; use same measure)
• Dry Vermouth → fino sherry (drier, more saline; watch for slight astringency)
• Angostura Bitters → Peychaud's bitters (lighter color, spicier profile; use same measure)

Equipment

mixing glass · bar spoon · jigger · strainer · coupe or cocktail glass

What's the difference between El Presidente No. 1 and No. 2?

No. 2 uses dry vermouth and Angostura bitters for a crisp, aromatic profile, while No. 1 typically includes curaçao and maraschino for sweeter notes.

Can I use dark rum instead of light rum?

Not recommended—dark rum will overpower the dry vermouth. Light rum's neutral character is essential to the original balance.

Should this be shaken or stirred?

Stir with ice for 20–30 seconds. As a spirit-forward cocktail, stirring preserves clarity and prevents over-dilution.

What glassware is best?

Serve in a coupe glass or cocktail glass, chilled. Strain over fresh ice if preferred, or up (no ice).

How do I measure the bitters accurately?

Use a dash bottle or Angostura-style bottle cap; one dash = approximately 1/8 tsp or 2–3 drops.