The Royal Smile Cocktail is a vintage gin-and-applejack sour brightened by fresh lemon juice and touched with grenadine for subtle sweetness and color. A balanced aperitif with old-school appeal.
Recipe Source
Visit Mr. Boston DrinksFrom Mr. Boston Drinks · by Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide
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Stir well with cracked ice and strain into 3 oz.
cocktail glass.
cocktail shaker · jigger · hawthorne strainer · coupe or cocktail glass
Applejack is an apple brandy with a spicy, fruity character. Substitutes: calvados (French apple brandy, more refined) or bourbon (warmer, less fruity).
Shake with ice. The citrus and grenadine require thorough mixing and chilling to balance and dilute correctly.
No. Bottled lemon juice will dull the brightness. Fresh lemon juice is essential to the flavor profile.
A dry London Dry gin (like Tanqueray, Beefeater, or Gordon's) balances the fruit-forward applejack without overpowering the drink.
It leans sour and bright from the lemon, with subtle sweetness and a fruity undertone from grenadine and applejack.
