ENDANGERED COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH – PRINCESS MARY’S PRIDE

By Pink Lady
Fall came just in time for me this year. The first whisper of crisp evening air had me ready to toss my citrus-forward summer cocktails into the ocean so as to make way for the strong, stirred drinks that come with sweater weather. Calvados may be available all year round, but sipping apple brandy cocktails while apples and pumpkins are in their prime can feel oh so ‘of the season.’ Let’s raise a glass of Princess Mary’s Pride to fall, in all her glory!

This simple riff on a perfect Manhattan was created by Harry Craddock in 1922 and printed in his famous The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930. Per his recipe note, the drink was created on February 28 of that year “to mark the wedding celebrations of H.R.H. Princess Mary.” In case you don’t have the royal family tree committed to memory, Mary was the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, sister to Kings Edward VIII and George VI, and aunt of the only Queen our generation has ever known, Queen Elizabeth. She was betrothed to Henry George Charles Lascelles, the sixth Earl of Harewood, and can you even have a royal wedding without having bartenders whip up drink recipes for the occasion?

Harry’s recipe follows a “perfect” Manhattan format that swaps out red vermouth for Dubonnet Rouge, and whiskey for Calvados, Normandy’s famous apple brandy. Harry’s recipe calls for this drink to be shaken, but I suggest you don’t. Stirred with ice, this recipe yields a spirit forward aperitif that is fruity and velvety in texture. As such it’s a nice bridge between our summertime cocktail dalliances and the serious strong and stirred drinks you’ll see on menus everywhere soon.

Cheers to Princess Mary’s Pride!

PRINCESS MARY’S PRIDE
2 ounces of Calvados
1/2 ounce of dry vermouth
1/2 ounce of Dubonnet rouge

Stir ingredients with ice.
STRAIN into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with an orange peel.

Cin-cin!