Royal Hawaiian

This drink originated at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu and is a prime example of the non-tiki tropical canon. I wanted to improve the recipe while also playing up the pre-WWII orgeat sours that came before it, like the Cameron’s Kick and the Army & Navy. I did so with bitters and an absinthe rinse–the latter touch is reminiscent of the Corpse Reviver No. 2 and the Rattlesnake.

INGREDIENTS

2 oz. London dry gin
1 oz. fresh pineapple
½ oz. lemon juice
½ oz. orgeat
2 dashes Angostura bitters
5 drops saline (or a pinch of salt)
Absinthe, for spritzing glass

Garnish: dehydrated lemon wheel

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ABV LEVEL

Shake with ice for 15 seconds. Spritz a chilled coupe with absinthe. Strain into coupe. Garnish.