Opal Cocktail

Haven't heard of the opal before? The opal cocktail arose in the liveliness of the roaring twenties in London, England. A booze-forward, gin-based cocktail, it's fruity with a light hint of floral. The floral notes come from the addition of a touch of orange blossom water. For gin lovers, this is a delightful and fresh drink.

History of the Opal Cocktail

The opal cocktail is believed to have been created in London, England, in the 1920s, the era known as 'the Roaring Twenties.' It is featured in Harry Craddock's famous book, The Savoy Cocktail Book, which was published in 1930. This book serves as a record of recipes for the most popular cocktails served at the Savoy at the time, at the hotel's famous lobby bar. It gives a fascinating insight into the past. Know anyone who enjoys some history along with cocktails?

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The Savoy Cocktail Book

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How to Make It

To make this cocktail, you will need a cocktail shaker and a fine strainer or sieve. I love this cocktail bar set, I use it myself and I find that it has everything I need for making various drinks. You will also need ice and a coupe glass for serving.

Add all of the cocktail ingredients into your shaker - the gin, cointreau, orange juice, simple syrup, and orange blossom water. If you can, use freshly squeezed orange juice. Be careful not to go too heavy on the orange blossom water. It can easily go from, 'Oh, what a lovely hint of floral' to 'I am drinking a floral hand soap'.

Add a few ice cubes to your shaker and shake vigorously for about twenty seconds. Fine strain into a coupe glass. Optionally, you can garnish this drink with an orange zest twist to add even more to the aromatics.

There's something simply enjoyable about sipping a cocktail that comes with a long history. Who knows who may have had the exact same cocktail a hundred years ago.

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