Park Avenue Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 12/19/22
Park Avenue Cocktail

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
205 Calories
0g Fat
8g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 205
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 10mg 51%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 52mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The Park Avenue cocktail puts a pineapple spin on the gin martini. It's a classic recipe which, according to Ted Haigh's book "Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails," dates to around the 1940s.

This drink pairs gin and sweet vermouth with pineapple juice, then adds a little curaçao for a citrus kiss. It's an excellent drink to shake up a martini routine and is especially nice on hot summer days or as a refreshing aperitif. Also, if you don't particularly care for the dryness of the classic martini but are looking for something very similar, it's an excellent choice.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin

  • 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth

  • 2 teaspoons orange curaçao liqueur

  • 3/4 ounce pineapple juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, vermouth, orange curaçao, and pineapple juice. Fill with ice.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Dry gin is often poured for the Park Avenue, just make sure it's top-shelf and worthy of a martini. You can also try it with other styles of gin, including an old-school version like Old Tom or a modern take such as Hendrick's.
  • To make this drink with fresh pineapple instead of juice, place about 3/4 cup of pineapple chunks in the shaker. Muddle the fruit really well to release as much juice as possible. Then add the other ingredients and ice, shake, and strain.
  • The choice of orange curaçao is important even though it's a very short pour. Premium options like Gabriel Boudier and Senior Curaçao are excellent choices, though some people enjoy Grand Marnier instead.
  • Make sure your sweet vermouth is fresh. Once open, the fortified wine's shelf life is just three months, after which it will go stale. When in doubt, pick up a new bottle.

Recipe Variations

  • The ingredients in this recipe can be adjusted to suit your taste. One common recipe, for instance, includes up to 1 ounce of pineapple juice with 1/2 ounce each of the curaçao and vermouth.
  • Another pours equal amounts of the three accent ingredients, cutting them back to as little as 1/3 ounce.
  • Some recipes also skip the curaçao completely.
  • At least one semi-classic variation on the Park Avenue is a perfect martini with a little pineapple juice. To make it, shake 1 1/2 ounces of gin with 1/4 ounce each of sweet and dry vermouths and pineapple juice.

How Strong Is a Park Avenue Cocktail?

The Park Avenue cocktail falls in line with the rest of the martini family in that it's not a light drink. It will vary depending on what you pour and how much of each ingredient, though its alcohol content should always be around 22 percent ABV (44 proof).