The name Rolls Royce instantly conjures images of refined luxury and effortless elegance—much like the legendary automobile. While few of us will ever don black-tie and tails for an evening at the opera or arrive at the door in a Silver Ghost, we can savor a different sort of opulence—one poured into a coupe glass and sipped slowly. The Rolls Royce cocktail is a classic that lives up to its namesake in both style and substance.
The Rolls Royce, Harry Craddock and the Savoy Hotel
This drink traces its roots back to the golden age of cocktails and first appeared in The Savoy Cocktail Book, a treasure trove of recipes compiled by the legendary Harry Craddock. An American who found himself behind the bar at London’s Savoy Hotel after Prohibition, Craddock became a fixture at the Art Deco-styled American Bar, serving royalty, celebrities, and world travelers.
Among the more than 700 recipes in his seminal 1930 collection, the Rolls Royce stands out as a spirit-forward masterpiece. It’s a complex, aromatic blend of gin, sweet vermouth, and Bénédictine—golden in color, rich on the palate, and endlessly sophisticated. In short, it’s a cocktail that lets you drink in a little glamour, no chauffeur required.
For another Savoy classic try the Corpse Reviver #2. Print
Rolls Royce
London Dry gin, sweet and dry vermouth, Benedictine and lemon
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 2 oz London Dry gin
- 1/2 oz Italian rosso vermouth
- 1/2 oz French dry vermouth
- 1/4 oz Benedictine
- 1 Lemon twist – garnish
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients over ice in a mixing glass and stir until well chilled
- Strain into a pre-chilled coupe glass and garnish with a twist of lemon