The Oriental Cocktail

A classic 1924 shaken cocktail combining rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, triple sec, and lime juice. A Manhattan variation that brings vibrant orange and citrus notes to the glass.

smart_display Published 2026-04-23 download Extracted 2026-04-27

3m Prep

3m Total

1 Servings

cocktail whiskey rye-whiskey shaken classic american citrus vermouth

Ingredients

15 ml lime juice (freshly squeezed)
22 ml triple sec orange liqueur
22 ml sweet vermouth
45 ml rye whiskey

Steps

1

Add lime juice, triple sec, sweet vermouth, and rye whiskey to a cocktail shaker.

Tip: Add ingredients in any order — this drink has such a small amount of lime juice it will shake up almost like a stirred cocktail.

~1 min
2

Fill the shaker with ice and shake well.

Tip: Don't expect a lot of foam — the small amount of citrus won't create the frothy texture typical of shaken cocktails.

~1 min
3

Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. Serve without garnish.

~1 min

Nutrition (per serving)

175

Calories

12g

Carbs

Cultural Context

The Oriental is a cocktail from 1924. According to its origin story, an American traveler fell desperately ill with fever while in the Philippines. A local doctor saved his life, and in gratitude the patient gifted him this recipe, which became known as The Oriental cocktail. Omitting the lime juice yields a classic Manhattan variation.