Chin Up Cocktail

A stirred gin cocktail from Sam Ross of Milk & Honey fame. Built like a Martini riff with the bitter herbal depth of Cynar, the botanicals of dry vermouth, and lightly muddled cucumber for a refreshing finish. Lemon peel and cucumber garnish complete a sophisticated, cucumber-forward sipper.

smart_display Published 2026-05-19 download Extracted 2026-05-21

5m Prep

5m Total

1 Servings

cocktail gin cynar stirred martini-riff amaro cucumber sam-ross milk-and-honey classic-craft

Ingredients

3 slices cucumber slices (lightly muddled in the mixing glass (reserve extra for garnish))
15 ml dry vermouth
15 ml Cynar
60 ml gin (Ford's recommended)
to fill ice (for stirring)

Garnish

1 piece lemon peel (expressed over the drink and discarded)
1 slice cucumber slice (skewered or pinched into a V along the rim of the glass)

Steps

1

Add 2-3 cucumber slices to a mixing glass and give them a very light muddle just to release some of that fresh cucumber character. Do not pulverize them.

Tip: This is a regal stir style drink; even though the directions do not call for it, a light press unlocks much more cucumber aroma.

~1 min
2

Add 1/2 oz (15 ml) dry vermouth, 1/2 oz (15 ml) Cynar, and 2 oz (60 ml) gin to the mixing glass.

Tip: Ford's gin works especially well here because its juniper-forward, citrus profile pairs cleanly with the cucumber.

~1 min
3

Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled and properly diluted.

~1 min
4

Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe or Nick & Nora glass.

~1 min

Garnish

1

Pull a lemon peel, express its oils over the surface of the drink, and discard the peel. Garnish with a reserved cucumber slice pinched into a V-shape along the rim of the glass so it stays in place.

Tip: Cucumber and lemon are kindred spirits — the lemon oil on top gives a refreshing pop that ties the whole drink together.

~1 min

Nutrition (per serving)

175

Calories

Carbs

Cultural Context

The Chin Up was created by Sam Ross, one of the most visible bartenders to come out of Milk & Honey, the legendary New York speakeasy opened by Sasha Petraske in 1999 that helped launch the modern craft cocktail revival. The drink sits squarely in the Martini family as a 'Manhattan template' riff (gin spirit base + fortified wine + amaro modifier, stirred). Cynar, the Italian artichoke-based amaro, gives the drink its signature bittersweet vegetal backbone, while lightly muddled cucumber and a lemon peel push it into refreshing Pimm's-meets-Martini territory.