Angel Face

The Angel Face is an elegant and deceptively potent cocktail made from equal parts gin, apricot brandy, and Calvados. It offers a sophisticated flavor profile that balances the botanical notes of gin with the fruity sweetness of apricot and the dry, crisp apple essence of Calvados. This classic drink is served straight up, providing a smooth and harmonious sipping experience for those who appreciate spirit-driven cocktails.
Angel Face

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Angel Face is a classic cocktail, categorized as an "All Day Cocktail" by the International Bartenders Association. It is a spirit-forward drink typically served as an aperitif or for sophisticated sipping.

Serving

This is a potent, spirit-forward drink served cold and straight up in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. Its alcohol content is relatively high, making for a sophisticated sipping experience.
Serving size
Approximately 90 ml / 3 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 28-32% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe or Cocktail Glass
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The Angel Face first appeared in Harry Craddock's influential "The Savoy Cocktail Book" in 1930. The name is rumored to be a reference to a notorious Prohibition-era gangster, Abe "Angel Face" Kaminsky, who was a member of Detroit's Purple Gang. Despite its heavenly name, the cocktail's potent combination of three spirits gives it a considerable kick.
Origin
Believed to have originated in London, England, at the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel around the 1920s or 1930s.

Angel Face

The drink is primarily known as the Angel Face, with Angel's Face Cocktail being a slight and less common variation of the name. It maintains its original English name across different languages. There are no other significant alternative names for this classic cocktail.
Original name
Angel Face
Alternative name
Angel's Face Cocktail

Characteristics overview

The Angel Face presents a delightful aroma of fruit and botanicals, leading to a balanced flavor of apple, apricot, and juniper. It has a smooth, silky texture and a clean, warming aftertaste, making it a classic, all-season cocktail.
Flavor
Fruity, botanical, slightly sweet, apple, apricot, juniper, complex
Aroma
Aromatic, fruity, apple, apricot, gin botanicals
Taste balance
Balanced, sweet, dry
Aftertaste
Smooth, clean, warming, lingering fruit notes
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Pale gold, clear, amber hue
Texture
Silky, smooth
Seasonality
All-season, classic

Flavor intensity & Experience

This is a spirit-forward cocktail with a prominent fruity character from apple and apricot, balanced by a gentle sweetness and a strong alcoholic presence. It is not sour, bitter, or spicy.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This cocktail requires just three ingredients in equal parts: gin, apricot brandy (liqueur), and Calvados (apple brandy). The quality of each spirit will significantly impact the final taste.
  • Gin30 ml / 1 oz
    A classic London Dry Gin works well.
  • Apricot Brandy30 ml / 1 oz
    Also known as apricot liqueur. Choose a quality brand for best results.
  • Calvados30 ml / 1 oz
    An apple brandy from Normandy, France. Other apple brandies can be substituted.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

You will need a cocktail shaker to combine and chill the ingredients, a jigger for accurate measurements, and a strainer for a clean pour.
  • Cocktail shaker - for chilling and combining the ingredients.
  • Jigger - for measuring the ingredients.
  • Strainer (Hawthorne and Fine) - for pouring the chilled liquid into the glass without ice shards.

Instructions

The preparation involves chilling a glass, shaking all three ingredients with ice, and then double-straining into the prepared glass. A garnish can be added before serving.
1. Chill your coupe or cocktail glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer for a few minutes.
2. Add the gin, apricot brandy, and Calvados to a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with cubed ice.
4. Shake vigorously for about 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
5. Discard the ice from your chilled glass.
6. Double-strain the contents of the shaker into the chilled glass to remove any ice chips.
7. Garnish with a thin slice of apple or a lemon twist, if desired.

Garnishing

The Angel Face is often served ungarnished, but a thin slice of apple or an expressed lemon twist can be added. These garnishes complement the fruity and botanical notes of the drink.
  • Apple slice or apple fan - to complement the Calvados.
  • Lemon twist (optional) - to add a bright citrus aroma.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is naturally alcoholic, caffeine-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan. It is generally considered gluten-free as it is made entirely from distilled spirits and liqueurs.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail contains around 200 calories per serving, primarily from alcohol and the sugar in the apricot liqueur. The carbohydrate and sugar content are relatively low for a cocktail.
Calories
Approximately 190-220 kcal / 795-920 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 9-12 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 9-12 g
Sugar level

Occasions

The Angel Face is perfect for a sophisticated cocktail party or as an elegant aperitif before dinner. Its smooth, spirit-forward character also makes it an excellent choice for quiet, contemplative sipping.
  • Cocktail Party
  • Aperitif
  • Sophisticated Sipping

Pairing suggestions

The Angel Face pairs well with savory and mild flavors that won't overpower its delicate profile. Consider serving it with a platter of mild cheeses, charcuterie, or simple roasted nuts before a meal.
  • Mild cheeses (like Gruyère or Comté)
  • Charcuterie
  • Light appetizers
  • Nuts

The Angel Face: A Heavenly Classic with a Devilish Kick

The Angel Face is a sophisticated and harmonious classic cocktail from the Prohibition era. Its simple, equal-parts recipe of gin, apricot brandy, and Calvados creates a surprisingly complex flavor profile, balancing botanical, stone fruit, and apple notes. Served straight up in a chilled coupe, it's a potent yet smooth sipper perfect for those who appreciate spirit-forward drinks. Its elegant character makes it an excellent choice for a classy aperitif or a quiet evening drink.

Variations

Fallen Angel

Adds lime juice and a dash of Angostura bitters, making it a sour-style cocktail.

Similar Cocktails

Paradise Cocktail

Another classic from the Savoy Cocktail Book, it uses gin and apricot brandy but replaces Calvados with orange juice.

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