Juliet and Romeo

The Juliet and Romeo is an elegant and aromatic gin-based cocktail that has become a modern classic. It beautifully balances the crispness of gin and cool cucumber with the fragrant qualities of fresh mint and a delicate hint of rose water. The addition of lime juice and simple syrup provides a classic sour structure, making it a sophisticated and perfectly poised drink. It is celebrated for its layered complexity and exceptionally refreshing character.
Juliet and Romeo

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Juliet and Romeo is categorized as a modern classic cocktail. It falls into the "sour" family of drinks due to its gin, citrus, and sugar base. Its unique herbal and floral additions elevate it beyond a simple sour into a sophisticated, contemporary creation.

Serving

This drink is served "up" (without ice) in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. It is a moderately strong cocktail with a crisp, cold temperature essential to its refreshing quality.
Serving size
Approximately 4-5 oz / 120-150 ml
Alcohol content
Approximately 18-22% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

This cocktail was created by Toby Maloney at The Violet Hour, a pioneering craft cocktail bar in Chicago, around 2007. It quickly became the bar's signature drink and a celebrated example of the modern cocktail revival. The name evokes the romance and beauty of Shakespeare's play, a fitting title for a drink with such layered and delicate notes.
Origin
The Juliet and Romeo was invented by bartender Toby Maloney at The Violet Hour in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It emerged in the mid-2000s, becoming a flagship cocktail for the bar and the modern craft cocktail movement.

Juliet and Romeo

The cocktail's name is most commonly written as "Juliet and Romeo" or with an ampersand, "Juliet & Romeo". The name is a direct reference to Shakespeare's famous play. It perfectly captures the romantic, floral, and elegant nature of the drink.
Original name
Juliet and Romeo
Alternative name
Juliet & Romeo Cocktail

Characteristics overview

This cocktail presents a highly refreshing and complex profile, led by a floral aroma of mint and rose. The flavor is a bright balance of herbal cucumber and gin botanicals, finishing with a clean, lingering floral aftertaste.
Flavor
Refreshing, herbal, floral, crisp, citrusy, cucumber
Aroma
Mint, rose, cucumber, gin botanicals, lime
Taste balance
Balanced, slightly sweet, sour
Aftertaste
Clean, floral, lingering mint
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Pale green, translucent, slightly cloudy
Texture
Smooth, light
Seasonality
Very refreshing, summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor intensity is moderate and well-balanced, where fresh herbal and floral notes shine without being overpowered by alcohol. The taste is bright and crisp, avoiding excessive sweetness or sourness.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This recipe requires a quality gin, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, cucumber, and mint. The drink's signature character comes from the addition of a few drops of rose water and a final garnish of Angostura bitters.
  • London Dry Gin2 ounces / 60 ml
    The original recipe calls for Beefeater Gin, but any quality London Dry Gin will work well.
  • Lime Juice0.75 ounce / 22.5 ml
    Must be freshly squeezed for best results.
  • Simple Syrup0.75 ounce / 22.5 ml
    A 1:1 ratio of sugar to water.
  • Cucumber3 slices
    Thinly sliced, no need to peel unless the skin is very waxy.
  • Mint Leaves3 leaves
    Fresh mint leaves are essential.
  • Rose Water3 drops
    Use sparingly as it is very potent.
  • Angostura Bitters1 drop
    Used for garnish on top of the finished drink.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

You will need a cocktail shaker with a muddler to extract flavors from the cucumber and mint. A double-straining technique using both a Hawthorne and a fine-mesh strainer is crucial for a smooth, debris-free texture.
  • Cocktail shaker
  • Muddler
  • Jigger or measuring tool
  • Hawthorne strainer
  • Fine-mesh strainer

Instructions

The preparation involves gently muddling cucumber and mint, adding the liquid ingredients and ice, then shaking until well-chilled. Double-straining into a prepared coupe glass ensures a smooth consistency before adding the final garnishes.
1. Chill your coupe or cocktail glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.
2. In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, place the cucumber slices and mint leaves.
3. Gently muddle the cucumber and mint to release their oils and juices. Avoid shredding the mint leaves.
4. Add the gin, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and rose water to the shaker.
5. Fill the shaker with cubed ice and seal it tightly.
6. Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosted and cold.
7. Empty the ice from your chilled glass.
8. Double-strain the contents of the shaker through a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer into the chilled glass.
9. Garnish by floating a single rose petal on the surface and adding one dot of Angostura bitters.
10. Serve immediately.

Garnishing

The garnish is minimal yet elegant, consisting of a floating rose petal and a single drop of Angostura bitters. These elements enhance the drink's aroma and visual appeal.
  • A single, fresh rose petal floated on the surface.
  • One drop of Angostura bitters, carefully placed on the foam.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is naturally free from common allergens such as dairy, eggs, soy, and nuts. It is suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets and is typically gluten-free, as most distilled spirits are.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail has a moderate calorie count, mostly from the gin and simple syrup. Its carbohydrate and sugar content is relatively low compared to many other mixed drinks.
Calories
Averagely 190 kcal / 795 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 16 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 14 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfectly suited for warm-weather occasions such as garden parties, summer get-togethers, and elegant brunches. Its sophisticated and romantic character also makes it an excellent choice for a date night or a special celebration.
  • Summer Parties
  • Garden Parties
  • Romantic Evenings
  • Brunch
  • Elegant Gatherings

Pairing suggestions

The Juliet and Romeo pairs exceptionally well with light, fresh foods that complement its delicate flavors without overwhelming them. Consider serving it with seafood appetizers, crisp salads with vinaigrette, or mild cheeses like goat cheese. Its refreshing nature also makes it a great standalone aperitif.
  • Light appetizers
  • Seafood (e.g., shrimp cocktail, oysters)
  • Fresh salads
  • Goat cheese
  • Sushi

Juliet and Romeo: A Modern Tale of Gin and Roses

The Juliet and Romeo is a sophisticated and refreshing modern classic cocktail from Chicago's renowned bar, The Violet Hour. It features a delightful blend of gin, muddled cucumber, and mint, all brought together with aromatic notes of rose water. Balanced with the classic sour combination of lime and sugar, it is a perfectly poised, elegant drink ideal for warm weather and romantic occasions. Its clean, floral profile and beautiful presentation have cemented its place in the modern cocktail canon.

Similar Cocktails

Southside

A classic cocktail with gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and mint. The Juliet and Romeo builds upon this base by adding cucumber and rose water.

Gin Basil Smash

Uses a generous amount of basil instead of mint and cucumber, resulting in a distinctly different but equally refreshing herbal profile.

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