Million Dollar Cocktail

The Million Dollar Cocktail is a sophisticated and layered drink that balances the botanical notes of gin with the herbal sweetness of vermouth and the tropical fruitiness of pineapple. The addition of grenadine provides a touch of sweetness and color, while the egg white gives the cocktail a luxurious, velvety mouthfeel and a foamy head. It's a beautifully balanced sour that feels opulent and celebratory, truly living up to its name.
Million Dollar Cocktail

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Million Dollar Cocktail is a classic cocktail from the pre-Prohibition era. It falls into the "sour" category due to its use of citrus juice, balanced by a sweetener. It's a sophisticated gin-based drink, often enjoyed as an aperitif.

Serving

Served straight up in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass, this cold drink has a moderate alcohol content. The presentation is elegant, often featuring a frothy top from the shaken egg white.
Serving size
Approximately 120-150 ml / 4-5 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 18-22% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled glass

Backstory

The cocktail was created by Louis Eppinger, a bartender at the Grand Hotel in Yokohama, Japan, in the 1890s. Eppinger was a prominent figure in the international bartending scene, and this drink became one of his most famous creations. It was a favorite among wealthy merchants and travelers who frequented the hotel, earning its aspirational name.
Origin
Created in the 1890s by Louis Eppinger at the Grand Hotel in Yokohama, Japan.

Million Dollar Cocktail

The drink is sometimes called the "Millionaire Cocktail No. 1" to differentiate it from other cocktails bearing the "Millionaire" name. These other versions often feature different spirits like rum or bourbon and have distinct recipes. This specific gin-based recipe is widely considered the original.
Original name
Million Dollar Cocktail
Alternative name
Millionaire Cocktail No. 1

Characteristics overview

This cocktail boasts a complex flavor profile that is fruity, botanical, and slightly herbal, with a beautiful sweet-tart balance. Its most notable characteristic is its silky, velvety texture and frothy head, a result of the shaken egg white.
Flavor
Fruity, pineapple, botanical, gin, sweet, slightly tart, herbal
Aroma
Aromatic, gin botanicals, sweet pineapple, vermouth spice
Taste balance
Balanced, sweet-and-sour
Aftertaste
Clean, smooth, fruity, herbal
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Pale pink, opaque, with a thick white foam head
Texture
Silky, creamy, rich, velvety, frothy
Seasonality
All-season, refreshing, rich

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor profile is moderately sweet and sour with high fruitiness and a rich, creamy texture. Alcohol strength is medium, and it has no carbonation, bitterness, or saltiness.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This cocktail requires gin as its base, complemented by sweet vermouth, pineapple juice, a dash of grenadine, and an egg white for texture. Fresh pineapple juice and quality grenadine will elevate the final drink.
  • Gin60 ml / 2 oz
    A classic London Dry gin provides the perfect botanical backbone.
  • Sweet Vermouth22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    An Italian-style sweet vermouth works best.
  • Pineapple Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Freshly pressed juice is highly recommended for the best flavor and texture.
  • Grenadine5 ml / 1/6 oz (1 teaspoon)
    Use a high-quality grenadine for authentic pomegranate flavor.
  • Egg White30 ml / 1 oz (from 1 large egg)
    Use a fresh, pasteurized egg white for safety and best foam.

Ice type

  • Cubed ice

Mixing equipments

You will need a cocktail shaker for mixing and two types of strainers (Hawthorne and fine-mesh) to achieve the signature smooth, frothy texture. A jigger is essential for balancing the ingredients correctly.
  • Cocktail shaker - for shaking the ingredients.
  • Jigger or measuring tool - for accurate measurements.
  • Hawthorne strainer - for straining after the wet shake.
  • Fine-mesh strainer - for double-straining to ensure a smooth texture.

Instructions

The key to this drink is the two-step shaking process: a 'dry shake' without ice to create foam, followed by a 'wet shake' with ice to chill and dilute. Double-straining is crucial for a perfectly smooth, velvety texture.
1. Chill your coupe or cocktail glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.
2. Combine gin, sweet vermouth, pineapple juice, grenadine, and egg white in a cocktail shaker without ice.
3. Perform a 'dry shake' (shaking without ice) vigorously for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white and create foam.
4. Add a generous amount of cubed ice to the shaker.
5. Perform a 'wet shake' (shaking with ice) vigorously for another 15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
6. Discard the ice from your chilled glass.
7. Double-strain the contents of the shaker into the chilled glass using both a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer.
8. Garnish with a pineapple wedge on the rim of the glass and serve immediately.

Garnishing

A simple pineapple wedge or a thin slice of pineapple on the rim of the glass is the classic and most fitting garnish.
  • Pineapple wedge - placed on the rim of the glass.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is vegetarian but not vegan due to the use of egg white. It is typically dairy-free, caffeine-free, and nut-free.
✓ 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 and sugar content, primarily from the pineapple juice, vermouth, and grenadine. The nutritional values can vary slightly based on the specific ingredients used.
Calories
Averagely 200-240 kcal / 837-1004 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 12-15 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 10-13 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This elegant cocktail is perfect for celebrations, sophisticated cocktail parties, or as a pre-dinner aperitif. Its luxurious character makes any occasion feel a bit more special.
  • Cocktail party
  • Celebration
  • Aperitif
  • Sophisticated gathering

Pairing suggestions

The Million Dollar Cocktail pairs well with light appetizers, particularly seafood like shrimp cocktail or oysters. Its fruity and slightly sweet profile also complements salty snacks or a fresh fruit platter, making it a versatile aperitif.
  • Light appetizers
  • Seafood dishes
  • Salty snacks
  • Fruit platters

The Million Dollar Cocktail: A Taste of Opulence

The Million Dollar Cocktail is an elegant and historically significant gin sour that offers a luxurious experience. Its blend of gin, sweet vermouth, and pineapple juice creates a complex, fruity, and botanical flavor profile. The signature velvety texture, achieved through the use of egg white and a dry shake, makes it a truly sophisticated and memorable drink. Hailing from late 19th-century Japan, it's a taste of cocktail history that feels as opulent as its name suggests.

Similar cocktails

Clover Club

A similar gin and egg white sour, but uses raspberry syrup instead of pineapple and grenadine, and lemon juice.

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