April 15th. By now, you’ve filled your taxes–hopefully–so it’s time to enjoy this cocktail special, an Income Tax cocktail!
Income Tax cocktail
Seriously, it does exist. It appears in the 1964 edition of Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender’s Guide. It may not be as old as death and taxes, but it’s far more pleasant. I love the explanation The Straight Up gave for how this drink got its name. See here. Essentially, it all has to do with the addition of bitters to a Bronx cocktail. Once a very popular drink, the Bronx cocktail dates back to around 1905. Income tax as we know it didn’t become a permanent fixture in the United States until 1913. This variation of the Bronx likely followed not long after.
What you’ll need: Gin, Dry Vermouth, Sweet Vermouth, Orange Juice, and Bitters.
In a shaker over cracked ice, pour in 1 ounce of gin, 1/4 ounce each of sweet and dry vermouth. Add about an ounce of orange juice and a cople dashes of bitters. Shake and then strain into a cocktail glass. Optionally, you may garnish with a slice of orange, orange twist, or a mandarin orange.
How I like it: I upped the portions from the original. Everything goes up over time… taxes, prices, proportions…
I used an 1 and 1/2 of Bombay Sapphire Gin, 1/2 each of sweet and dry vermouth, and just over an ounce of orange juice. I used papaya-flavored bitters, but Angostura is recommended for a truer taste.
Don’t over tax yourself, drink responsibly!
