Named after a luxury train that ran from New York to Chicago, the 20th Century is a classic cocktail that sounds rather strange on paper. Made of gin, Kina Lillet, white creme de cacao, and lemon juice, you might be tempted to run. Juniper, with chocolate? Blasphemy! And yet, somehow, it really just works…
20th Century
The 20th Century Cocktail is sweet, earthy, and well balanced. The lemon and Cocchi Americano add a nice amount of brightness to the drink, helping to keep it lively. The earthiness of the Cacao shines through without being a bully. This reflects well off the bitterness in the Cocchi Americano. Ironically, the gin is the item here that is so in sync with everything else that it almost becomes background. In total, the 20th Century is a gorgeous drink that deserves your consideration.
Drink Notes & Recommendations
There’s a fair amount of consensus regarding the 20th Century, with only a couple of points of digression. None of them are massive, so stick to the template, and things will keep rolling down the tracks.
- Gin: London Dry is the standard for this drink. We recommend (and used) Beefeaters
- White Creme de Cacao: White Creme de Cacao is generally clear, and lighter in it’s flavors. We used Giffard Creme de Cacao White here, although you could use Marie Brizard.
- Cocchi Americano: Originally made with Kina Lillet, this is the biggest point of differentiation between recipes (with some calling for Lillet Blanc). While you can use Lillet Blanc, I believe the Cocchi Americano’s slight bitterness is helpful here.
- Lemon Juice: Use fresh squeezed as always.
- Garnish: No Garnish
- Glassware: A chilled coupe here is the go to standard.