The refreshing Harrovian cocktail probably traces its roots to the term used to describe boys who are attending or who graduated from Harrow School, a very traditional boarding prep school for boys. This drink is all about orange with hints of lemon and herb.
Like many fascinating old school cocktails, this one isn’t loaded up with sweet ingredients. It’s a little bit sweeter than a dry Gin Martini , not as sweet as the Gin Aloha, and about as sweet as the Gin Sour. Because this drink has such a light feel and citrus flavor, it’s perfect for the poolside. It’s also perfect for those days you wish you could be poolside, but the weather or your responsibilities are getting in the way.
Pick any gin that you like for this drink, because there’s two ounces of gin in it, and those notes will definitely come through. Since this isn’t a particularly sweet cocktail, you don’t need to get to a particularly dry gin. I like Hendrick’s gin because it has a complex profile that I think goes well with citrus notes.
Because the dominant flavors are just orange and lemon, this drink is pretty easy to pair with meals and snacks. Try the Crispy Coconut Chicken with Spicy Honey Orange Sauce from Sally’s Baking Addiction. The mild sweetness of the coconut batter and the orange flavor in the sauce bring out the best in this cocktail.
Note that the recipe calls for one dash of Angostura bitters. I say add as much or as little as you like. I tend to go little heavy with my bitters in most any cocktail because I like the on the spicy edge that they add.
Harrovian Cocktail Recipe
- 2 ounces gin
- 1/4 ounce orange juice
- 1 dash lemon juice
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Optionally, garnish it with an orange wheel.