Arsenic & Old Lace

Originally published in 1917 as the "Attention Cocktail," and appearing in the 1930 version of the Savoy Cocktail book as the "Atty Cocktail," eventually this obscure classic was rebranded as Arsenic and Old Lace in 1941, likely named for a Broadway play that opened around the same time.

The three original cocktails all varied in proportions but the ingredients were largely the same: gin, dry vermouth, absinthe, and crème de violette. The result is kind of a fancy martini: lightly floral, botanical, crisp, clean, and bitter. 

This non-alcoholic rendition does a great job at satisfying a martini craving, hitting all the right notes in perfect unison. Stir a few up the next time you're throwing a fancy mocktail party!

Arsenic & Old Lace (Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Recipe)

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Category

Non-Alcoholic Cocktail / Low-Alcohol / Zero Proof / Mocktail

Calories

45

Basically a fancy martini, A&OL is a wonderfully crisp, floral, and botanical cocktail.

Author:

All The Bitter

Ingredients

• 2 ounces non-alcoholic gin

• 1 ounce non-alcoholic dry vermouth

• 1/2 ounce Lyre's Absinthe

• 1/4 ounce violet syrup

• 1 barspoon champagne vinegar

• 2 dashes All The Bitter Orange bitters

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled.

2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist, expressing the oils over the drink.

Recipe Note

Use your favorite non-alcoholic gin and dry vermouth here—we make this with Monday Zero Alcohol Gin and Lyre's Aperitif Dry and it's pretty close to perfection. 

A different light vinegar could be used, such as apple cider or white wine vinegar, if you don't have champagne vinegar available.

Violet syrup can be purchased from producers like Monin and Maison Routin, or if you have access to wild violets, you can make your own violet syrup at home.

MAKE IT MINDFULLY LOW ALCOHOL
Simply replace the non-alcoholic vermouth here with regular dry vermouth for a super low-ABV drink.