Ampersand Cocktail Recipe

This equal-parts drink, made with cognac, Old Tom gin, and sweet vermouth, is luscious and smooth, with a little candied-orange sweetness and a touch of vanilla.

By
Maggie Hoffman
Maggie Hoffman is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Maggie Hoffman
Maggie Hoffman is a longtime food and drink expert whose recipes and cocktail-making tips can be found on her newsletters What to Drink and The Dinner Plan. She is the author of  The One-Bottle Cocktail and Batch Cocktails, both published by Ten Speed Press.
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Updated March 17, 2025
An Ampersand cocktail served in a coupe glass sits on a worn wooden surface.

Serious Eats / Maggie Hoffman

Why It Works

  • Old Tom gin adds essential rich texture and a touch of sweetness to the drink.

There's something elegant about an equal-parts drink. You've likely made your share of Negronis, but here's another worth exploring, made with cognac, Old Tom gin, and sweet vermouth, and seasoned with orange bitters. The drink appears in The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book, and some say the name refers to the ampersand in Martini & Rossi vermouth, though we find the drink is especially delicious made with Carpano Antica. Some recipes also include orange liqueur in the mix, though we prefer the drink without it.

This stirred cocktail is luscious and smooth, with a little candied-orange sweetness and a hint of vanilla. The gin adds an herbal backbone but this is really a drink that will appeal to lovers of brown spirits.

June 2014

Recipe Details

Ampersand Cocktail Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Active 3 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 1 serving
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce cognac

  • 1 ounce Old Tom gin (see note)

  • 1 ounce sweet vermouth

  • 2 dashes orange bitters

Directions

  1. Add cognac, Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir until well chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve immediately.

Notes

We've tried making this cocktail with other gins and the results were sharper and slightly thin. If you can't find Old Tom gin at your local liquor store, you could try adding a few drops of simple syrup.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
179Calories
0gFat
4gCarbs
0gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories179
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 3mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 4g2%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 2mg0%
Iron 0mg1%
Potassium 28mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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