How to make the Olympic cocktail and strike gold every time

With its citrus flavors, the Olympic cocktail is very refreshing and, as you'll see, unbelievably easy to make.

Let's take a dive into the logs

Hmmm.... Things aren't as clear as I would like them to be. I was actually very certain I would find a connection between this delicious cocktail and the summer Olympics games. But I stand corrected! The story that came out the most frequently is about an White Star Line's ocean liner: the RMS Olympic. You know what rhymes with Olympic? Britannic and, most importantly, Titanic! Yes, White Star Line was a British shipping line we owe probably the most infamous cruise ship. Actually, the Olympic, the Britannic and the Titanic were categorized as Olympic-class liners.

At the time of it's completion in May 1911 the RMS Olympic was the largest ocean liner. It only held its title for 11 months and lost it when its sister ship, the Titanic, was completed in April 1912. The Olympic ship was in service until April 1935, when it was sold for scrap. But, in 1922, a cocktail was named after it. Was it for it's extravagance? It's ability to bring joy? It's Majesty? I couldn't find a straight answer but the Olympic cocktail has an immense force of attraction!

Orange is the new gold

So... yeah... technically speaking, the Olympic cocktail is not part of the Olympic-themed cocktails. How counter-intuitive! However I cannot think of a better cocktail to serve during your Olympic party. Let's take a quick look at the ingredients:

• Whiskey: the original Olympic cocktail recipe asks for a Cognac. The choice of whiskey is mainly to keep the costs under control,
• Orange Curaçao: replace with Grand Marnier for a sweeter and warmer taste. Cointreau is also a valid alternative,
• Orange juice: please go the extra mile and actually press oranges as you make cocktail. The difference is noticeable! You end up with a much clearer drink that tastes much better. Another benefit of pressing the oranges yourself is setting the zest aside and use the orange twist for garnishing. Replace the orange juice with lemon juice to obtain a Biarritz cocktail.

Come on! Everything here reminds me of gold medals! Actually, I'd argue that the Olympic is the perfect cocktail to celebrate your favorite country's wins during the winter or the summer Olympics.

Make the perfect Olympic cocktail

The Olympic cocktail recipe is pretty simple: put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake for 15-20 seconds, and voila! Not used to making cocktails? We got you covered with a list of tips below:

• Use a chilled cocktail glass: put your martini glass in the freezer about an hour before serving for best results,
• Be generous with the ice cubes in the cocktail shaker: depending on the size of your ice cubes you should have at least 6-8 ice cubes in the shaker,
• Squeeze the oranges yourself: I see no better way to improve the taste and the color of the Olympic cocktail.

If you're after an alcohol-free option, you may want to consider our ginger and turmeric shot.

Wake up the Olympic spirit!

Whether the Olympic games are on or not, the Olympic cocktail is very easy to make and can be enjoyed throughout the year. And if you like what you're drinking then put the Olympic rings on it!

Santé and... Allez la France!