The Army Navy, also known as the Army & Navy, dates to at least the 1930s. A cousin of contemporary orgeat sours like the Cameron’s Kick and Coo-ee Special, it’s evidence of an orgeat boom that predates tropical drinks like the Mai Tai. At Dutch Kills, the house Army & Navy spec honors longtime regular and retired FDNY firefighter Lou, who prefers hers with a cocktail cherry sunk to the bottom of the coupe and Angostura bitters dashed on top.
(Lou’s) Army Navy
Dutch Kills | Queens, New York
Ingredients
Serving: 1
- 2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce rich orgeat (see Editor’s Note)
Garnish: cocktail cherry, 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake well.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- Sink a cocktail cherry to the bottom and float the bitters on top.
Editor's Note
Rich Orgeat
8 ounces almond milk
225 grams Demerara sugar
225 grams granulated white sugar
pinch of smoked sea salt
3/4 ounce Faretti Biscotti liqueur or amaretto liqueur
heaping 1/4 ounce Cognac
1 bar spoon rose water
1. Bring almond milk to a low simmer; do not let it boil.
2. Add both sugars and the smoked sea salt, gently stirring until completely dissolved.
3. Remove from heat and stir in the liqueur, Cognac and rose water.
4. Allow to cool fully, then bottle and store in a cool, dark place (best not refrigerated). Keeps for about 1 month.