Charlie Chaplin Cocktail

Made with equal parts sloe gin, apricot brandy, and fresh lime, this refreshing Charlie Chaplin cocktail recipe is a must-try. It’s as vibrant in flavor as it is in color, so it guarantees to please both the palate and the eyes!

I was so intrigued when I came across this classic cocktail because frankly, I couldn’t imagine that the combination of the ingredients would be delicious.

Happily, I was wrong. I made the drink and fell instantly in love with it. I’ve since served it to guests that have come to our house and I have had to convince some of them that it does indeed taste delicious and to give it a try.

Why do they doubt me at first? It’s the sloe gin. If you’ve never tasted this spirit, here’s what it tastes like: it is somewhat earthy, and has a plum and raisin taste. Sloe gin is also very sweet, which is why most people aren’t particularly fond of the liquor.

My grandmother was partial to the sloe gin fizz, which I always found pretty sweet.

So, take a chance on this delicious and colorful cocktail. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

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The history of the Charlie Chaplin cocktail

According to my research, the cocktail was invented before the 1920s at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria hotel. It did so well that it was added to the 1934 “The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book” by Albert Stevens Crockett. It was a prohibition cocktail and is considered a classic drink.

I’m just glad someone decided to invent it because I love to drink it and so do the people I make it for.

Helpful tips

• There are different brands of sloe gin. I recommend Leroux if you’re budget conscious. As soon as I need another bottle, I want to try the more expensive Plymouth brand.
• I’ve seen this cocktail made with either lemon juice or, the way I prefer it, with lime juice. Try it my way first and then switch it up to see which you like better.
• If you can’t find true apricot brandy in your local liquor store, you may be looking for it in the wrong place. I’ve found it both in the brandy section and also where you would find schnapps, other flavored brandies, and triple sec. Sometimes you will see it listed as apricot liqueur.
• Wash your limes before cutting into them. Here’s how: Use an unscented natural soap. I buy mine as Whole Foods. Squirt some in your hands and rub the soap on the skin of the citrus. Then use a vegetable brush and scrub the skin. Rinse the fruit with cold water, making sure all the soap has been removed.
• I like to garnish this cocktail with thin lime twists. I use my channeling knife. If you don’t have one, you can use a paring knife and cut as thin a strip as you can.
• Here’s how to use a channeling knife: take the washed fruit in your non-dominant hand. With the channeling knife in your dominant hand, press the knife to the lime skin. Bear down and move the knife around the circumference of the fruit. For this cocktail I tried to get as long a twist as I could, which meant going around the lime more than once. Try not to bear down too hard so you get a lot of the pith (white part).
• I recommend a dilution to this cocktail because of how syrupy sloe gin is. Here’s how: Shake the cocktail shaker longer than usual. I recommend shaking vigorously for at least 30 seconds, which will micro-chip and melt the ice somewhat.
• For most of my martini-style drinks, I place the glassware in the freezer at least 10 minutes before starting the cocktail. That’s because I like a well-chilled cocktail glass from which to enjoy my creation.

How to make a Charlie Chaplin cocktail

Pre-step

Get a cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice. Also get a measuring glass and martini glasses.

Cut a few lime twists for garnish and set aside.

After measuring out the ingredients, pour them into the cocktail shaker.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – sloe gin, apricot brandy, and limes. (A)

Step two

Measure 3 ounces of sloe gin. (B)

Step three

Measure 3 ounces of apricot brandy. (C)

Step four

Measure 3 ounces of fresh lime juice. (D)

Step five

Cap the cocktail shaker and shake for at least 30 seconds so the ice dilutes the cocktail somewhat.

Step six

Strain and divide the cocktail between the two martini glasses. Add the lime twists to each glass. I like to drape it over the rim.

Isn’t the color gorgeous?

Let’s get a closer look.

So good.

I hope you enjoyed the best Charlie Chaplin cocktail I’ve ever had. I dare you to try it because I think you’ll really like it.

Other colorful cocktails

• Cherry sour
• Japanese slipper
• Witches brew
• Amaretto sour

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!