Classic Army & Navy Gin Cocktail Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Fresh lemon juice gives the drink a crisp, refreshing brightness.
• Orgeat adds gentle sweetness, almond richness, and a silky texture.
• London dry gin and aromatic bitters provide layers of botanical spice.
• It comes together in just 5 minutes with no special bartending experience required.

Grocery List

• Produce: 1 medium lemon
• Dairy: None required
• Pantry: London dry gin, orgeat syrup, aromatic bitters, and ice cubes

Full Ingredients

For the Cocktail

• 2 ounces London dry gin
• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice, strained to remove seeds and excess pulp
• 1/2 ounce orgeat syrup
• 1 dash aromatic bitters, about 1/8 teaspoon
• 1 cup ice cubes, for shaking

For Chilling and Garnishing

• 1 cup ice cubes, for chilling the serving glass
• Cold water, enough to fill the serving glass
• 1 strip lemon peel, about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, with minimal white pith

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Chill the serving glass

Fill a 5- to 6-ounce coupe or Nick and Nora glass with 1 cup of ice, then add cold water until the glass is full. Let it chill for 3 minutes while you measure the cocktail ingredients. Chilling the glass helps keep the finished drink near its ideal serving temperature of 35 to 40°F without adding extra dilution.

Step 2: Measure the cocktail ingredients

Pour 2 ounces of London dry gin, 3/4 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1/2 ounce of orgeat syrup, and 1 dash of aromatic bitters into an empty cocktail shaker. Adding the ingredients before the ice gives you time to measure accurately without allowing the drink to dilute too early.

Step 3: Add the shaking ice

Add 1 cup of fresh ice cubes to the shaker. Use firm, solid cubes rather than crushed ice, which melts quickly and can make the cocktail watery. Seal the shaker securely before lifting it.

Step 4: Shake until properly chilled

Shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds. Use a confident back-and-forth motion so the lemon juice and orgeat combine fully with the gin. The shaker should become frosty and very cold, and the cocktail should reach approximately 35 to 40°F.

Step 5: Double-strain the cocktail

Discard the ice and water from the chilled serving glass. Place a fine-mesh strainer beneath the shaker’s built-in or Hawthorne strainer, then pour the cocktail through both strainers into the glass. Double-straining removes small ice chips and lemon pulp, creating the smooth, polished texture that suits this classic drink.

Step 6: Garnish and serve

Hold the lemon peel with the yellow side facing the drink and gently squeeze it over the surface to release its fragrant citrus oils. Rub the yellow side around the rim, then curl the peel and rest it on the edge of the glass or drop it into the cocktail. Serve immediately while thoroughly chilled.

Pro Tips

• Use fresh lemon juice: Bottled juice often tastes muted or harsh and will not provide the same clean citrus flavor.
• Choose a botanical gin: A classic London dry gin has enough juniper and spice to balance the rich almond syrup.
• Check your orgeat: Orgeat varies in sweetness by brand. Stir or shake the bottle before measuring if the syrup has separated.
• Measure carefully: An extra 1/4 ounce of orgeat can noticeably change the cocktail from bright and balanced to sweet and dessert-like.
• Be aware of allergens: Traditional orgeat is made with almonds, so check the label before serving anyone with a tree nut allergy.

Variations

• Softer and sweeter: Increase the orgeat from 1/2 ounce to 3/4 ounce for a richer almond flavor and rounder finish.
• Orange-spiced Army & Navy: Replace the aromatic bitters with 1 dash, about 1/8 teaspoon, of orange bitters and garnish with a 3-inch orange peel.
• Zero-proof version: Replace the gin with 2 ounces of a juniper-forward nonalcoholic gin alternative. Keep the lemon juice, orgeat, and bitters the same, using alcohol-free bitters if needed.

Storage & Make-Ahead

The Army & Navy is best shaken and served immediately; a finished cocktail should not be stored because the fresh citrus flavor fades and the drink loses its ideal texture. Lemon juice may be squeezed, strained, covered, and refrigerated at 40°F or colder for up to 24 hours. For easier serving, pre-measure the gin and orgeat together and refrigerate the mixture for up to 24 hours, then add fresh lemon juice and bitters immediately before shaking. Refrigerate opened orgeat according to the manufacturer’s directions and shake it well before each use.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 180 kcal | Carbs: 13g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 10g | Sodium: 5mg | Cholesterol: 0mg