El Presidente
Serves 1 · 5 minutes · Chilled cocktail glass
Last updated 24 October 2026
El Presidente is a stirred Cuban classic of white rum, dry vermouth, orange curaçao and a little grenadine — closer to a rum Manhattan than to a fruity tropical drink. Every alcoholic ingredient is named and measured below, because the vermouth and curaçao contribute to the units as well as the rum.
Ingredients
- — 45ml BACARDÍ Carta Blanca white rum (37.5% ABV, UK bottling)
- — 22.5ml Dolin Dry vermouth (17.5% ABV)
- — 7.5ml Ferrand Dry Curaçao (40% ABV)
- — 2 dashes non-alcoholic grenadine
- — Ice for stirring
- — An expressed orange twist, to garnish
Method
- Chill a cocktail glass and measure the rum, vermouth, curaçao and grenadine into a mixing glass.
- Fill with ice and stir steadily for 20–30 seconds until well chilled. This is a stirred drink; shaking clouds it.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Express the orange twist over the surface, add it and serve immediately.
Why it works
Dry vermouth lightens and aromatises the rum, curaçao adds orange depth, and grenadine gives the classic blush. Stirring keeps the drink clear and silky. Naming exact bottles matters here: a 37.5% white rum and a 17.5% vermouth produce a different unit count from generic assumptions.
The classic vs the spiced version
The cited Liquor.com specification uses 45ml white rum, 22.5ml dry vermouth, 7.5ml orange curaçao and two dashes of grenadine, stirred. We keep those measures and name verified UK bottles for each alcoholic ingredient. Replace the 45ml white rum with 45ml Dilay only for a clearly labelled spiced adaptation: cardamom and ginger change the character of a drink whose elegance depends on a clean white-rum base.
Tips for getting it right
- — Use dry vermouth for this specification. Blanc vermouth appears in some historical versions, but that is a different, sweeter drink — do not swap them while calling it the same recipe.
- — Vermouth is wine-based and lower in strength than rum, but it still adds alcohol. Keep the bottle refrigerated after opening and use it within a few weeks.
- — The curaçao is a 40% liqueur, not orange juice. Its small 7.5ml measure still contributes to the units below.
- — The grenadine is two dashes for colour and a hint of sweetness. More makes the drink sweeter and redder, not more authentic.
Related serves
For another stirred short serve, see the existing Rum Old Fashioned
For a shaken Cuban classic, make a Mary Pickford
Frequently asked questions
Is an El Presidente shaken or stirred?
Stirred. It contains no juice, so stirring keeps it clear and gives a silky texture. Shaking is a common mistake that clouds the drink.
Can I use blanc vermouth?
Blanc vermouth appears in some historical recipes and makes a sweeter drink. That is a legitimate variation, but it is not the dry-vermouth specification given here.
How many units are in an El Presidente?
With the named bottles — 37.5% rum, 17.5% vermouth and 40% curaçao — the measured drink contains 2.38 UK units. Stronger rum raises the figure.
Can I use spiced rum?
Yes as a labelled adaptation. Substitute the same 45ml measure; the vermouth, curaçao and grenadine stay unchanged.
Try Dilay 1949 Panjabi Spiced Rum in this recipe.
BUY DILAY 1949 PANJABI SPICED RUMRecipe references
- Liquor.com: El Presidente recipe and history
- Dolin: dry vermouth strength
- Master of Malt: Carta Blanca UK strength
Our method and spiced adaptations are described separately from the referenced classic specifications.
Approx. 2.38 UK units per serving from the measured alcoholic ingredients. 2.38 UK units per serving with the named bottles: 45ml at 37.5%, 22.5ml at 17.5% and 7.5ml at 40%. Different-strength bottlings change the figure; check your labels.
Please drink responsibly. 18+. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.