THE BOULEVARDIER cocktail recipe

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Boulevardier is an elegant, easy-to-make cocktail with three different types of alcohol – Bourbon, Italian Red Bitter Liqueur and Sweet Red Vermouth. Like an Old Fashioned or Negroni, The Boulevardier offers a rich and refined sipping experience ideal for autumn or winter.

There’s the sweetness of Red Vermouth, the richness and smoothness of Bourbon and finally the bitterness from the Italian Red Bitter Liqueur. When making this drink, Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, calls the Italian Red Bitter Liqueur a Bitter Orange Italian Liqueur, referring to its flavor profile rather than its color.

Once an obscure drink from 1920s Paris, The Boulevardier is now enjoying a well-deserved second life. Let’s raise a glass to that!

How To Make The Boulevardier

What You’ll Need

• Mixing Glass
• Jigger or Measuring Instrument
• Bar Spoon
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Rocks Glass

How to Mix

1. Grab a Mixing Glass and measure and pour in Sweet Vermouth, Italian Red Bitter Liqueur, and Bourbon.
2. Add several large Ice Cubes.
3. Stir with a Bar Spoon for 15-30 seconds until ice cold.
4. Add one large Ice Cube into a Rocks Glass.
5. Use a Hawthorne Strainer to strain the mix into the Rocks Glass.
6. Sip and enjoy!

The History of The Boulevardier

The Boulevardier originates from the hustle and bustle of 1920s Paris but was almost forgotten for 80 years.

It first appeared in print in a 1927 Parisian cocktail book, attributed to an American-born writer who founded a monthly magazine in Paris. The cocktail is mentioned not in the main list of recipes, but in an essay.

Despite this early mention, the Boulevardier did not gain popularity and remained absent from major cocktail collections between 1927 and 2007.

It was rediscovered in the late 2000s during the craft cocktail movement, and quickly gained popularity in the 2010s.

Tips for Making the Perfect Boulevardier

Crafting the perfect Boulevardier is all about balancing the ingredients for a smooth, sophisticated sip.

• Use a large Ice Cube for better dilution
  For that perfect sip, you need a hefty Ice Cube. In the video, you’ll see Rico masterfully wield an Ice Pick to carve a glacier-sized piece for his Rocks Glass. Don’t try this at home! OK, you can but be very, very careful – Rico is a trained professional. The truth is any large piece of ice will do. If you have large ice molds at home, that’s even better.

  “If you’re wondering why we want to use these big Ice Cubes, it’s because they actually dilute a lot slower and that just gives you better control over dilution,” explains Rico. Dilution balances the flavors, softens the alcohol’s intensity, and enhances the drink’s overall smoothness. In brief, it creates a more enjoyable sipping experience.

• Stir until ice cold…but don’t stir too much
  Using a Bar Spoon, you want to stir your drink until it’s ice cold. As Rico says, The Boulevardier is like an Old Fashioned in that it’s a sipping drink. “Don’t stir it to perfection because it’s going to be sitting in ice for a while. Stir a little bit premature and that way you will get the full experience of the drink as it slowly dilutes in your glass,” explains Rico.

• Choose your ingredients wisely
  Since the Boulevardier is a three-ingredient cocktail where each element is equally crucial, don’t skimp on quality. Use your favorite Bourbon and a top-notch Sweet Red Vermouth. The interplay between all three spirits is vital; striking the right balance can mean the difference between a great drink and a mediocre one.

Variations of The Boulevardier

The Mandrin Boulevard
For this variation, Rico substitutes the Bourbon for Mandarin-Flavored Vodka. And the result? Let’s ask Rico: “I’m not going to lie; you don’t get the flavors of the Bourbon but the Mandarin – it’s delicious. Is this an exact replacement for a Boulevardier? Hell no, that drink is banging. It’s great. But if you’ve got some Absolut Mandrin at home and you want something that’s sophisticated, a little bit bitter and you like those Negroni type drink, Absolut Mandrin is pretty perfect in this drink.”

Why Mandarin-Flavored Vodka? “Orange is a flavor or a note that you get in some Bourbons and since we’re getting rid of a lot of the Bourbon flavor, (you can) add a little extra flavor with some Absolut Mandrin,” shares Rico.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for The Boulevardier

You’ll notice in our video that Rico opts not to garnish his drink. Most recipes, however, use Orange Peel or an Orange Twist.

We recommend serving The Boulevardier in a Rocks Glass. It’s the perfect glass for sipping and for accommodating that all-important large Ice Cube.

Want to learn more about Glassware? Check out our article about different glass types.