Widow's KissCocktail recipe
Rating
Microbadges
Cocktail glass
Ingredients
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
The Widow's Kiss is an exceptional blend of herbal and fruit notes; the DOM Benedictine and Yellow Chartreuse offer a dance of rich, complex herbal flavors that mesh brilliantly with the apple zest of Calvados. The Angostura Bitters brings a subtle spiciness that deepens the drink, making it a sophisticated choice for those who favor layered, historical concoctions with a robust profile.
Method
How to make a Widow's Kiss
-
- Begin by combining all the ingredients in a mixing glass (for stirring) or a shaker (if you prefer your drink shaken) filled halfway with ice
-
- If you're stirring, use a long spoon to do so gently for about 10-15 seconds, ensuring the mixture is well-cooled but not overly diluted
-
- On the other hand, if shaking is more your style, give it a vigorous shake for 10-15 seconds or until the exterior of the shaker feels frosty to the touch, indicating the drink is nicely chilled
-
- Next, take a chilled glass, ensuring it's been kept in the freezer for a bit or filled with ice water for a few minutes to get that perfect chill
-
- Finally, strain the mixture into your prepared glass, capturing the ice and any undissolved ingredients, leaving you with a smooth, refreshing cocktail ready to enjoy
Power tips
Elevate the Widow's Kiss with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Focus on the quality of your DOM Benedictine and Yellow Chartreuse as these herbs-centric liquors define the cocktail's complexity.
- If shaking, consider using large ice cubes to minimize dilution while effectively chilling the cocktail.
- Subscribe to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Featured in
-
18 Best Halloween Cocktails for 2024
As the darker nights slowly envelope the autumnal skies in the Northern hemisphere, or spring is on the horizon in...
FAQ's
What flavor profile can I expect from a Widow's Kiss?
The Widow's Kiss cocktail offers a complex and herbal flavor profile, primarily due to the combination of DOM Benedictine and Yellow Chartreuse. These ingredients provide a unique blend of sweet, spicy, and herbal notes. The addition of Calvados adds a layer of apple and woody flavors, while the Angostura Bitters introduce a subtle bitterness, enhancing the cocktail's depth. Overall, expect a harmonious balance between sweetness, herbal notes, and a hint of fruitiness.
How should I serve the Widow's Kiss?
The Widow's Kiss should be served in a chilled cocktail glass. Since it's mentioned that it should be cold and shaken, not stirred, you shoud shake the ingredients with ice in a shaker until well-chilled, then strain into the cocktail glass. Garnishing is not specified, but an apple slice or a maraschino cherry could complement the flavors nicely without overpowering the drink's complex profile.
What is the history behind the Widow's Kiss?
The Widow's Kiss is a classic cocktail that emerged in the late 19th century. It was first recorded in George J. Kappeler's 1895 book, 'Modern American Drinks.' The cocktail combines French ingredients like Calvados and Chartreuse with the global appeal of bitters, showcasing the era's fascination with herbal liqueurs and the art of cocktail creation. Its evocative name and intriguing blend of flavors have contributed to its lasting popularity among cocktail enthusiasts.
Are there any variations to the traditional Widow's Kiss recipe?
Yes, there are several variations of the Widow's Kiss which experiment with the proportions and types of ingredients to adjust the flavor profile. Some variations might include using green Chartreuse instead of yellow for a sharper, more pronounced herbal flavor, or adjusting the ratios of Calvados and the liqueurs to either enhance the apple flavor or the sweetness and herbal notes, respectively. Experimentation with different types of bitters can also introduce new dimensions to the cocktail.
Can I make a non-alcoholic version of the Widow's Kiss?
Creating a non-alcoholic version of the Widow's Kiss is challenging due to the unique flavors of its alcoholic ingredients. However, it's possible to approximate the flavor profile using non-alcoholic apple cider in place of Calvados, a blend of non-alcoholic herbal extracts or syrups for the DOM Benedictine and Yellow Chartreuse, and a dash of non-alcoholic bitters. The key is balancing the sweet, herbal, and fruity elements to mimic the original cocktail's complexity.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
The Ultimate Christmas Cocktail Hub
The ultimate destination for all things Christmas and Cocktails. Crate your own Christmas cocktail, cocktail advent calendars, a host of Christmas themed cocktails and more.
Filter by Christmas cocktails that contain a certain ingredient, or just browse them all. The go-to location this Christmas.
Let's goYou might also like
The Road to Rouen
The Road to Rouen cocktail combines the rich and fruity base of Calvados with the herbal sweetness of Yellow Chartreuse,...
Star Cocktail
The Star Cocktail is a classic drink with origins dating back to the 1870s, believed to have been created by...
Diamondback
The Diamondback cocktail is a potent concoction that combines the rich, spicy undertones of rye whiskey with the refined sweetness...
Apple Sunrise
Apple Sunrise is a refreshing and fruity cocktail that is perfect for any time of day. Made with equal parts...
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Comments
No comments yet…
You need to be a user with a verified email to comment on cocktails. Login / register