Army & Navy

Alessandro Scire Calabrisotto

Nutty, citrusy and beautifully balanced, the Army & Navy is a gin sour with a secret weapon: orgeat, the fragrant almond syrup that gives this understated classic its silky texture and rich, rounded sweetness. Simple yet deceptively sophisticated, it is a drink that rewards good ingredients and a careful hand.

History of the Army & Navy

The Army & Navy is a classic gin sour whose name evokes the camaraderie of the early to mid-twentieth century, an era when many cocktails took their names from military themes and institutions. It is widely associated with the celebrated bartender and author David A. Embury, who featured the drink in his influential 1948 book The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks.

At its core, the cocktail is a refined variation on the gin sour, distinguished by the use of orgeat in place of plain sugar syrup. That single substitution transforms the drink, lending it a distinctive almond character and a luxuriously smooth mouthfeel. Though never as famous as some of its contemporaries, the Army & Navy has endured as a quiet favourite among those who appreciate elegant simplicity.

Recipe: How to Make a Classic Army & Navy

Ingredients:

  • 60 ml (2 oz) gin
  • 22.5 ml (0.75 oz) fresh lemon juice
  • 22.5 ml (0.75 oz) orgeat (almond syrup)
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Add the gin, lemon juice and orgeat to a shaker filled with ice.
  2. Shake hard for around 12 to 15 seconds until well chilled.
  3. Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass.
  4. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately.

Tips for Perfection:

  • Use a good-quality orgeat — ideally one with real almond content — as it is the defining ingredient of the drink.
  • Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice to keep the sour bright and lively against the rich syrup.
  • Shake hard and double-strain to achieve a smooth, well-integrated texture with a fine froth on top.

Additional Recommendations

Variations:

  • With bitters: adding a dash of Angostura on top for extra aromatic complexity.
  • Navy-strength version: using a higher-proof gin for a bolder, more robust drink.
  • Pistachio twist: substituting a pistachio orgeat for a different nutty character.

Pairings:

  • Almond-based pastries and biscotti.
  • Soft, creamy cheeses.
  • Lightly salted nuts.

Presentation:

  • Serve straight up in a chilled coupe for a clean, classic look.
  • Finish with an expressed lemon twist to brighten the aroma.

Curiosity: A Fun Fact About the Army & Navy

The Army & Navy owes its entire personality to orgeat — the same almond syrup that gives the tiki classic the Mai Tai its signature flavour. It is a neat reminder of how a single ingredient can quietly link two cocktails from utterly different worlds.

Sources

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