The Monkey Gland

Before talking about the background of this wild Monkey Gland cocktail recipe, here are some other classic gin mixed drink recipes you'll love: the Classic Gin Martini, the Tom Collins, the Singapore Sling, the Gimlet and the French 75. Now, as far as the Monkey Gland cocktail’s history, “wild” as we described it above, is probably an understatement. The Monkey Gland cocktail Wiki page notes that “[The drink] is named after the pseudo-scientific idea that grafting monkey testicle tissue into humans would increase longevity,” and that “the idea [was] developed by the Russian doctor Serge Voronoff.” Super freakin’ wild, right? But the Monkey Gland cocktail Wiki doesn’t really do the history of the Monkey Gland cocktail history justice. As The Daily Beast notes, “[Voronoff’s] raison d’être was centered around the theory that the sex glands of living organisms hold the key to health, vigor, and drive.” The article goes on to note that “There is no delicate way to say this, he grafted the testicles of monkeys onto his patients.” In terms of who actually invented the Monkey Gland cocktail recipe, Letters and Liquor notes that there are two claims to the drink’s creation. The first is from Harry MacElhone of Harry’s New York bar in Paris. The other claim comes from Frank Meier of the Ritz. Regardless of who first created the drink — it doesn’t really matter all that much, right? — all we know is that it’s one tasty concoction. Side note: If you’re interested in some more absinthe cocktails, check out these bad boys: Absinthe Bull, Absinthe Without Leave, Black Absinthe Popsicles, Surfer on Absinthe, and Batman vs Superman. THE MONKEY GLAND 1 1 /2 oz. (45ml) Gin 1 oz. (30ml) Orange Juice 2 Drops of Absinthe 2 Drops of Grenadine PREPARATION 1. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. DRINK RESPONSIBLY!