Wednesday, June 2, 2021

The Lucien Gaudin Cocktail

The Lucien Gaudin Cocktail

A gold-medal drink named after a French Olympic champion

Lucien Gaudin was an Olympic fencing champ during the 1920s (more history in the Notes).

His namesake drink has lively aroma, terrific flavor, and good looks. It makes a great predinner drink. Or a nice tipple while watching the Olympics later this summer.

En garde! 

The Lucien Gaudin Cocktail

Recipe: The Lucien Gaudin Cocktail

The Lucien Gaudin Cocktail isn’t well known today, but we’d like to change that. Because this drink is a delightful combo of gin, Cointreau, Campari, and dry vermouth.  

Gin and Campari pair up most famously in the Negroni Cocktail. But the Lucien Gaudin has a more complex flavor: Cointreau adds a touch of sweetness, while dry vermouth infuses a floral note. And Campari contributes its characteristic bitterness.

This recipe takes about 5 minutes to prepare and serves 1.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce dry gin
  • ½ ounce Cointreau
  • ½ ounce Campari
  • ½ ounce dry vermouth
  • garnish of orange or lemon peel (optional)

Procedure 

  1. Place all ingredients (except garnish) in a mixing glass half filled with ice. Stir briskly until the contents are well chilled (about 30 seconds).
  2. Strain into a cocktail glass (preferably one that has been chilled). Garnish, if you wish, and serve.

The Lucien Gaudin Cocktail
Notes

  • Why stir rather than shake? Because all the ingredients are clear. Shaking introduces tiny oxygen bubbles, which can cloud the drink. But we often shake anyway.
  • This drink traditionally is served “up” in a cocktail glass. But it’s also good over ice in a rocks (Old-Fashioned) glass.
  • The origins of this cocktail are obscure. But it’s widely accepted that the drink was created sometime during the Prohibition era, when Lucien Gaudin was at the height of his popularity. He competed in the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Olympics, winning 2 silver and 4 gold medals in total. 
  • Fencing is still an Olympic sport. If the Olympics occur as scheduled this summer (there is some doubt because of Covid), fencing will again be part of the games.
  • There are actually three distinct disciplines within the sport of fencing: the foil, the épée, and the sabre. The names refer to the weapons used, which vary in shape and are employed differently (the foil and the épée are thrusting weapons, while the sabre is used for both thrusting and slashing).
  • The term “fencing” derives from the Latin defensio (meaning defense or protection). William Shakespeare is credited with being the first English speaker to associate the word “fencing” with swordsmanship (in his play The Merry Wives of Windsor).
  • With this post we launch our annual Summer Sippin’ and Snarfin’ Series. Throughout much of the year we post only one cocktail recipe a month. But during the summer, we serve up drinks every other week (sometimes more frequently). Why? Well, it’s hot, and we get thirsty. All the food recipes we feature during this time are summer appropriate, too. Enjoy!

The Lucien Gaudin Cocktail
Foiled Again

“Délicieux,” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “Gold medal worthy.”

“Yup,” I said. “No need to cross swords on this one.”

“So we can avoid the thrust and parry this time?” said Mrs K R.

“Unless I engage in some pun making,” I said. “But I wouldn’t want you to feint.”

“You might decide to fall on your sword after that one,” said Mrs K R.

Touché.

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56 comments:

Anne in the kitchen said...

Once again, I love the puns!
This drink is a feast for the eyes and sounds perfectly wonderful!
Now I can look forward to your summer cocktails every other week, I have a screened porch and rocking chair ready for some summer sipping!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anne, this ending kind of wrote itself. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Martha said...

It sure looks and sounds delicious. I'm looking forward to your Summer Sippin’ and Snarfin’ Series. We love having a nice cocktail or two on summer evenings.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Martha, we always enjoy selecting the cocktails for that series. Have some fun food recipes coming, too! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Yes, perfect for sipping during the Olympics. My life goal is to make twists as beautiful as yours!!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, this is the easiest garnish to make -- the cocktail pick helps preserve the shape of the twist. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Healthy World Cuisine said...

Campari and Cointreau together, how delicious! I agree with Liz, do you think one day you can do a post on how to do garnishes for drinks or do you have one in the archives? Stay well and take care

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, it's a great combo! And we actually do have a mini lesson for making twists, in the Notes on our post for the Martinez Cocktail (http://www.kitchenriffs.com/2016/07/the-martinez-cocktail.html). Enjoy! :-) Thanks for the comment.

savorthebest said...

It's a beautiful drink, definitely makes a great pre dinner cocktail

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Dahn and Pat, wait until you taste this -- terrific flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Angie's Recipes said...

You make the BEST cocktails, John. This looks so beautiful and tempting with your photography. As always, I enjoy reading the conversations/flirts between you and Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. You two are such a cute couple.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Angie, don't know about me, but Mrs KR definitely IS cute! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Mae Travels said...

You are right: time for summer drinks now that we can mingle with our friends and relations. My repertoire is pretty limited, though, as we mostly go for wine.

You do manage to work some obscure history into the drink recipes.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mae, it's amazing how many drinks are out there! We thought we'd have run out of drinks long ago, but we keep finding more and more interesting ones. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Sherry's Pickings said...

love your puns! what a man was Shakespeare! how on earth did he come up with all that stuff?:) love your photos; love your drink. take care!

mjskit said...

Looks like a drink that definitely should be brought back. A nice sipper.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Sherry, Shakespeare is wonderful, isn't he? Bet he would approve of this drink. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, definitely should. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ben | Havocinthekitchen said...

Oh another fabulous cocktail, so elegant and delightful. Stunning photos (as always!) John, I solemnly pronounce you the kind of the fancy cocktails :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ben, this is a good one. But then, they're all good! :-) Thanks for the comment.

R's Rue said...

Yum

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi R, it's good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Fran @ G'day Souffle said...

Sippin' and Snarfin'- love it! Can't wait to view your up-comin' Summer recipes!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Fran, we can't wait either! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Family Spice said...

Another gorgeous cocktail! My husband has been wanting to try more cocktails with gin.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, isn't this pretty? And good thing we have loads of gin cocktails on our blog. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

What a beauty! I'm sure it's tasty too.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, this really has quite nice flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes said...

This is almost too good looking to drink!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ashley, with "almost" being the operative word! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Denise Browning said...

Such a sexy cocktail!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Denise, it is. :-) Thanks for the comment.

The-FoodTrotter said...

It seems quite a bit strong cocktail for my taste by I wish these were more common in bars. I like these retro cocktails :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi FT, its flavor really is a bit in-your-face, but really pleasing. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Sippity Sup said...

Oh Lucien! It's diabolically red allure made me read Lucifer. I'll have to give this one a try. After all, I can always say the devil made me do it. GREG

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Greg, we know the devil all too well, alas. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Eva Taylor said...

Apart from your usual beautiful photography, the second photo has some similar reflections to actual fencing! Well done. The combo sounds lovely, perfect for a summer tipple.
Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com/

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Eva, reflections in drinks can be so much fun! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Jeff the Chef said...

What an interesting combination of ingredients in this drink. I wonder if maybe someday someone will name a drink after me? Probably, it will have Kool-Aid in it. Gorgeous glass, too, btw. Looking forward to the Olympics!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jeff, we should all have drinks named after us! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

How fascinating to learn about this cocktail and its homage to a fencing star. A good friend's daughter is already blazing a trail in fencing. She's still in high school, so a few years away yet from being of drinking age. When she is, I'll have to tell her to enjoy one of these.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, this will be a fun drink for her when the time is appropriate. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Cocoa and Lavender said...

Amazing combination of flavors in this, John! This morning, as I bought Grand Marnier, I thought about using Cointreau instead. Silly me… I will get Cointreau next time and they will have everything to make us.

PS - love your épée toothpick!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi David, we sometimes substitute Grand Marnier for Cointreau, but there really is enough difference that we always have both on hand. Seems a bit silly because their flavors aren't that far apart, but I guess we're silly. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Abbe@This is How I Cook said...

The sport of fencing is always intriguing to those of us afraid of sharp objects. I think I'll stick (get it-stick) with this drink!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Abbe, lol! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Valentina said...

Definitely making this for the summer games. How fun! And it's so nice to have new delicious cocktail drinks as we all start to entertain again. Love it. :-) ~Valentina

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Valentina, we've had a couple of dinner parties since we've been vaccinated -- SO nice! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

Good drink and good puns too! Have to give this one a try. Thanks, John!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, we do enjoy a good pun. :-) Thanks for the comment.

handmade by amalia said...

Fencing is an elegant sport, deserving of such an elegant drink. Now I'll know what to sip during the Olympic games.
Amalia
xo

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amalia, fencing is really interesting, isn't it? And this is such an interesting drink. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Laura Dembowski said...

I was already excited for the Olympics, and now with this drink in hand, even more so. Cointreau and Campari sound like a delightful combination.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, they really are a neat combo. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Raymund said...

Hopefully that coming olympic pushes on and wishing that it would be safe for everyone. Regardless whether it goes or not, this drink is perfect on any occassion

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, we hope the Olympics happen, too, although we have reservations about whether that's realistic. No reservations about this drink, though. :-) Thanks for the comment.