Remember the Maine (cocktail)

Lore & Background

The cocktail's name references the phrase 'Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!'—a rallying cry following the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in 1898, an event that contributed to the start of the Spanish–American War. Charles H. Baker Jr. encountered the drink in Havana during the Cuban Revolution of 1933, as stated in his book The Gentleman's Companion (1939).

The drink is similar to a Manhattan, and variations include substituting pastis for absinthe or bourbon for rye whiskey.

Reader's Guide

The Remember the Maine holds significance as an IBA official cocktail and a member of the Unforgettables category, ensuring its place in cocktail history. Its documentation by Charles H. Baker Jr. ties it to a specific historical moment—the Cuban Revolution of 1933—and to the earlier Spanish–American War through its name. The drink's preparation involves coating a coupe glass with absinthe, then discarding it, before stirring the remaining ingredients with ice and straining. This technique highlights the use of absinthe as a wash rather than a primary ingredient. The existence of the nearly identical McKinley’s Delight in the Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book (1935) suggests the drink may have had earlier or parallel versions. Its similarity to a Manhattan and the many possible substitutions (bourbon, tequila, pastis) demonstrate its adaptability while maintaining its core identity.

Did You Know?

• The cocktail is named after the rallying cry 'Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!' from the 1898 USS Maine explosion.
• Charles H. Baker Jr. first documented the drink in his 1939 book The Gentleman's Companion, stating he encountered it in Havana during the 1933 Cuban Revolution.
• The drink is classified as one of the Unforgettables by the IBA.

Origins & Historical Roots

The Remember the Maine traces its documented history to a single encounter in Havana, Cuba, during the turbulent period of the 1933 Cuban Revolution. Charles H. Baker Jr. recorded the drink in his 1939 publication, The Gentleman's Companion, describing it as a libation he savored in that Caribbean city. The cocktail's name is a direct nod to the infamous 1898 explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, a catastrophic event that ignited public fury and helped propel the United States into the Spanish–American War. The rallying cry "Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!" became a defining slogan of that era, and the cocktail carries that fiery patriotic echo in its very title. The connection to Havana is not merely geographic; it ties the drink to a specific moment of geopolitical upheaval. Interestingly, a near-identical recipe appeared in the 1935 Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book under the name McKinley's Delight, referencing President William McKinley, who was in office when the Maine disaster struck. This parallel naming suggests the drink's roots were already well established in American bar culture by the mid-1930s.

Official Standing & IBA Classification

The Remember the Maine holds a distinguished place in the world of classic cocktails as an IBA official recipe, a designation that places it among the most recognized and standardized drinks in international bartending. Its official composition calls for four specific components: rye whiskey, cherry brandy, sweet vermouth, and absinthe. This particular combination sets it apart from many other stirred drinks, as the inclusion of both cherry brandy and absinthe gives it a layered aromatic profile that is simultaneously fruity and anise-forward. Within the IBA's taxonomy, the cocktail is classified under the "Unforgettables" category, a grouping reserved for drinks the organization considers essential to the craft and worthy of preservation. This classification signals that the Remember the Maine is not merely a historical curiosity but a living recipe that bartenders worldwide are expected to know and prepare. The IBA's endorsement also provides a consistent reference point, ensuring that whether a patron orders the drink in a New York speakeasy or a European hotel bar, the core ingredients and spirit of the cocktail remain recognizable.

Preparation & Technique

Preparing the Remember the Maine follows a method that is deceptively simple yet demands attention to detail. The process begins with a ritualistic step: absinthe is poured into a coupe glass and swirled to coat the interior surfaces before being discarded. This rinse leaves behind a delicate anise aroma that will greet the drinker with the first sip. The prepared glass is then set aside while the main mix is assembled. In a mixing glass, the rye whiskey, cherry brandy, and sweet vermouth are combined, and the vessel is filled approximately three-quarters full with ice. The mixture is stirred until properly chilled, a technique that ensures a silky, well-diluted pour without the aeration that shaking would introduce. Once sufficiently cold, the liquid is strained into the absinthe-coated coupe. The final touch is a garnish of lemon zest, though some bartenders opt for a cherry instead, a choice that echoes the cherry brandy already present in the recipe. The result is a clear, elegant stirred cocktail that rewards patience and precision.

Variations & the Manhattan Connection

The Remember the Maine occupies a fascinating space in cocktail taxonomy because of its structural kinship to the Manhattan. Both are stirred, vermouth-forward drinks built around whiskey, yet the Maine distinguishes itself through the addition of cherry brandy and the absinthe rinse. This similarity has made it a natural canvas for experimentation. Bartenders and home mixologists have developed numerous substitutions that alter the drink's character while preserving its framework. Pastis can stand in for absinthe, offering a slightly different anise profile. Bourbon may replace the rye whiskey, lending a sweeter, fuller body to the base. Perhaps most radically, the whiskey can be swapped entirely for tequila, transforming the cocktail into a spirit-forward variation with a Mexican-inspired edge. The IBA's own notes acknowledge that there are endless other variations possible, inviting creativity while the core structure remains intact. This flexibility has helped the drink survive the decades, adapting to local palates and available ingredients while retaining its identity as a member of the Unforgettables.