Mixed by Jill Rowe
If you were a man in 1928 and you needed a little extra help in the bedroom, you might have visited Dr. Serge Voronoff, a French surgeon famous for his monkey gland transplant procedure. He claimed that by implanting the glands of a monkey into his patients, he could restore vitality, particularly in the bedroom.
Although the surgical technique didn't exactly prove to be a groundbreaking success or scientifically solid (shocking, I know), it did manage to spark public interest, turning into both a topic of conversation and a bit of a punchline. The cocktail's name is believed to be a playful reference to this strange chapter in medical history.
This drink was created by Harry MacElhone, the guy behind Harry's New York Bar in Paris. It's a mix of gin, fresh orange juice, a little grenadine, and just a touch of absinthe. The combo might sound a little strange, but it really comes together in the glass. It's bright and citrusy with just enough of that herbal kick to keep it interesting.
Now here's the thing. The ingredients matter. Use fresh orange juice. Don't go grabbing that bottled stuff unless you have no other choice. And get a decent grenadine. The store-bought neon red one tastes like candy. Try making your own with pomegranate juice and sugar.
The Monkey Gland might not give you eternal youth, but it's a fun nod to one of history's weirder medical moments. And the drink itself? Surprisingly refreshing with a story that's guaranteed to get a laugh. If you're looking for something off the beaten path that still tastes great, give it a try. No scalpels required.
Recipe:
2 oz Gin
1 oz Fresh Orange Juice
1/2 oz Grenadine
Absinthe rinse
Orange twist
Shake the gin, juice, and grenadine over ice, then strain into an absinthe-rinsed glass (pour a small amount of absinthe into a glass, swirl it around to coat the inside, then discard the excess) and garnish with an orange twist.