About the El President cocktail

The El Presidente is one of Cuba’s great contributions to cocktail culture, rising to prominence in the 1910s and 1920s during the American Prohibition era.

With Havana just a short trip away, Americans flocked to Cuba for legal drinking — and El Presidente became the cocktail of choice for diplomats, expats, and tourists alike.

Made with white rum, orange curaçao, dry vermouth, and a dash of grenadine, the drink balances sweetness with dryness and citrus brightness.

It’s named after Cuban President Gerardo Machado, and quickly became a symbol of Havana’s golden age of cocktail sophistication.

What Makes the El Presidente Cocktail Special

The El Presidente is unique in that it’s rum-forward yet refined — more in line with a martini or Manhattan than a tropical rum punch.

The interplay of vermouth and orange liqueur gives it a layered, European elegance, while rum adds a distinctly Caribbean soul.

It’s also highly visual: a well-made El Presidente has a beautiful coral-pink hue that looks striking in a stemmed glass.

This made it especially popular in the glamorous bars of pre-revolution Cuba.

Spirit Swaps and Food Pairings

The base of the El Presidente is flexible, though tradition leans toward a Cuban-style white rum:

• Use aged rum for a richer, rounder version.

• Swap dry vermouth for blanc vermouth if you prefer a slightly sweeter balance.

• A few drops of high-quality grenadine (pomegranate-based) are essential — avoid overly sweet commercial syrups.

As for pairings, the El Presidente complements seafood and light appetizers beautifully. Try it with shrimp cocktail, oysters, ceviche, or even a crisp salad.

Its balance of citrus and dryness cuts nicely through briny or delicate flavors.

Why the El Presidente Endures

The El Presidente isn’t just another rum cocktail — it’s a snapshot of a glamorous era, when Havana rivaled Paris and New York as a nightlife capital.

It’s elegant, flavorful, and versatile enough to feel at home both at a fine dining table and a home cocktail hour.