I see no steak. I see no lobster. So what’s with this cocktail’s name? It was created only recently by Simon Difford (of Difford’s Guide fame), but it’s a riff on a drink that’s at least 125 years old – the Turf Club Cocktail, which was named after one of the saloons that first merchandised it and first appeared in print in an 1884 book entitled “How to Mix Drinks: Bar Keepers’ Handbook” (still available in reprint). The Turf Club Cocktail was based on Old Tom Gin (an interesting history unto itself) and absinthe (an even *more* interesting history!).

The surf part is what’s interesting about this version. “Surf” is a reference to the salty notes of Fino sherry, which gains that quality from aging in the Mediterranean climate of Cádiz—the province at Spain’s southernmost tip, near the Strait of Gibraltar. Fino and its sibling Manzanilla sherry (nearly the same qualities, but aged in a different city in Cádiz) lend their saltiness to literally hundreds of cocktail recipes. Another favorite recipe of mine that puts Fino to good use is “Damn it Jimmy.” Try it sometime! 

I’d like to put in a plug here for Old Tom Gin. Folks who are put off by the juniper edginess of London Dry Gin should give Old Tom a try. While it is also juniper based, it has a sweet maltiness that softens the juniper. I’ve enjoyed more than a few glasses of Old Tom simply poured over ice, especially during warm weather; it holds up very well on its own. For the Surf and Turf, I went with Hayman’s Old Tom Gin for its classic flavors, although there are other great brands available as well. 

SURF & TURF COCKTAIL
1½ oz Hayman’s Old Tom Gin
¾ oz Dolin Dry vermouth
½ oz Lustau Fino sherry
¼ oz Ferrand Dry Curaçao orange liqueur
1 dash Angostura (aromatic) bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice to about two-thirds full, and stir for 15-20 seconds. Strain the mix into into a chilled cocktail coupe, and garnish with a twist of lemon zest.

About our Cocktail of the Week partners—shop local and independent!

Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor are less than a mile from each other, on Monroe Avenue near Twelve Corners in Brighton.

Cooks’ World, in business since 1978, is Rochester’s premier retailer of dining, kitchen, and cooking products, including a complete selection of glassware, mixology tools, and accessories for wine and spirits lovers. Follow Cooks’ World on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up here to receive Cooks’ World’s daily email specials and other news. 

Pinnacle Wine & Liquor, in business since 1997, offers a thoughtfully curated selection of spirits and wine from around the world, with a savvy staff to assist in your selection and encourage you along your cocktail and wine journey. Follow Pinnacle on Facebook and Instagram. For the inside track on Pinnacle’s spirits sales, send two text messages to (585)765-7546:
— Text the word “bourbon,” to receive weekly text messages offering the chance to buy rare or allocated whiskies or special prices on popular products.
—Text the word “spirits,” to receive roughly monthly offers on fine spirits other than whiskies.