The Leap Year Cocktail Recipe was popular for celebrations and proposals at the Savoy Hotel, where it was invented by Harry Craddock on February 29th, 1928. Deliciously citrusy with notes of orange and lemon coming through over a splash of gin across the palate. This cocktail is worthy of a New Year’s celebration every year, not just on Leap Years.

The original recipe calls for 1 dash lemon juice, 2/3 gin, 1/6 Grand Marnier, 1/6 Italian Vermouth. Making this cocktail yielded a very small amount which barely filled half a cocktail glass. I ended up doubling and slightly adjusting proportion to be easier to measure out for most home bartenders.

The Savoy Hotel claims this cocktail to have been responsible for more proposals than any other cocktail mixed. Well, go on then. Make me an offer I can’t refuse!

Leap year cocktail recipe 1 the leap year cocktail recipe was popular for celebrations and proposals at the savoy hotel, where it was invented by harry craddock on february 29th, 1928. Deliciously citrusy with notes of orange and lemon coming through over a splash of gin across the palate. This cocktail is worthy of a new year's celebration every year, not just on leap years.

Michael Kahn

Leap Year Cocktail

5 from 3 votes

Perfect for any New Year celebration, the Leap Year Cocktail was created by Harry Craddock on February 29, 1928. This cocktail was known as being THE cocktail for a proposal. ✨🥂

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Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings: 1 cocktail

Course: Cocktail

Cuisine: British

Calories: 156

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

2 dashes Lemon juice
1 1/2 oz Gin Dry gin preferred
1/2 oz Grand Marnier Cointreau can be subbed
1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth Cocchi preferred
1 piece Lemon peel

Equipment

Cocktail Shaker
Jigger
Paring knife
Cocktail glass

Method

Add lemon juice, gin, Grand Marnier, and sweet vermouth to a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously.
Strain into a cocktail glass. Squeeze lemon peel on top.