This post may include affiliate links.
The Pegu Club is a unique classic gin cocktail with orange liqueur, fresh lime, and two kinds of bitters! This drink recipe is boozy and sophisticated, with a citrusy herbal finish.
As a cocktail expert who’s tasted over 300 cocktail recipes, it’s not often that I find one that surprises me. But the Pegu Club cocktail did! This classic 1920’s drink was invented at, as the name suggests, the Pegu Club. This boozy drink is sophisticated and refreshing, with a citrus and herbal finish.
It’s surprisingly balanced: not too sweet, with a dry finish. Here’s how to make this intriguing classic that deserves every bit of its recent revival!
The Story Behind The Pegu Club Cocktail
The Pegu Club is a gin cocktail invented in the 1920’s at the Pegu Club in Yangon, Myanmar (Rangoon, Burma at the time). The first mention of the Pegu Club appeared in a 1923 cocktail book by Harry McElhone, bartender of the iconic Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. (He’s taken credit for famous cocktails like the Sidecar, Between the Sheets and White Lady.)
Then it vanished for seventy years. Its modern comeback can be traced to bartender Audrey Saunders: she opened a cocktail bar called Pegu Club in New York’s SoHo neighborhood in 2005 and made this a featured drink. The bar since closed (in 2020), but the Pegu Club drink remains!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Unlike many cocktails of the day, the Pegu Club is not a Instead gin and orange liqueur are front and center! It makes for an intriguing, sophisticated drink. Here’s what you need for a Pegu Club:
- Gin: A dry gin is my default; I like Malfy Originale. It has notes of juniper and herbs without being overpowering or floral.
- Orange liqueur: A clear orange curaçao is traditional, but Cointreau or a good triple sec both work.
- Fresh lime juice: Make sure to use fresh juice, always, for best flavor.
- Angostura bitters and orange bitters: These add depth, spice and a citrusy flavor.
- Lime twist or wedge: For the garnish.
Which Orange Liqueur To Use: Curaçao, Cointreau, Or Triple Sec
The Pegu Club calls for clear orange curacao for the orange liqueur. Turns out, it’s slightly difficult to find an orange curacao these days, so Cointreau or triple sec work too! Here are the differences between these orange liqueurs:
- Triple Sec is the name for the category for any clear, dry orange-flavored liqueur. But in most liquor stores, there are also bottles labeled Triple Sec! They’re generally lower in quality and more affordable than Cointreau. Triple sec has a straightforward flavor: it’s very citrusy, almost like an orange-infused vodka.
- Cointreau is a clear, orange-flavored liqueur made from sweet and bitter peels. It is a type of Triple Sec and was introduced in the 1880’s in France. The flavor is balanced and complex, with a fragrant aroma and a smooth, clean finish. It’s our top choice for margaritas and other Cointreau cocktails.
- Orange Curaçao is the original orange liqueur. More common than the clear variety is actually Blue Curaçao, bright blue in color and used in drinks like the Blue Hawaii and Blue Long Island. Don’t substitute Blue Curaçao here, since it will alter the color of the drink!
Why The Pegu Club Uses Two Kinds Of Bitters
The Pegu Club cocktail calls for not one, but two types of bitters! Cocktail bitters are alcohol that’s infused with herbs, fruit, spices, leaves and other botanicals. They have a bitter, herbal flavor and are used to add nuance and intrigue to cocktails. The most famous cocktail recipe to use bitters is the Old Fashioned, but there are lots of other greats like the Manhattan and Sazerac.
The most popular types of bitters are Angostura bitters, Orange bitters, and Peychaud’s bitters. If you don’t have orange bitters (they’re less popular), you can absolutely make the cocktail with only Angostura bitters. The difference is very subtle! Of course if you’re a cocktail connoisseur, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to use dashes from two separate bottles.
How To Make A Pegu Club Cocktail
The Pegu Club cocktail is easy to make, once you’ve compiled the essential ingredients! All you’ll need is a cocktail shaker. Jump to the recipe below for the quantities, or follow these steps:
- Shake: Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and then shake until very cold.
- Strain: Strain the drink into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish: If you’d like, garnish with a lime wedge.
Pegu Club Vs. Gin Sour: What’s The Difference?
A Pegu Club is technically a sour cocktail by definition, a drink that mixes spirit, citrus, sweetener. The difference is what does the sweetening.
A gin sour uses simple syrup and lemon and tastes sweet tart. The Pegu Club uses orange liqueur and lime, then stacks two bitters on top, so it tastes drier and sharper. It’s like a Sidecar or White Lady, where orange liqueur stands in for any simple syrup.
When To Serve This Drink
The Pegu Club is a classy cocktail that works for anytime! It’s great for sipping as a:
Frequently Asked Questions
A classic gin cocktail made with gin, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and both Angostura and orange bitters, shaken and served up. It’s tart, herbal, and dry rather than sweet.
At the Pegu Club, a British club near Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar). It first appeared in print in 1923.
It can. The original calls for clear orange curaçao, but Cointreau is a widely available substitute that works well — as does triple sec.
Yes, use two dashes of Angostura instead.
Pegu Club Cocktail
The Pegu Club is a unique classic gin cocktail with orange liqueur, fresh lime, and two kinds of bitters! This drink recipe is boozy and sophisticated, with a citrusy herbal finish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 ounces* gin
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (triple sec, Cointreau, or clear orange curacao)
- ½ ounce lime juice
- 1 dash angostura and 1 dash orange bitters
- For the garnish: lime wedge
Instructions
- Place the gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, and bitters in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake until cold.
- Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge if desired.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.
More Classic Cocktails To Try
I love 1920’s cocktails: in fact, I’ve made a list of my Top 1920s Cocktails to Try Today. Here are a few favorites:
- Opt for a classic Tom Collins or Gin Fizz, with bubbles and gin
- Grab a Bees Knees, with gin and honey syrup
- Try the pretty pink Mary Pickford or Clover Club with grenadine
- Go for a Southside, like a mojito with gin
- Try the classy martini predecessor, the Martinez
Nice