Spicy Fifty
Sweet heat, floral finish.
Vanilla vodka, elderflower, lime and honey shaken with slices of fresh chili. Soft and floral at first sip, it leaves a spicy warmth that builds slowly.
- IBA · New Era
- Aperitif
- Shaken
- Glass
- Cocktail glass
- Method
- Shaken
- Strength
- Medium
- Time
- 3 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Ice
- No ice
Ingredients
Measures for 1 serving
-
Vanilla vodka
50 ml
-
Elderflower cordial
15 ml
-
Lime juice
15 ml
-
Honey syrup
10 ml
-
Red chili pepper
2 slices
Garnish
- Red chili pepper
Proportions
How to make
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- Pour the vanilla vodka into the shaker.
- Add the elderflower cordial.
- Add the lime juice.
- Add the honey syrup.
- Add two slices of chili pepper.
- Shake well with ice.
- Double-strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a red chili pepper.
The story
Origins
DocumentedOrigin attested by written sources of the time.
The Spicy Fifty is a creation of Salvatore Calabrese, one of London's most celebrated Italian bartenders. He devised it in 2004-05 for Fifty, a private members' club and casino at 50 St James's Street, placing it on the venue's first menu when it opened in February 2005. By February 2006 the trade press was already describing it as a newcomer that had become an instant classic, priced at £11.50. Its pairing of vanilla and honey sweetness, elderflower perfume and chili heat has made it one of the most imitated modern cocktails, eventually earning a place on the official IBA list.
Taste profile
- Sweet
- 3 out of 5
- Spicy
- 3 out of 5
- Sour
- 2 out of 5
- Fruity
- 2 out of 5