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Jean Harlow

jeanharlowJean Harlow (1911-1937) was the first platinum blonde that brought sex to the Hollywood scene in the 1930s and she has her own cocktail. The drink that is named after her is a sweet rum martini, and it was supposedly a favourite of the actress. The recipe is very simple, just an equal mix of your favourite light rum and sweet vermouth garnished with a sexy lemon spiral. Though not as popular as the martini or Manhattan, the Jean Harlow cocktail is a fascinating experience that shows how many classic cocktails kept the ingredients simple without sacrificing taste. It is also another testament to the versatility of vermouth, proving that it really is a bar essential.

2 oz light rum
2 oz sweet vermouth

Garnish:
lemon peel

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with a lemon peel.

Makes 1 cocktail.

Cook's Notes:

  • As with any martini-style cocktail, adjust the rum to vermouth ratio to fit your personal taste. Equal parts are recommended, but you may enjoy less vermouth; some drinkers even pour as little as ½ oz.
  • Be sure to choose a quality rum for this drink. It's a very transparent mix and will show off any imperfections in the rum. If you enjoy sipping the rum straight, it's a good choice.
  • If it's been a while since you opened that bottle of sweet vermouth, consider replacing it. It has a shelf-life of just two to three months once open and should be stored in the refrigerator.
  • When cutting the lemon twist, you might find it easiest to use a canelle knife. The average pairing knife works with some practice.
  • Roll the twist gently into a spiral and give it squeeze over the drink to express the fruit's oils. This will give the cocktail a bright, subtle accent.

Variations:

  • The original Jean Harlow cocktail recommends light rum, though you can use a nice aged rum instead. You'll find that the hint of oak is a pleasant addition to the drink.
  • Add a nice accent to this cocktail with a few dashes of bitters. Aromatic bitters (e.g., Angostura) would be excellent. You can play around with other flavours, such as barrel-aged bitters, orange bitters, or peach bitters.
  • Rum is made from sugar or molasses, so it has a naturally sweeter profile. That's why it's paired with sweet vermouth in this cocktail. If, however, you want to use dry vermouth, you'll likely want to add a sweetener. For example, the El Presidente recipe brings a little curaçao and grenadine into the rum-dry vermouth mix.