Army & Navy - Classic Gin Cocktail with Orgeat

A Sour with Almond Syrup

Army & Navy follows a simple and well-known cocktail structure.

Gin serves as the main spirit. Fresh lemon juice adds acidity, while orgeat provides sweetness.

What sets this cocktail apart from a regular Gin Sour is precisely the orgeat.

Orgeat is an almond syrup that adds sweetness, flavor, and texture. Instead of a clean and neutral sweetness, the drink has notes of almond, flowers, and often a hint of orange blossom water.

This makes Army & Navy rounder and more aromatic than a sour made with regular simple syrup.

Documented by David A. Embury

Army & Navy was documented in David A. Embury's The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks from 1948.

Embury was not a professional bartender but an American lawyer and cocktail enthusiast. His book was significant because he attempted to systematize how cocktails should be built and balanced.

He categorized ingredients into base spirits, modifying ingredients, and flavorings.

Army & Navy fits well into this framework. Gin serves as the base, lemon provides acidity, and orgeat balances the drink with sweetness and flavor.

The classic documented version was typically made without bitters. However, many modern bartenders add Angostura bitters or orange bitters to introduce spice and more depth.

Where Does the Name Come From?

The name Army & Navy sounds like it should have a clear military history.

However, there is no definitively documented explanation.

One theory is that the name refers to the traditional rivalry between the U.S. Army and Navy. The Army-Navy Game, the annual American football game between the military academies, has been held since the late 1800s.

However, it is not documented that the cocktail was created for the game or had an official connection to the military.

Therefore, it is safest to treat the origin of the name as unknown.

Gin as the Base

Gin is the largest ingredient in the cocktail and determines much of its character.

A classic London Dry gin works well. It provides clear juniper, citrus, and dry botanical notes that balance the sweetness of the orgeat.

A very floral or mild gin may be dominated by the almond. A robust gin with a lot of juniper can create a drier and more pronounced cocktail.

The most important thing is that the gin has enough structure to withstand both the lemon juice and the orgeat.

Gin with a distinct citrus character works especially well because it supports the lemon juice.

What is Orgeat?

Orgeat is a sweet almond syrup used in both classic and tropical cocktails.

It is typically made with almonds, sugar, and water. Many varieties also contain orange blossom water or rose water.

Orgeat is particularly associated with Mai Tai, but the ingredient is much older than modern tiki culture.

In Army & Navy, it is used similarly to simple syrup, but the flavor becomes much more complex.

Orgeat adds:

• Sweetness
• Almond
• Body
• A smoother texture
• A light floral note

Different products vary significantly in sweetness and almond flavor. Therefore, the amount should be adjusted based on the orgeat used.

The Balance Between Lemon and Orgeat

Lemon and orgeat must be in balance.

Too much lemon makes the drink sharp and thin. Too much orgeat makes it heavy, sweet, and marzipan-like.

A good Army & Navy should first be experienced as fresh and gin-forward. The almond should come through clearly but not overshadow the gin.

Commercial orgeat can be very sweet. Therefore, it makes sense to start with 15 ml and adjust to taste.

Homemade orgeat may be less sweet and require a slightly larger amount.

Fresh lemon juice is crucial. Pre-packaged juice often lacks both freshness and aroma.

Does the Drink Need Bitters?

The early documented versions of Army & Navy were typically made without bitters.

In modern recipes, one or two dashes of Angostura bitters or orange bitters are often used.

Angostura adds cinnamon, clove, and dark spices. This provides contrast to the almond and makes the finish drier.

Orange bitters give a lighter and more citrus-forward expression.

Both work, but they make the cocktail slightly less pure than the original.

In this recipe, one dash of Angostura bitters is used. This adds more depth without overpowering the flavor.

Why the Cocktail Should Be Shaken

Army & Navy contains both lemon juice and syrup, so it should be shaken.

Shaking mixes the ingredients, chills the drink, and adds necessary water.

Orgeat can be thicker than simple syrup and requires vigorous shaking to integrate properly.

Fill the shaker well with ice and shake until very cold.

Double strain the cocktail to remove small ice shards and any remnants from the lemon juice or orgeat.

Serving Without Ice

Army & Navy is served straight up.

This means the cocktail is shaken with ice but strained into a glass without ice.

The cocktail glass should be chilled beforehand. Otherwise, the short drink will quickly become warm.

A coupe, a Nick & Nora glass, or a classic cocktail glass works well.

The Nick & Nora glass gives a modest classic expression, while a coupe provides better space for the lemon zest.

Lemon Zest as Garnish

Lemon zest adds aroma without additional acidity.

Press the oils from the peel over the surface of the drink. This gives a fresh citrus scent even before the first sip.

The zest can then be placed along the rim or in the glass.

A cocktail cherry is used in some modern presentations but can give a sweeter and more decorative expression than necessary.

Army & Navy works best with a simple garnish.

An Accessible Way to Use Orgeat

Many buy orgeat to make Mai Tai and later find that the bottle remains unused.

Army & Navy is an easy way to use it without having to make a full tiki cocktail.

The recipe requires few ingredients and takes little time to prepare.

It also shows that orgeat pairs well not only with rum and tropical fruit. Almond works very well with gin and lemon.

The cocktail is particularly suitable for those who enjoy Gin Sour, White Lady, or other sour gin cocktails but want a rounder and nuttier expression.