A bracing equal-parts sour in which vodka gives clean, neutral heft, triple sec adds a bright orange sweetness, and fresh lime pulls everything taut, leaving it tart and just off-dry. Think of a Cosmopolitan with the cranberry stripped away — shaken hard, served ice-cold and up, it drinks sharp, citrusy and dangerously smooth.
Garnish: Lime Wedge
Shaken · Coupe · Up
add
Add the vodka, triple sec, and lime juice to a shaker.
shake
Fill the shaker with ice and shake well until cold.
strain
Double-strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass, served up.
garnish
Garnish with a lime wedge or twist.
Nobody has pinned down who first shook this drink or where, and several rival stories still compete for the credit. Its name points to the Japanese dive-bombers of the Second World War — a wry warning about how fast a couple of rounds can floor you. The International Bartenders Association once counted it among its official cocktails as a simple trio of equal measures, but it has since dropped off the current IBA roster.