After Supper Cocktail - Apricot Brandy & Orange Curacao Savoy Classic

The After Supper Cocktail is a compact three-ingredient drink built around apricot brandy, orange curaçao, and fresh lemon juice. The equal-parts apricot and orange structure gives it a lush fruit core, while the extra lemon in this modernized version adds enough acidity to keep the finish lively. Shaken cold and served up, it fits naturally after a meal.

Background

The drink is documented in Harry Craddock's The Savoy Cocktail Book from 1930, where it appears as equal parts apricot brandy and curaçao with four dashes of lemon juice, shaken and strained into a cocktail glass. The exact creator is not identified in that source. This version keeps the equal-parts structure but uses more lemon for a brighter modern balance.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Apricot Brandy - provides the rich stone-fruit character and much of the drink's sweetness. Peach liqueur can create a workable variation, but it changes the drink from the classic apricot profile.
• Orange Curacao - adds concentrated orange flavor and another layer of fruit sweetness. A quality triple sec can substitute in a pinch, though the orange character will be different.
• Lemon Juice - supplies the acidity that keeps the two liqueurs from tasting heavy. Lime juice creates a sharper citrus variation rather than a direct substitute.

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger
• Fine strainer
• Cocktail Glass
• Citrus peeler

Apricot and Orange, Sharpened by Lemon

The appeal is in the compact balance. Apricot brandy gives the drink a rounded stone-fruit center, while orange curaçao deepens the citrus side without replacing the apricot. Fresh lemon then cuts through both sweet ingredients. The result is richer than a typical sour but brighter than an all-liqueur after-dinner drink.

Substitutions & Variations

• Savoy-style: Keep the apricot brandy and curaçao equal, but reduce the lemon to four dashes for a version closer to the 1930 specification.
• Triple sec variation: Replace the orange curaçao with a quality triple sec for a cleaner, lighter orange profile.
• Peach variation: Replace the apricot brandy with peach liqueur for a different stone-fruit cocktail.
• No garnish: Skip the orange twist for a simpler presentation closer to the original Savoy listing.

Helpful Tips

• Chill the Cocktail Glass before shaking so this small drink stays cold from the first sip.
• Use fresh lemon juice. With only three ingredients, tired citrus is difficult to hide.
• Shake with plenty of ice until the shaker is thoroughly cold, then strain immediately.
• Express the orange twist over the surface before adding it to reinforce the curaçao aroma.
• For several servings, combine equal parts Apricot Brandy and Orange Curacao ahead of time, then add Lemon Juice and shake each serving with ice.
• Serve alongside nuts, mild cheeses, or a restrained fruit dessert after a meal.