The Hotel Georgia: A Complete History & Classic Recipe

Velvety, elegant, and quietly luxurious, the Hotel Georgia is one of those rare cocktails that feels both timeless and modern the moment you taste it. Silky foam, perfumed citrus, and the subtle floral lift of orgeat—all balanced over a crisp gin backbone—make this Canadian-born classic a masterpiece of pre–Prohibition style that survived through decades of obscurity. Today, it stands among the great shaken gin cocktails, celebrated for its texture, refinement, and sense of place.

I. Origins

Vancouver’s forgotten classic

The Hotel Georgia cocktail was created in the 1920s at the Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, British Columbia—a property that opened in 1927 to cater to luxury travelers, celebrities, and dignitaries visiting the Canadian West Coast.

At the time, hotel bars were sanctuaries for classic cocktail development. Bartenders in prestigious hotels often advanced the craft more than standalone bars, creating drinks that reflected sophistication, international flair, and local clientele. The Hotel Georgia fits this mold perfectly:

• Elegant yet understated

• Built on gin

• Enriched with orgeat, citrus, and egg white

• Fragrant, balanced, and textured

A pre-Prohibition–style sour

Structurally, the drink is a gin sour with:

• Egg white for body

• Orgeat for almond richness

• Orange blossom water for aromatic lift

• Citrus for brightness

These elements place it squarely in the tradition of early 20th-century hotel cocktails that favored silky textures and refined balance.

II. Historical Evolution

Popular in the hotel’s early years

While the Hotel Georgia was well-regarded in the 1920s and 1930s, the cocktail itself did not achieve widespread fame. Like many regional hotel drinks, it existed primarily for guests, local elites, and visiting celebrities. It won loyal fans but never reached the global status of contemporaries like the Bee’s Knees or Clover Club.

Midcentury disappearance

Throughout the 1950s to 1980s, the cocktail quietly faded from menus—surviving largely through oral tradition and hotel lore.

Modern revival

The Hotel Georgia was rediscovered in the early 21st century by cocktail historians and bartenders exploring Canadian cocktail heritage. Vancouver’s craft bar scene—known for precision and global influences—helped resurrect the drink. Its combination of:

• Classic technique

• Floral aromatics

• Almond richness

• Velvety texturefits perfectly into the modern palate.

Today, the Hotel Georgia is regarded as a Canadian national treasure within cocktail culture.

III. Ingredients & Technique

Gin selection

Use a classic London dry gin, or a balanced contemporary gin with citrus-forward botanicals. Avoid heavily botanical or exotic gins that overpower the orgeat.

Orgeat

High-quality orgeat is essential. The almond note provides depth, emulsification, and subtle sweetness.

• Traditional almond orgeat

• Orange blossom or rosewater–kissed orgeat (some modern versions)

Orange blossom water

This ingredient is the cocktail’s aromatic signature. A few drops make the drink elegant and perfumed; too much overwhelms it.

Egg white

Used for texture and foam—creating the iconic silky top.

Technique

This cocktail absolutely requires a dry shake (with no ice) followed by a hard shake with ice to build its luxurious mouthfeel.

IV. Cultural Significance

A distinctly Canadian entry in classic cocktail canon

Few cocktails can claim Canadian origin with documented history. The Hotel Georgia provides a rare example of a Canadian hotel cocktail with lasting global acclaim.

Symbol of Vancouver’s hospitality renaissance

As Vancouver grew into an international food-and-drink destination, bartenders embraced the Hotel Georgia as a symbol of:

• Local identity

• West Coast refinement

• Modern craft culture built on historical roots

A bridge between eras

The cocktail reads like a pre-Prohibition classic—yet its rediscovery aligns perfectly with the modern craft movement. It feels authentically vintage while still contemporary.

V. How to Make the Classic Version Today

Below is a refined craft build faithful to the original structure.

Recipe — The Classic Hotel Georgia

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) London dry gin

• 0.75 oz (22 ml) fresh lemon juice

• 0.75 oz (22 ml) orgeat

• 1 egg white

• 2–3 drops orange blossom water

• Freshly grated nutmeg (for garnish)

Method

1. Add gin, lemon juice, orgeat, egg white, and orange blossom water to a shaker.

2. Dry shake (no ice) for 10–15 seconds to emulsify.

3. Add ice and shake hard for 12–15 seconds.

4. Double strain into a chilled coupe.

5. Finish with a gentle dusting of freshly grated nutmeg.

Specs

• Glass: Coupe

• Ice: None (served up)

• Garnish: Fresh nutmeg (mandatory for aroma)

• Style: Floral almond gin sour

Technique Notes

• Shake vigorously—egg white needs strong aeration.

• Orgeat sweetness varies; adjust lemon accordingly.

• Orange blossom water should be subtle—never overpowering.

• Nutmeg provides aromatic grounding and complexity.

Variations & Lineage

• Hotel Georgia (House Variation): Slightly sweeter with additional almond notes.

• Hotel Georgia Royale: Topped with Champagne for a sparkling uplift.

• Vancouver Blossom: Adds lavender bitters for a floral-modern twist.

• Clover Club Variant: Replaces orgeat with raspberry syrup for a similar texture but berry-forward profile.

Service & Pairing Tip

• Perfect aperitif; the citrus and aromatics elevate the palate.

• Pair with seafood, light appetizers, or almond-based desserts.

• Works beautifully as a brunch or early-evening cocktail.

VI. Modern Variations & Legacy

A modern icon in the craft movement

The Hotel Georgia is celebrated today as one of the best egg-white cocktails of the early 20th century—right alongside the Pisco Sour, Clover Club, and White Lady. Its resurgence speaks to the global appreciation of historical drinks with delicate texture and aromatic complexity.

Why the Hotel Georgia endures

• Flawlessly balanced

• Elegant and approachable

• Distinct floral signature

• Rich texture with clean citrus lift

• Deep historical roots with modern appeal

It is a cocktail that rewards technique, honors its place of origin, and expresses a uniquely Canadian approach to classic mixology.