The Dumpster Fire

4.60 from 47 votes

Make The Dumpster Fire your NYE 2020 cocktail of record to help send off this year of years with a bang. This drink has a little bit of everything, including nods to two classic cocktails whose namesakes perished this year, each in their own way: The Pegu Club (RIP the NYC cocktail lounge, April 2020) and The White Lady (Bye, Karen).

If you like, you can set the orange twist on fire. The slight smoky flavor of a flaming twist makes no particular sense in this drink, but what even does make sense anymore?

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Cocktails

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dumpster fire cocktail, dumpster fire drink, gin and lemon, gin cocktail, sour gin cocktail

Servings:

Calories: 273kcal

Author: Carolyn Gratzer Cope

Ingredients

2 ounces gin
¾ ounce Cointreau
½ ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Orange twist to garnish

Instructions

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
Pour in gin, Cointreau, lime juice, and lemon juice, and dash in the bitters.
Shake well, until you’re not totally sure whether hell has frozen over.
Strain into a cocktail or coupe glass.
Garnish with an orange twist, flaming if you like.

Notes

If you're not into gin, you could substitute vodka.
The first time I made this cocktail, I accidentally added two dashes of orange bitters before realizing I hadn't grabbed the Angostura bitters (because #2020). It turned out to be a nice addition, so feel free to add that layer of extra bitterness (because...well, you know why).
The slightly smoky flavor that results from lighting an orange twist doesn't have a particular affinity for this citrusy gin cocktail. But it does lend a little excitement and a certain authenticity to a Dumpster Fire. This technique works because the oil released when you squeeze a piece of orange rind between your fingers is flammable enough to catch fire briefly in the air. Learn how to do it here, and please be careful.
You can batch this cocktail if you like. To make 8 drinks: Into a pitcher, pour 2 cups gin, ¾ cup Cointreau, ½ cup fresh lemon juice, ½ cup fresh lime juice, 16 dashes Angostura bitters, and ½ cup cold water. Stir well and chill until very cold. When it's time to serve, garnish each glass with an orange twist.

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