Head to head

Mary Pickford vs. Monkey Gland

Mary Pickford and Monkey Gland side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference, by the numbers

Both have grenadine. Only the Mary Pickford has white rum, pineapple juice and Maraschino liqueur; only the Monkey Gland has gin, orange juice and absinthe. In parts, a Mary Pickford is 1 rum and 1 pineapple; a Monkey Gland is 3 gin, 3 orange, 1 absinthe and 1 grenadine. By volume, the Mary Pickford is 44% mixer and juice, 44% spirit, 7% liqueur and 5% syrup and sugar; the Monkey Gland is 38% mixer and juice, 37% spirit, 13% syrup and sugar and 12% fortified wine and bitter. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

The Monkey Gland is the stronger drink in the glass (14.0% ABV against 12.7%) and holds more alcohol (1.52 standard drinks against 1.15). The Monkey Gland has more calories (about 223 against 163) and more sugar (13.0 g against 9.6 g). Both are shaken and served in a coupe.

On the ratio map

SpiritVermouthCitrusMixerSyrupLiqueurMary PickfordMonkey Gland

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.