The modern culinary offers many new non-traditional drinks certainly worth to try. But to enjoy them fully, you should first know the cocktail classics forming a solid foundation for today’s Mixology.
These 10 drinks have passed decades of testing and tasting during thousands of various events. Recipes of some date back to the 19th century and the reason why they are preserved and registered as official drinks of the International Bartenders Association is that they are simply timeless and great.
If you have not tried them yet, you definitely will after having read the following.
Old Fashioned
They say that the cocktail was created in 1880 when a guest was not satisfied with the taste of bourbon. So a bartender improved it adding some sugar, rum and ice. According to Drink International it was the best-selling cocktail in 2017 and 2018. At the beginning, a lump of sugar is sprinkled with Angosture Bitter rum and a spoonful of water. Then you just pour in 4 cl of bourbon or rye whiskey and add a spiral of orange zest as decoration.
Dry martini
What comes to your mind as the first thing associated with this drink? It would probably be James Bond in his classy tuxedo saying: “Shaken, not stirred.” Not many people are aware that it was first prepared in the 19th century. There are many variations of this drink, for example Vodka Martini, Dirty Martini with olive pulp or Perfect Martini where the same portion of dry and sweet vermouth is added. The original Dry Martini should be prepared from gin and dry vermouth. It is served with an olive to enhance the flavour or with a spiral of lemon zest.
Manhattan
The legend says that creation of this drink dates back to 1874, when a barman in Manhattan Club prepared a new cocktail for a special event. It was a party organized by Jennie Churchill, mother of Winston Churchill. Manhattan without whiskey is like Dry Martini without gin – it just wouldn’t feel right. There are many variants but for the original you stir 5 cl of rye whiskey, 2 cl of sweet vermouth and two drops of Angostura rum. And do not forget the iconic cherry as decoration.
Cosmopolitan
One of the youngest drinks in our list but still a legend thanks to Sex and the City series and a symbol of “high society”. Its origin is not clear, but it is often attributed to an American bartender stirring cranberry juice into a Kamikaze drink in 1975.
It is easy to prepare. Pour 4 cl of vodka, 4 cl of Cointreau orange liquer, 4 cl of cranberry juice and a few drops of lime juice into the shaker. Only a slice of lemon and Carrie Bradshaw’s life is missing now.
Long Island Iced Tea
Don’t let the name fool you, it is not a soft drink – only one glass of this cocktail gets you to the dancefloor. No wonder – it contains five types of alcoholic drink. However, you can’t find tea in the recipe. One theory says that it was created during the prohibition when it was better to mask alcohol. Thanks to its brown colour the drink then looked innocent like a cup of iced tea. It contains the same portions of tequila, vodka, white rum, gin and Triple sec liquer. In order not to take you down completely, lemon juice, cane syrup and cola is added.
Daiquiri
Daiquiri was invented by an American mining engineer in 1896. Writer Ernest Hemingway made it famous later on, as he was keen on it, and American President John F. Kennedy enjoyed it too. High quality Cuban rum (4 cl), lime juice (2 cl) and sugar syrup (0.5 cl) are the basics of daiquiri. Just add a slice of lime as decoration and you have created a refreshing cocktail.
The Black Russian
Surprisingly, vodka is the only thing this drink has in common with Russia. The drink was created by a bartender in Brussels for a Luxembourg ambassador in 1949 by mixing vodka and Mexican coffee liquer. To achieve the original flavour you need two parts of Kahlua liquer and five parts of high quality vodka. With a little ice it is an ideal drink for coffee lovers.
Margarita
A simple and probably the most well-known cocktail containing tequila all around the world, originating in Mexico. They say it was blended by a bartender for a customer allergic to all kinds of alcohol except for tequila in 1983. After ordering Margarita, the bartender blends 4 cl of silver tequila, 2 cl of lime juice and 2 cl of Cointreau (Triple sec) fruit liquer in the shaker. To enhance the taste it would be served with salt at the edge of the glass and a slice of lime.
Bloody Mary
They say that it is named after Queen Mary I of England, who executed 300 Protestants during her reign. The fact is it was created in the first half of the 20th century and is great when feeling unwell after a tough night. You need two parts of vodka, four parts of tomato juice, one part of lemon juice, five drops of Worcester sauce, five drops of Tabasco, a pinch of salt and black pepper for Bloody Mary. It is decorated with a piece of stalk celery or a slice of lemon.
Piña Colada
It was first sold in a luxury Puerto Rican hotel in 1952, and became famous after a band named Escape recorded The Piña Colada Song. In the Caribbean they prepare it at beach bars using coconut milk and fresh pineapple juice. Here we have to make it with coconut syrup and pineapple juice. A fresh slice of pineapple should not be lacking. Do you fancy to try at least one of them? Our bartenders in Trafo will be pleased to prepare these cocktail legends for you.)
Do you fancy to try at least one of them? Our bartenders in Trafo will be pleased to prepare these cocktail legends for you.)
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