A classic Manhattan cocktail recipe doesn’t have much to it—and it shouldn’t. It’s a straightforward, no-nonsense, old-school drink that’s two parts whiskey, one part vermouth, and a few dashes of aromatic bitters. But that wasn’t always the case. “The first recipes, which appeared in books in 1884, called for equal parts whiskey and vermouth. Some … Read more
The Rusty Nail has nearly a century of history under its belt; and yet in recent years it’s been overshadowed by resurgent classic cocktails like the Manhattan, Sazerac, and old-fashioned. Thankfully, there’s room for all at the whiskey bar. The origin of the Rusty Nail is hazy, but some believe it was invented in the … Read more
Thank you, thank you for giving the classic dry gin martini its proper elevated place. I consider every exotic variant – chocolate martini?? aberrant and unworthy of the name. It’s said that Churchill’s favored mix began with icy cold gin, followed by a glance across the room at a bottle of vermouth. Very dry!! My … Read more
The Siesta is a citrusy, tangy tequila creation that’s “here to raise you from the dead of winter,” says former drinks editor Alex Delaney: “To shout through a bullhorn made from fruit, sunshine, and booze that it’s time to wake the hell up.” Often overlooked next to heavy hitters like the margarita and paloma, the … Read more
As with many classic drinks, the screwdriver cocktail has a long lineage. As legend has it, American soldiers stationed overseas during World War II created proto-screwdrivers by mixing orange juice with local neutral spirits. As vodka’s popularity grew across the United States throughout the 20th century, savvy producers like Smirnoff positioned the easy cocktail recipe … Read more
It’s easy to confuse Blue Hawaiian and Blue Hawaii, two similarly named tropical cocktail recipes with nearly identical vibrant blue colors. But the two have different ingredients and origin stories. The Blue Hawaii dates to 1957 when Harry Yee, a bartender at what’s now the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort in Honolulu, Hawaii, created a … Read more
Mezcal is special stuff, and you don’t need to make elaborate mezcal cocktails to appreciate the agave spirit’s layered, complex flavor. But if you do feel like making a mixed drink at home, you’re missing out if you don’t have a bottle of mezcal on hand. Once you’ve got one, the sky’s the limit. While … Read more
The first known record of the Greyhound cocktail dates to Harry Craddock’s 1930 drinks compendium, The Savoy Cocktail Book. Craddock’s version used gin and fresh grapefruit juice; as Americans’ appetites for vodka grew during the 20th century, bartenders tinkered with the ingredients in this classic cocktail. Its reputation as a vodka drink was cemented when … Read more
Beloved by bartenders for its pungent flavor and ability to stand up to spirits like whiskey, rum, and tequila, ginger beer is a major player in classic cocktails like the Moscow mule or Dark and Stormy—but the spicy elixir is refreshing enough sipped on its own. The naturally fizzy drink is made via a simple … Read more
Known equally for its alleged nausea-relieving properties as for its ability to turn any spirit into a quick cocktail, ginger ale has a broad fan base. Trouble is, some store-bought brands skip real ginger root (the very ingredient responsible for that stomach-settling sensation) in favor of artificial ginger flavors and sweeteners. The good news? You … Read more