The Harvey Wallbanger cocktail was invented in 1952 by highly-regarded mixologist Duke Antone. Supposedly, he named the drink after a Manhattan Beach surfer who was a regular of Duke’s Blackwatch Bar in Hollywood. I’m generally not a big fan of…
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The Jack Rose is a simple Applejack cocktail that gained popularity in the 1920s and 1930s. While there are several theories as to the origin of its name, including talk of a notorious gangster, the drink likely got its name because…
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No drink quite embodies the Kentucky Derby like the Mint Julep, the classic concoction of bourbon, sugar and mint served in an iconic silver cup. But another cocktail, simply known as The Derby, was created to commemorate the Kentucky Derby. The…
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As the seasons change, I often retire certain foods while introducing others to better complement the changing weather. Hot summer days call for cold beers and barbeque, while cooler weather means hot soups and cozy cocktails to be enjoyed by…
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The Cable Car cocktail is a variation of the classic Sidecar. But while the Sidecar dates back to World War I, the Cable Car is a recent creation, as far as drinks go, and was created in 1996 by Tony…
Read MoreGrenadine is a classic sweetener found in many drinks, and often an integral flavor agent in popular cocktails. So it’s a wonder that such an essential ingredient can be so cheap, bastardized and dishonest. Once a pomegranate-based syrup, today’s grenadine…
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Now that October’s here, it’s finally starting to cool down in Texas. Hell, I even spent some time outside yesterday. And with the advent of fall’s welcome respite from the summer heat, I retire the Gin Rickey until the first…
Read MoreThe classic Aviation cocktail is simple, well balanced and refreshing, plus it’s crafted with ingredients that one can easily obtain: gin, fresh lemon juice and maraschino liqueur. Like many classic cocktails, history of the Aviation’s origin is a bit cloudy,…
Read MoreThe word “scofflaw” applies to one who flouts the law. During the dark days of Prohibition, this term was a popular one, thrown at those brave, thirsty souls forced into hidden speakeasies by their own government. With a disapproving nod…
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Created by Jim Beam descendant and late Beam master distiller Booker Noe, Booker’s is part elegant bourbon and part fire whiskey. Wanting to bring bourbon back to the way it was crafted around the turn of the century (that’s the…
Read MoreThe Rob Roy is basically a Manhattan that uses Scotch instead of rye. It’s believed to have been named after Robert Roy MacGregor, who was a Robin Hood-like figure in 18th century Scotland. Hence the Scotch. For best results, opt…
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The Negroni starts with an Americano base–sweet vermouth and Campari–and adds the boozy stoutness of gin. While the Negroni is an aperitif and meant to stimulate the appetite before a meal, too many of these guys on an empty stomach…
Read MoreThe French 75 cocktail is named after the 75mm howitzer artillery gun, a popular weapon during World War I. Legend has it that fighter pilot Raoul Lufbery enjoyed champagne, but wanted to drink something with more of a kick. So,…
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Once every month cocktail fanatics band together to create a booze-soaked collection of recipes for Mixology Monday. Our hosts for this month are the guys at eGullet, who chose “Dizzy Dairy” as the theme. From Chris Amirault of eGullet –…
Read MoreThe Blinker dates back to the 1930s and was traditionally composed of rye, grapefruit juice and grenadine. After hiding in obscurity for decades, the Blinker has seen a resurgence of late due to its inclusion in Ted Haigh’s Vintage Spirits…
Read MoreIn the 1920s, the Pegu Club was a bar in Rangoon, Burma (at the time a British colony) that served a drink of the same name. And while this drink was popular through the ‘30s, it largely died out after…
Read MoreA classic but oft-forgotten cocktail, the Rusty Nail is a smooth, scotch-based drink that’s much tamer than its name suggests. By adding Drambuie—a honey- and herb-flavored scotch liqueur—to scotch, you are able to cut some of the biting peat flavor…
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The martini is one of the world’s best known and most popular cocktails, having been immortalized by such drinking greats as Winston Churchill, James Bond and Frank Sinatra. However, nowadays, half the martinis made in a bar use vodka instead of…
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The Vieux Carré was born sometime prior to 1937 in New Orleans at what would later become the Carousel Bar at the Monteleone Hotel. According to Ted Haigh’s Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, the cocktail was named for the old…
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The Seelbach is a pre-prohibition cocktail that originated at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, KY. Lost to drinkers for nearly 80 years, the recipe was rediscovered in 1995. The drink is simple to make but fairly complex in flavor, with…
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