The New Year - The Old Cocktails

Whiskey Sour

This became a classy drink, it’s origins aren’t so glam thou. The tradition started when British sailors started adding lime juice to their rum to prevent scurvy. Yikes! Also, since lime juice is perishable, they would add whiskey to preserve it. Whiskey sour, literally. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since then. Here’s a much more appetizing recipe for your version of this classic drink:

Ingredients

• 2 oz whiskey
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ½-1 teaspoon super fine sugar
• 3 ice cubes
• 1 orange or lemon slice or peel
• Maraschino cherry

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except the fruit slice or peel and cherry in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a sour or Delmonico glass and garnish with the fruit and cherry.

French 75

This classy beverage was invented in 1915 at a Parisian bar called, why not, Harry’s New York Bar. It was named after the French 75mm field gun because of the shot in the gut you feel after drinking one. Proceed with caution!

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin
• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• ½ oz lemon juice
• 5 oz Brut champagne
• 1 lemon peel

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, sugar, and lemon juice and shake well with cracked ice. Fill a champagne flute partway with ice and strain the gin mixture into it. Top off with champagne. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Sidecar

Like the French 75, this classic was invented around World War I in Paris. The Ritz Hotel takes credit, but no one’s sure if they really invented it. Anyway, here’s how to make this old-timey favorite:

Ingredients

• ¾ oz Cointreau
• ¾ oz lemon juice
• 1 ½ oz cognac
• Sugar

Instructions

Shake well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass that has had its outside rim rubbed with lemon juice and dipped in sugar.

Tom Collins

One of the older drinks on this list, the Tom Collins originated from an 1876 hoax in which people would trick others into thinking someone named “Tom Collins” was talking about them, then repeat supposed awful things this Tom Collins guy had said…it got so out of hand that newspapers at the time even reported on Tom Collins sightings! At least we got a yummy cocktail out of it…this one has lasted through the ages.

Ingredients

• 2 oz London dry gin
• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• ½ ounce lemon juice
• Club soda
• Maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

Combine ingredients in a Collins glass ¾ full of cracked ice. Stir briefly, top with club soda or seltzer, garnish with maraschino cherry, and serve with stirring rod. 

Gimlet

The gimlet is another classic cocktail with less than savory origins. Yep, I’m talking about sailors and scurvy again. But moving on, the gimlet later became popular as a thirst quencher in the tropical British colonies during the early part of the 20th century. The gimlet then took hold in London during the 1920s and 30s. Although it’s traditionally served in a lowball glass, you can also serve it in a martini glass. This drink is also commonly garnished with mint or basil.

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin (or vodka)
• ½ ounce fresh lime juice
• ¼ oz simple syrup
• Lime wedges or circles for garnish

Instructions

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a lowball or martini glass. Garnish with lime circles or wedges.

Harvey Wallbanger

The Harvey Wallbanger (what a name) was invented by LA mixologist Duke Antone in the 50s. It’s named for the effect it has on the person drinking it, so maybe keep this one away from your more gregarious friends and relatives.

Ingredients

• 1 oz vodka
• 4 oz orange juice
• ½ oz Gailiano
• Orange circles or wedges and maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

Pour vodka and orange juice into a Collins glass over ice cubes and stir. Float the Gailiano on top. Garnish with orange circles or wedges and maraschino cherry and serve.

White Russian

The White Russian first appeared in 1949 as a Black Russian, then became a White Russian when a bartender decided to add cream. Why not kick back with this decadent cocktail during your annual holiday movie marathon?

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 3/4 oz coffee liqueur
• 3/4 oz cream

Instructions

Pour vodka and coffee liqueur over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Stir the mixture. Fill with light cream and serve.

Sloe Gin Fizz

The fizz is associated with New Orleans, where it originated. This kind of cocktail became popular nationally between 1900 and 1940. The sloe gin fizz in particular is a favorite reference in country music, and is commonly served out of a pitcher. Keep a batch in the fridge for guests who just need to take the edge off.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces sloe gin
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• club soda
• 1 egg white
• Slice of orange or cherry, for garnish

Instructions

Shake well with ice in a chilled cocktail shaker. Strain into a small, chilled Collins glass. Use a soda siphon (to create foam) or just splash the club soda or seltzer in so it can foam. Garnish with a slice of orange and a cherry, and serve.  

Pink Lady

The pink lady became popular during prohibition. Because the quality of gin during this era was often questionable, bartenders added sweet ingredients to mask the flavor. After prohibition, the pink lady became a popular drink among women and became known as the quintessential “girly” drink.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz gin
• 3/4 oz applejack
• 1/4 oz lemon juice
• 1-2 dashes grenadine
• 1 egg white
• Maraschino cherry and lime circle for garnish

Instructions

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker has frosted. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass to serve. Garnish with the cherry and lime circle.

Grasshopper

This is another drink that originated in the Big Easy, at a bar called Tujague’s. It became widely popular in the South during the 1950s and 60s as an after dinner drink.

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz cream
• 3/4 oz creme de cacao, white
• 3/4 oz green crème de menthe

Instructions

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve.

Mocktails for the Kids

Shirley Temple

This non-alcoholic beverage was invented by a bartender at Chasen’s in Beverly Hills to hide actress Shirley Temple’s growing drinking problem from the public. From those dubious origins it has become a standard mocktail to offer kids on special occasions.

Ingredients

• 2 slices lime
• 2 maraschino cherries
• Ice
• 1 tablespoon grenadine syrup
• 8 oz ginger ale

Instructions

Muddle two slices of fresh lime and one maraschino cherry in a glass. Add ice, grenadine syrup, and ginger ale. Garnish with a second maraschino cherry.

Roy Rogers

The Roy Rogers was invented to serve to the actor Roy Rogers, known on television for his mad cowboying skills. Made with cola, it’s sure to be hit with the little dudes at your New Year’s Eve shindig.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 8 oz cola
• ½ oz grenadine
• 2 maraschino cherries

Instructions

Fill a 12 ounce highball glass with ice and add the cola and grenadine. Stir gently with a cocktail straw or spoon to combine. Garnish with the maraschino cherries and serve.

There we have it! Now, you’re ready to bartend your own NYE party!

(source google)