Cocktails Flashcards
Ancestral Cocktails
Mostly, the first cocktails
Composed of a spirit, sugars, bitters, and water (ice) — such as Sazerac or Old Fashioned
This family is based on structure, not origin/history. These are ancestors because they are the foundation for others
Spirit-Forward Cocktails
Have an ancestral base and include vermouth.
Ex - Manhattan, Martini, Negroni, Bijou
Spirit-Forward Cocktails with Juice
Incorporate a non-sour juice without a sugar syrup to balance it (ex. Blood and Sand).
Orange Juice is common. Pineapple juice cocktails usually are better classified as tropical.
Sours
Cocktails that rely on the balance of lemon and/or lime juice with a sugar syrup.
Ex. Daiquiri, Margarita, Corpse Reviver #2, Last Word
Sours are some of the oldest cocktails — even predating the ancestral family.
Key to these is balance between sweet and tart which can be achieved through sugar/citrus balance sometimes the a spirit is used in addition to the sugar portion to balance.
Duos and Trios
Spirit and Liqueur based cocktails.
Ex. Godfather, Rusty Nail
What makes a duo into a trio cocktail?
The addition of milk, cream, or a cream liqueur
Ex. Alexander, White Russian
Sparkling Wine Cocktails
Incorporate a Sparkling Wine
Ex. Bellini, Champagne Cocktail, Old Cuban, French 75
Highballs, Fizzes, and the Collins
Ex. Presbyterian, Dark and Stormy, Harvey Walbanger, Long Island Ice Tea
Juleps and Smashes
Cocktails that combine mint, spirit, and sugar with a large amount of ice.
Citrus is often prohibited, so the modern recipe for a Whiskey Smash will be classified as a sour.
Hot Drinks
Ex. Hot Toddy, Tom and Jerry, and Irish Coffee
Flips and Nogs
Cocktails with whole egg (flip) milk or cream (nog)
What differentiates a flip from a nog?
Flips contain whole egg, while nogs add milk or cream.
What is often prohibited within the Smash/Julep category?
Citrus
Tropical Cocktails
Cocktails featuring tropical ingredients
Ex. everything tiki, Algonquin, Singapore Sling
Pousse-Cafe
Generally any layered cocktail.
In the 19th century, these were proprietary concoctions; today, the only well-known ones are the sweet shots of the disco era
History of Pousse-Café
Translates to coffee pusher
Traditionally consumed after a coffee like an amaro, but now is represented mostly by the sweet shots of the disco era
Cobblers
The adult snow cones
Defined as a base spirit/fortified wine with sugar served in a glass packed with crushed (cobbled) ice
Ex. Absinthe Frappé
Cobbler garnish
Originally simple pieces of fruit, but are now usually fruit syrups/mixtures at the bottom and on top of the cocktail
Bloody(s)
Bloody Mary and all of its variations, Bull Shot
Beer- and Cider- Based Cocktails
Ex. Black Velvet, Cold Duck, Shandy
Wine-Based Cocktails
Ex. Sangria (table wine)
Bamboo, Adonis (Fortified wine)
Milk-Based Cocktails
Milk + Liqueur
Ex. Grasshopper
Difference between a Trio and a Milk-Based Cocktail
Trio contains a spirit while Milk-Based uses a liqueur only
Americano (Specs)
1 oz Campari
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
Soda Water
Serve over ice
Glass depends on amount of soda water
Garnish with Orange Slice
Americano (History)
First served at Caffé Campari in the 1860s under the name Milano-Torino (to identify the origin of the Campari and sweet vermouth).
Renamed Americano for Primo Carnera, the Italian boxer who was the first non-American to win the US heavyweight boxing championship
Original Vermouth in an Americano?
Punt y Mes (originally made in Turin by the Carpano family, but was purchased by Fernet Branca in 2001)
How much soda is used in an Americano?
Can be a splash or can be built more long. Based on guest preference.
Old Fashioned (Specs)
2 oz Spirit (Typically American Whiskey)
2 Dashes of Bitters
1 Sugar Cube
Add enough water to sugar cube to dissolve with muddling. Add bitters and spirits, stir with ice, and strain over fresh ice.
Glass - Thick bottom Old Fashioned Glass
Garnish - Orange Swatch
Old Fashioned (History)
Old Fashioned and bitters themselves are considered by many to be the origin of the cocktail in America.
Sometimes it was referred to as a toddy or a bitter sling.
Always began with a sugar cube and a healthy amount of water to dissolve the sugar, but base spirit wasn’t always whiskey (Gin, Rum, Brandy were also common)
Bitters, classically
Were more of proprietary recipes. Akin to what is now known as decanter bitters.
They were a secret mix of spices and botanicals that had been steeped in rum.
Bitters would be topped off with additional spirits/bitter-ing agents in an almost solera method
Rumored origin of more modern Old Fashioned
In the 1930s, it was rumored there was a misprint in a cocktail book, which resulted in a different cocktails garnish being printed under an Old Fashioned. Thus the iteration using orange wedges, maraschino cherries, and ginger ale began.
This variation remained popular through the 20th century.
Examples of Ancestral cocktails
Americano
Old Fashioned
Pink Gin
Sazerac
Pink Gin (Specs)
2 oz Plymouth Gin
3-4 dashes Angostura bitters
Stir with ice and strain
Glass - Cocktail coupe
Garnish - Lemon twist (optional)
Pink Gin (History)
Generally considered to have been created by members of the British Royal Navy in the middle of the 19th century.
By the 1870s, it became a popular cocktail throughout the UK
Sazerac (Specs)
2 oz Sazerac Rye Whiskey
5 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Splash of Absinthe
Half of a Sugar Cube
Chill the low ball glass with ice water. Muddle the sugar cube and a splash of water in a mixing glass. Empty low ball and rinse with absinthe. (Residual water in glass should cause the absinthe to loosh and become more aromatic). Add whiskey, bitters, and the lemon peel to the mixing glass with the muddled sugar and bitters and stir with ice to chill. Strain into the absinthe rinsed lowball glass.
Glass - Lowball
Sazerac (History)
1850 - Sewell Taylor sold his Merchant Exchange Coffee House to Aaron Bird so that he could begin an import business. One of Taylor’s imported products was Sazerac de Forge et Fils Cognac. Bird purchased bitters from Antopin Peychaud’s apothecary, and Cognac from Taylor and served the Sazerac in his newly re-named Sazerac Coffee House.
Originally made with Cognac, it transitioned to Rye Whiskey in 1870 after Thomas Handy purchased the Sazerac Coffee House. Originally a split base of Cognac-Rye, it shortly became one of Rye and Absinthe.
What cocktail is known as the first branded cocktail?
Sazerac
Taylor’s Sazerac de Forge et Fils Cognac + Antopin Peychaud’s bitters + Aaron Bird’s Sazerac Coffee House (originally Merchant Exchange Coffee House) = Sazerac
What caused the transition from Cognac to Rye in the Sazerac?
Phylloxera was an epidemic in France, and the Cognac prices were rising. Originally, the cocktail became a split base of Cognac and Rye before becoming one of Rye and Absinthe.
What changed about the Sazerac in 1912?
1912 brought the US Absinthe ban, so it was replaced by anise flavored liqueurs.
Evolution of the Sazerac
Cognac, Peychaud’s
Cognac, Rye, Peychaud’s,
Rye, Absinthe, Peychaud’s
Rye, Anise Liqueur, Peychaud’s
(Originally called for water when muddling the sugar cube, but today many bartenders utilize the bitters instead)
Lemon peel is used as a garnish or as an ingredient when stirring
Examples of Beer and Cider based cocktails
Black and Tan
Black Velvet
Shandy
Black and Tan (Specs)
Layered Pale Beer (usually Pale Ale) and a dark beer (usually a Stout) in a Pint Glass
What is a Black and Tan called in Ireland? Why?
Half and Half
Black and Tan is the nickname of the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force that were sent into Ireland in the early 1920s during the Irish War of Independence. This resulted in violent outbreaks between the forces and the Irish people.
Black and Tan (History)
Likely originated in England, where customers have been blending beers since at least the 17th century.
“Three-threads” or “Five-threads” where each thread was a beer type that was blended into the drink.
The tradition of blending beers began as a way for ale houses to turn a profit as stronger beers were taxed at a higher rate. So these stronger beers were mixed with others that were taxed at a lower-rate.
Black Velvet (Specs)
Blend of Champagne and Guinness Irish Stout.
Champagne is poured first, then topped with Guinness.
Served in a Champagne flute or a coupe
(Cider being substituted for Champagne has become popular)
Black Velvet (History)
Was Created in response to the 1861 death of Prince Albert (husband/consort of Queen Victoria of Britain)
“Even the Champagne should be in mourning, dressed in all black.”
Shandy (Specs)
Half Beer/Cider mixed with a lemon or lemon-lime flavored beverage which may or may not be carbonated
In the UK, it is either ordered as a bitter shandy (50/50 bitter beer and fizzy lemonade) or a lager shandy (Lager and fizzy lemonade)
Radner
50/50 mix of Beer and a lemon flavored soda like Sprite
Bloody Mary (Specs)
1 1/2 oz Vodka
4 oz Tomato Juice
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 teaspoon horseradish
3 dashes Tabasco
3 dashes Worcestershire
Salt, to taste
Cracked black pepper, to taste
Celery salt, to taste
Build the drink in a mixing glass and roll with ice to mix and chill
Glass - Highball Glass
Garnish - Celery stick (mandatory, but other optional garnishes are possible)
This recipe lists the most common components, variations are common with everyone making it differently.
Bloody Mary (History)
A few differed people claim to have developed this cocktail. Fernando Petiot originally claimed to have created it in 1921 at the New York Bar in Paris (before it became Harry’s New York Bar)
According to the St. Regis Hotel in New York where he later bartended, he merely initiated the modern Bloody Mary. The simple vodka and tomato juice mixture was already a known drink served at the 21 club.
Bull Shot (Specs)
1 1/2 oz Vodka
3 oz Beef broth
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Salt, to taste
Build the drink in an ice-filled glass. Stir gently
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Lime Wedge
Variations exist — some add Worcestershire and Tabasco, black pepper, celery salt, and even tomato juice, making the cocktail more akin to the Bloody Mary.
Bull Shot (History)
Also known as the Bloody Bull Shot, Smirnoff claims to be the creator. Appeared sometime between 1949 and 1956
Examples of Cobblers
Absinthe Frappé
Sherry Cobbler
Absinthe Frappé (Specs)
1 1/2 oz Absinthe
1/2 oz Sugar syrup
6-8 mint leaves
Muddle mint at the bottom of the glass, add absinthe and sugar syrup on top, and pack full with crushed ice
Glass - Frappé, absinthe, or Old Fashioned glass
Garnish - Mint and a Straw
Absinthe Frappé (History)
Created and first served at the Old Absinthe House in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1874. The Old Absinthe house was patronized by the likes of Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, and General Robert E Lee.
Prepared as a cobbler, it was essentially a riff on the traditional absinthe serve of 4 parts water to one part absinthe.
Sherry Cobbler (Specs)
3 1/2 oz Amontillado Sherry
1/2 tbsp sugar
2-3 orange slices
Muddle the orange slices and sugar at the bottom of the serving glass. Add the sherry on top and cover with crushed (cobbled) ice
Glass - Cobbler or Old Fashioned
Garnish - Various citrus fruits and berries. Always serve with a straw
Endless variations with different fruits, blends of sherrys, bitters, vermouths, liqueurs that can be added.
Shaking is not recommended as you’ll water down the sherry.
Straw is essential so the cocktail can be enjoyed in layers from the bottom up.
Examples of Duos and Trios
Alexander Cocktail
Black Russian
Corn ‘n’ Oil
God Mother
God Father
Rusty Nail
Stinger
Alexander Cocktail (Specs)
3/4 oz VS Cognac
3/4 oz White Crème de Cacao
3/4 oz Cream
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain
Glass - Cocktail coupe
Garnish - Grated nutmeg
Alexander Cocktail (History)
First documentation was in 1910. Originally called for 3 parts rye and one part Benedictine served over one ice cube.
Variations of the Alexander Cocktail
No 1 - 2 parts gin and one part each of crème de cacao and cream
No 2 (Brandy Alexander) - equal parts VS Cognac, white crème de cacao, and cream
Alexander’s Sister - equal parts gin, crème de menthe and cream (Not likely garnished with Nutmeg)
Black Russian (Specs)
1 1/2 oz Vodka
3/4 oz Kahlùa liqueur
Pour ingredients over ice
Glass - Lowball
Black Russian (History)
Born in Belgium at the Hotel Monopole in Brussels. Allegedly created for the American ambassador to Luxembourg.
Variations of Black Russian
Dirty, Tall, or Australian - adds Cola in a highball glass
Black Magic - adds squeeze and twist of lemon
Black Irish Russian - Adds a head of Guinness
White Russian - Adds cream or milk
Different coffee liqueurs or flavored vodkas are also possible
Corn ‘n’ Oil (Specs)
2 oz Blackstrap rum (such as Cruzan)
1/2 oz Velvet falernum
1/4 oz lime juice
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
Build over ice
Glass - Old Fashioned
Garnish - Lime wedge
Rum substitutions are difficult to find one that performs the same.
Cruzan’s blackstrap is made by using a 2 year old light rum with dark molasses added
Not meant to be shaken, meant to be enjoyed like an Old Fashioned
God Mother (Specs)
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Amaretto liqueur
Pour over ice and stir briefly to mix the two ingredients
Glass - Double rocks glass
Variations on a God Father
God Father (Specs)
1 1/2 oz Scotch whisky
3/4 oz amaretto
Pour ingredients over ice and stir gently to mix
Glass - Old Fashioned
Can be made sweeter by making cocktail equal parts instead
God Father (History)
Unknown, but Disaronno claims it was the favorite cocktail of Marlon Brando. First appeared as the Tiki era ended and the Disco era began.
God Father Variations
God Mother - Vodka is substituted for Scotch
French Connection - Cognac is substituted
Rusty Nail (Specs)
2 oz Blended Scotch Whisky
1 oz Drambuie
Stir with ice and strain into and ice-filled glass
Glass - Old Fashioned
Garnish - Lemon Twist
Stinger (Specs)
2 oz Brandy
1 oz White Créme de menthe
Stir with ice in a mixing glass and strain
Glass - Cocktail coupe
Stinger (History)
Thought to be derived from a cocktail known as The Judge (Brandy, simple syrup and crème de menthe). Was a popular upper class cocktail from the 1890s through the 1970s.
Stinger Variations
Occasionally swapped to equal parts brandy and white crème de menthe
Amaretto stinger - Brandy is replaced by Amaretto
Mexican stinger - Brandy is replaced by Tequila
White Spider - More mint forward drink based on vodka and crème de menthe
Examples of Flips and Nogs
Egg Nog
Rum Flip
Examples of Highballs, Fizzes, and Collins
Collins
Dark ‘n’ Stormy
Gin Fizz
Gin Mule
Gin Rickey
Greyhound
Harvey Wallbanger
Horse’s Neck
Long Island Iced Tea
Madras
Moscow Mule
Paloma
Pimm’s Cup
Presbyterian
Ramos Gin Fizz
Screwdriver
Sea Breeze
Collins (Specs)
2 oz Bourbon or Gin
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Simple Syrup
Chilled club soda
Shake the spirit, lemon juice, and syrup with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with club soda.
Glass - Highball or Collins
Garnish - Orange slice or cherry
Collins (Variations )
John Collins is often served with bourbon or another American whiskey
Tom Collins - original recipe used Genever so when Old Tom Gin was introduced the Tom Collins was born.
It is technically correct for a Tom Collins to be made with only Old Tom gin and all variations of other gins or whiskeys to be called a John Collins.
Dark ‘n’ Stormy
2 oz Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
1/2 oz lime juice (optional)
Ginger beer
Build the drink over ice
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Garnish with lime wedge
Dark ‘n’ Stormy (History)
Registered trademark of the Goslings Brothers since 1991. Notably the trademark only specifies one apostrophe in front of the n (‘n) so bars/restaurants will use ‘n’ to get around that. Goslings asserts the drink was created soon after WWI in Bermuda.
Dark ‘n’ Stormy Variations
Safe Harbor (identical, but used to get around copyrights)
Ginger beer type can drastically vary the drink. Goslings makes its own.
Gin Fizz (Specs)
2 oz Gin
3/4 oz Lemon juice
3/4 oz Simple syrup
Soda Water
Combine the gin, lemon, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Collins glass, without ice. Top with soda water
Glass - Collins (historically this type of drink was enjoyed in the morning, so a smaller Collins glass would be appropriate)
What is the difference between a Collins and a fizz?
Ice usage. Fizz - No Ice. Collins - Yes Ice. Additionally, a Collins is built directly in the glass, while the fizz is shaken.
Gin Fizz Variations
Silver Fizz - Egg white added
Golden Fizz - Egg yolk added
Royal Fizz - Whole egg used
Diamond Fizz - Sparkling wine instead of soda water
Gin Mule
1 1/2 oz London Dry Gin
1/2 oz Simple syrup
1/2 oz lime juice
Ginger beer
10 mint leaves
Lightly muddle the mint in the base of a shaker. Add all of the liquid ingredients except the ginger beer. Add ice, shake, and strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with ginger beer.
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Mint sprig, lime wedge, or slice of candied ginger
Sometimes ginger juice or purée may be added in addition to topping with ginger beer.
Gin Rickey
2 oz London Dry Gin
1 oz Lime Juice
Soda Water
Build the ingredients in an ice-filled glass
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Lime Rind
Gin Rickey (History)
Originally created in the 1880s at Shoomaker’s Saloon by bartender George Williamson, in collaboration with lobbyist Colonel Joe Rickey. Original version was made with bourbon, but didn’t become popular until it was made with gin a decade later.
Gin Rickey (Variations)
Gin can be swapped for another spirit
Some recipes call for a dash of Angostura on top
Recipe is based on the juice of one lime, but can be adjusted
Lime Rickey (NA) was popular at soda fountains on the East Coast
Greyhound (Specs)
1.5 oz Gin/Vodka
5 oz Grapefruit Juice
Serve over ice
Glass - Highball
Harvey Wallbanger (Specs)
1 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Galliano
4 oz Orange Juice
Pour vodka and orange juice into an ice-filled glass. Float Galliano on top.
Horse’s Neck (Specs)
2 oz Bourbon
2-3 dashes Angostura Bitters
Ginger Ale
Build the ingredients in an ice-filled glass
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Lemon Twist (This is the defining characteristic — it is usually an extra long lemon twist where a portion peeks out of the glass)
Originally intended to be a NA beverage, but gets its name from the bourbon.
Long Island Iced Tea (Specs)
1/2 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Tequila
1/2 oz White Rum
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Gin
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz Simple Syrup
1 oz Coca-Cola
Stir all ingredients with ice
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Lemon Twist
Madras (Specs)
2 oz Vodka
2 oz Cranberry
2 oz Orange Juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into glass filled with ice
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Orange Slice
Moscow Mule (Specs)
2 oz Vodka (originally Smirnoff)
1/2 oz Lime Juice
4 oz Ginger Beer
Pour vodka and lime juice into ice-filled mug and top with ginger beer
Glass - Copper Mug
Garnish - Lime Wedge
(Original brand of ginger beer was Cock n’ Bull)
Paloma (Specs)
2 oz Tequila
One-half Lime
Chilled Grapefruit Soda
Muddle lime in Highball glass. Rim with salt and add ice. Build the drink over the ice and stir gently.
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Lime Wedge
Pimm’s Cup (Specs)
2 oz Pimm’s No 1
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
1/2 oz Gin
Soda Water
Muddle Cucumber and simple syrup in tin. Add remaining ingredients, shake with ice, and fine-strain into a glass. Top with soda
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Cucumber slice, mint sprig
(This is the classic version, although different fruits/veg/herbs/mixers can be substituted)
Presbyterian (Specs)
2 oz Scotch Whisky
Ginger Ale
Soda Water
Pour Scotch over ice and fill with equal parts ginger ale and soda water
Glass - Highball
Presbyterian (History)
Many believe this was originally made with French Brandy. Phylloxera changed this. Once Scotch was used as a supplement, the official denomination of Christianity became the name of the drink too.
Ramos Gin Fizz (Specs)
1.5 oz Dry Gin
5 drops Orange Flower Water
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1 Egg White
1 oz Heavy Cream
1 oz Simple Syrup
Soda Water
2 drops Vanilla Extract (optional)
Vigorously shake all ingredients except soda water and strain into glass without ice. Top with soda water.
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Grated nutmeg
(Use a bar spoon to add soda water)
Screwdriver (Specs)
2 oz Vodka
4 oz Orange Juice
Serve over ice
Glass - Highball
Garnish - Orange Slice
Sea Breeze (specs)
2 oz Vodka
4 oz Cranberry
2 oz Grapefruit Juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into glass filled with ice
Glass - Highball glass
Garnish - Lime
(Bay breeze is variation with pineapple instead of grapefruit)
Most bartenders will build this drink, but shaking helps to incorporate all ingredients and create a lighter texture
Examples of Hot Drinks
Toddy
Irish Coffee
Tom and Jerry
Toddy (Specs)
Scotch Whisky
Water
Lump of Sugar
Serve warm or cold. This is a cocktail meant to be modified.
Glass - Mug or glass with a handle if served hot, old fashioned glass if served at room temperature
Today, it is common that a hot toddy when ordered might include cloves, lemon, spices, honey, and can be made with whiskey or brandy
Toddy (History)
Toddy (originally Whisky Toddy)
Toddy the word came from UK through trade with India where it was a customary pine-sap fermented beverage. It then became where you’d add a sweet ‘sap’ to a spirit (originally scotch).
By the 1830s the Toddy approach was in the US and applied to many spirits (Gin, Apple Brandy, and American/Canadian Whiskey)
By the Civil War, the Toddy was either served with hot water to dilute the sugar or the original way with one ice cube.