8. ROB ROY
The Rob Roy is a cocktail created in 1894 by a bartender at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan, New York City. The drink was named in honor of the premiere of Rob Roy, an operetta by composer Reginald De Koven and lyricist Harry B. Smith loosely based upon Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor.
A Rob Roy is similar to a Manhattan but is made exclusively with Scotch whiskey, while the Manhattan is traditionally made with rye and today commonly made with bourbon or Canadian whiskey.
RECIPE:
2 oz Scotch whiskey
.75 oz Sweet vermouth
3 dashes Angostura Bittersgarnis
Add ingredients to mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir and strain into rocks glass. Garnish with cherry.
7. GIN RICKEY
The gin rickey is the only cocktail mentioned in The Great Gatsby and was reportedly F. Scott Fitzgerald’s favorite drink.
As simple to prepare as it is delicious, this classic cocktail mixes premium dry gin, fresh lime juice, and bubbly soda water. Another drink of politically charged origins, the Gin Rickey was named for Missouri politician “Colonel Joe” Rickey, who invented this concoction during the hot, muggy summer of 1883 in Washington, DC.
RECIPE:
1 shot gin
1/2 shot freshly squeezed lime juice
Seltzer water
Lime zest
Pour the gin and the lime juice into a chilled high ball glass, add plenty of ice, and top off with seltzer water or club soda. Garnish with lime wedge or zest. This recipe should be adjusted to taste. If you like gin, up the ratio. If you’re hoping to disguise the gin on your breath, or if you’re looking for a more refreshing version, just up the seltzer.
6. SIDECAR
Like many drinks, the precise origin of the sidecar is lost to history, but this simple yet tasty cognac drink is said to have been invented at the Ritz hotel in Paris after the growing popularity of the motorcycle sidecar.
RECIPE
1 1/2 ounce cognac (or any brandy)
3/4 ounce orange liqueur (typically Cointreau or Triple Sec)
3/4 ounce lemon juice (or lime)
Sugar (for the rim of the glass)
Rim a chilled cocktail glass with sugar. Shake all the ingredients with ice, strain into the glass. The sugar rim is optional. Garnish with a strip of lemon rind.
5. WHITE RUSSIAN
The White Russian is the signature drink of “the Dude”, the protagonist of the cult classic The Big Lebowski (played by Jeff Bridges). In the movie, the Dude refers to it as a “Caucasian.”
The cocktail’s prominence in the film has been connected to a revival in its popularity. Before the movie, the cocktail was considered passé and likened to an alcoholic milkshake.
RECIPE: