As I get older I am faced with the realization that my grandfather was most likely much cooler than I will ever be. In his post-high school years, he flew airplanes in a foreign land while under enemy fire. My adventure, on the other hand, was pouring flasks of Southern Comfort into Big Gulps of Dr. Pepper and "tray-surfing" in the Jack-in-the-Box parking lot. He was probably a better fighter, a smoother dancer, a harder worker, and if I am not mistaken, he fought a fire-breathing dragon in order to marry my grandmother. For that reason, I believe we should all take a closer look at some of the classic cocktails that put hair on the chests of our young grandfathers.

Moscow Mule

Source: Flickr

2 oz Vodka
1 oz Lime Juice
½ oz Simple Syrup
3 Dashes bitters
3 oz Ginger Beer
1 Lime Wedge

1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
2. Add the vodka, lime juice, simple syrup and bitters to a shaker.
3. Shake the mixture vigorously for 10 seconds.
4. Pour the drink into the glass and add the ginger beer. Stir the drink and garnish with a lime wedge.

French 75

Source: Flickr

1 oz. Gin
¼ Lemon
½ oz Simple Syrup
4 oz Champagne

1. Fill a shaker halfway with ice cubes.
2. Add the gin, juice from the lemon and simple syrup to the shaker.
3. Shake the mixture vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds. Strain the contents of the skaker into a chilled champagne flute.
4. Add the champagne to the flute and stir the drink.

Old Fashioned

Source: Flickr

1 Orange Slice
2 Maraschino Cherries, stems removed
2 oz Bourbon
½ oz Simple Syrup
3 Dashes bitters
1 Orange Twist
1 Maraschino Cherry

1. Add the orange slice and 2 Maraschino cherries to a rocks glass.
2. Muddle the ingredients in the glass.
3. Add 1 oz of bourbon and 2 ice cubes to the glass and stir.
4. Add the simple syrup, bitters and more ice cubes to the glass and stir.

Sazerac

Source: Flickr

½ oz Pernod
2 oz Bourbon   
½ oz Simple Syrup
2 Dashes bitters
1 Lemon Twist

1. Rinse a chilled cocktail glass with Pernod.
2. Fill a shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the bourbon, simple syrup and bitters to the shaker.
3. Shake the mixture vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds.
4. Strain the drink into the glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Sidecar

Source: Flickr

Superfine Sugar
1 ½ oz Cognac
1 oz Triple Sec
¼ Lemon

1. Coat the rim of a chilled cocktail glass with superfine sugar.
2. Fill a shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the cognac, triple sec and juice from the lemon into the shaker.

3. Shake the mixture vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds.
4. Strain the drink into the chilled cocktail glass.

Pimm’s Cup

Source: Flickr

2 oz Pimm’s No. 1

3 oz Ginger Ale
1 Lemon Twist
1 Cucumber Slice

1. Fill Collins glass with ice cubes.
2. Add Pimm’s and ginger ale.
3. Garnish with the lemon twist and cucumber.

Manhattan

Source: Flickr

2½ oz Bourbon
½ oz Sweet Vermouth
1 Maraschino Cherry

1. Fill a shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the bourbon and vermouth to the shaker.
2. Gently stir the ingredients in a circular motion for 10 seconds being careful not to break the ice cubes.
3. Strain the contents of the shaker into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Negroni

Source: Flickr

1 oz Gin
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
1 oz Campari
1 Slice of orange

1. Fill mixing glass halfway with ice and add gin, vermouth and Campari.
2. Stir mixture for 10 seconds.
3. Garnish with slice of orange

Ramos Gin Fizz

Source: Flickr

1 tbsp Superfine Sugar
3 Drops orange flower water
1/2 Lemon
1/2 Lime
1 ½ oz Gin
1 Egg White
2 tbsp Heavy Cream
Seltzer

1. Fill shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add all ingredients except seltzer.
2. Shake for at least one minute until mixture is creamy.
3. Strain the drink into a tall glass, top with seltzer and stir.

Gimlet

Source: Flickr

2 oz Gin
½ oz Lime Juice
1 Lime Wedge

1. Fill a mixing glass halfway with ice cubes.
2. Add the gin and lime juice to the glass, stir well.
3. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

Find out What Your Drink Says About You.

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