5 Retro Cocktail Recipes to Make at Home
Retro has never been so hot. From the popularity of shows like Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Mad Men, speakeasy cocktail bars popping up everywhere, to form-fitting ’50s fashion suddenly everywhere. But you don’t actually have to go out to enjoy a retro cocktail; here are five retro cocktail recipes to make at home. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, just improvise with a large glass or kitchen jar.
Kick back and relax in vintage style, sip your snazzy cocktail, and imagine what life was like before we were all so connected, mediated, and plugged in.
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1. Tom Collins
Have you seen Tom Collins? In 1874, the Great Tom Collins Hoax was sweeping the States as cheeky cocktail drinkers inspired unsuspecting friends to search for a character that didn’t exist. The game is over but the cocktail remains, and a Tom Collins is one of the easiest drinks to make.
Simply add to a shaker filled with ice: 2 ounces of gin (such as Tanqueray London Dry), 1 ounce of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of superfine sugar. Shake well and strain into a Tom Collins aka highball glass. Top with 3 ounces of club soda, stir, and garnish with a cherry and orange slice.
2. Sidecar
Named after a sick American army captain who had a penchant for riding around town in the sidecar of a motorcycle, this World War I-era option is one of the best retro cocktail recipes. It blends body-warming liquors with vitamin C-rich citrus juice1 for a stout wake-me-up.
Prep by rubbing the rim of a chilled martini glass with lemon juice, then dipping it in sugar. Next blend ¾ ounce of Cointreau, ¾ ounce lemon juice, and 1 ½ ounce cognac into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and then strain into the prepared glass; garnish with a twist of lemon rind.
3. Hot Toddy
One of the best cold-weather retro cocktail recipes was invented in Scotland in the early 1700s. The hot toddy was retro two centuries ago, and uses your favorite whiskey or brandy for this easy drink, perfect for a chilly spring evening. Put a cup of water on to boil, then coat the bottom of an Irish whiskey glass (or coffee mug) with honey. Add 1 ounce of liquor to your glass, along with the juice of a quarter lemon.
When the water boils, fill up your glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel and enjoy. Add a bag of black tea to the mix if you need a boost of flavor or caffeine.
4. Manhattan
An American classic for the sophisticated drinker, the Manhattan cocktail originated in New York City sometime in the second half of the 1800s. In a mixing glass, combine ¾ ounce sweet vermouth, 2 ½ ounces of bourbon, a dash of Angostura bitters, and 3 cubes of ice. Stir gently – never shake.
Place a maraschino cherry in a chilled martini glass, then slowly strain the mixture over it. Rub an orange peel over the rim of the glass for flavor, but don’t drop it in. Savor in a penthouse suite overlooking the Big Apple, or your living room.
5. Gimlet
This gin and lime juice drink supposedly came into being in the early 20th century at the orders of a naval surgeon, who recommended it to sailors as protection against scurvy and is one of the best retro cocktail recipes.
First coat the rim of a chilled martini glass in sugar. Next, fill a shaker halfway with ice, then add 1 ¼ ounces of dry gin and 1 ounce of fresh lime juice. Stir well (you never shake gin) and strain into the prepared glass; garnish with a twist of lime. Drink too many and you’ll be singing sea shanties. Don’t like gin? Try vodka instead.
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