5 Vintage Cocktail Recipes That Make Perfect Drinks for Events
September 15, 2016
At Bluegrass, liquor is our passion, and we love to mix up timeless drinks for events. Today, we took some inspiration from history to come up with this list of the five best vintage cocktail recipes.
Brandy Smash (1850s)
Brandy doesn’t get enough love in our opinion, and the Brandy Smash is proof that brandy cocktails can be great drinks for events. If you need a recommendation on the best kinds of brandy to try, stop in Bluegrass Wine & Spirits and one of our friendly staff members will help you.
Recipe adapted from Buzzfeed:
2 ounces brandy
¼ ounce simple syrup
2 sprigs of mint
Combine ingredients in a shaker. Shake and strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint, berries, and orange slices.
Martinez (1884)
This cocktail first appeared in 1884 in Modern Bartenders’ Guide by O.H. Byron. It’s considered a predecessor to the martini. At Bluegrass Liquor, we love it for its unique combination of flavors that are different than today’s cocktails.
Recipe adapted from Home Wet Bar:
1 ½ ounces Old Tom Gin
1 ½ ounces sweet vermouth
¼ ounce maraschino liqueur
2 dashes angostura bitters
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with orange peel.
Bee’s Knees (1920s)
Originating during Prohibition, this cocktail would be ideal for an outdoor wedding or party. Plus, we can’t resist a cocktail called Bee’s Knees.
Recipe adapted from Home Wet Bar:
2 ounces gin
¾ ounce lemon juice
¾ ounce honey simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with lemon slice.
Daisy De Santiago (1920s)
Another Prohibition-era drink, Daisy De Santiago is a rum cocktail. Rum cocktails don’t get as much love as "drinks for events" these days, so we want to see the Daisy De Santiago make a comeback.
Recipe adapted from Buzzfeed:
2 ounces silver rum
1 ounce lime juice
Scant ¾ ounces simple syrup
½ ounce yellow chartreuse
Combine rum, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a glass. Top with yellow chartreuse. Garnish with mint and fruit.
Moonwalk (1969)
The Moonwalk was created in 1969 to commemorate the moon landing, and it’s rumored to be the first thing astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong drank when they got back to Earth. The history of this cocktail is enough of a reason to make the list, but the champagne in it makes it a festive drink for events as well.
Recipe adapted from Home Wet Bar:
1 ounce grapefruit juice
1 ounce orange liqueur
3 drops rose water
Champagne or sparkling wine
Combine grapefruit juice, orange liqueur and rose water into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a champagne flute. Top with champagne or sparkling wine.
Whether you’re looking at ideas for drinks for events or you’re just in the mood to try something new, these vintage cocktails are ready to make a comeback. Stop into Bluegrass Beverages and we’ll help you pick the best one for you. To get help planning drinks for events, click here.