Best Cocktails to Try
If you have lived your life at all, you will understand the importance of trying different types of cocktails. Of course, this gives the impression that society collectively relies on mind-altering substances to deal with everyday life, which we, of course, understand is not true…
Anyway, whether you drink or not is entirely up to you. If you do, there are definitely a couple cocktails you have to try before choosing your go-to. Some of these might be something you are very familiar with and others you might have never heard of before. Either way, give them a shot over a long period or over a span of 8 hours while you bar hop until 4am. Here are the best cocktails to try.
Old Fashioned
Starting out with my personal favorite, the Old Fashioned. This drink is supposedly one of the world’s first cocktails dating back to 1880. This traditional and classic drink is relatively easy to make as it only has three ingredients. Bourbon, simple syrup, and angostura bitters complete this fabulous cocktail and is garnished with an orange peel. While many cocktails have optional garnishes or interchangeable garnishes, this is not one of those cocktails. The orange peel scents the drink without upsetting the balance created by the original ingredients. The ice cube is as essential as the orange peel. While some might casually throw some ice in the drink, the Old Fashioned demands an oversized ice cube such as a cylinder or large square. While smaller ice will melt faster, diluting the Old Fashioned iconic taste, an oversized cube will help the drink keeps its authentic flavoring by melting much slower. There are countless variations of Old Fashioned, and many of them are delicious, but of course, it’s always fun to stick with the classics.
Margarita
Strong alcohol can create unique drinks with multiple flavor combinations. Many will choose to have a light cocktail accompanied by something more substantial to appease the general taste buds of a social gathering. If you are looking to add something that has a unique taste or try something new, a margarita is definitely on the list. A margarita means daisy in Spanish, which alludes to the traditional recipe of tequila, lime juice, and soda. Variations that are most popular with this cocktail include orange liquor and a salted rim. The history of this cocktail is a bit difficult to come by. A bartender had a girlfriend names margarita who liked salt in her drink. A dancer was allergic to all alcohol except tequila, and the margarita was created for her. Which story is the real story will likely never be known, but you can choose the one you like the best and go with that. Try out a traditional margarita, and then spice up your palette with some variations.
French 75
Old Fashioned and Margarita are probably drinks you have had before and formed an opinion on. The French 75 might be a new one to you. This cocktail is one of elegance. It appears as a beautiful cocktail but is known for its strong kick. The French 75 received its name because the drink was compared to the feeling of being shelled with the French 75mm field gun. It originates at the New York Bar in Paris during World War 1. It contains gin, champaign, simple syrup, lemon juice garnished with a lemon twist. Often this drink is served in a champagne glass and is very visually appealing. This is a go-to cocktail to try both because of the iconic name and to experience what it feels like to get shot by a French 75mm field gun.
Gimlet
If you want something light and refreshing, you might consider adding a Gimlet to the mix. The word gimlet derived means sharp or piercing which arguably could influence the name of this drink. This is, of course, similar to the French 75 sharing the same liquor base, gin. The original ingredients in this drink are gin, simple syrup, and fresh lime juice. Sometimes the simple syrup is removed from this drink altogether and is simply served one part gin and one part lime juice. Traditionally this drink is garnished with a lime wheel or peel but can also be served with cucumber. This drink is well-liked and straightforward, making it understandable why it is still around.
Bloody Mary
The most iconic drink to end with is a Bloody Mary. It makes sense as to why this would be the last drink on the bucket list of drinks to try because it is rumored that this particular cocktail will cure any hangover. It is served commonly during brunch, but that doesn’t stop people from having this well-known cocktail to cure what ails them at all points of the day. It is often referred to as the hair of the dog. The traditional recipe consists of tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, hot sauce, salt, black pepper, lemon juice, celery, and lemon wedge. There are, of course, countless variations of this drink that all serve a similar purpose. Some variations of Bloody Mary’s incorporate seafood, burgers, pickles, eggs, bacon, or jalapeño. Essentially this drink can be served with an entire meal on top. One way or another, add this drink to your bucket list, especially if you have a rough start to your morning.
Cocktails have been created, improved upon, and diversified for pretty much every palette that walks this world. If you like sweet cocktails, there are millions of cocktails variations. The same goes for those who prefer more of a stiff drink. The drinks listed above are common, but so many variations of the classics make some of them quite interesting. If you already know the kind of alcohol you enjoy, find standard drinks made with that alcohol and add variety to your drink options. Give some of these a try and see what you think! There is nothing wrong with trying everything, right?
