Traditional Mixed Drinks To Tentatively Taste
Some traditional mixed drinks are fading into the past. However, that does not mean they are not worth trying. Those drinks were popular for a reason, so why not pull up a recipe and ask the bar tender to make you traditional mixed drinks next time you are out? Check out these traditional mixed drinks for ideas!
Whiskey Sour
If you are not sure if you like whiskey or what whiskey you like best, try ordering a whiskey sour. This traditional mixed drink does not have much to it, but it quite good. The sweetness of whiskey is countered by the tartness of lemon juice. There is a little extra sweetness added with syrup so the lemon and whiskey burn do not overtake you.
Making a whiskey sour is simple enough. Just mix whiskey with an equal amount of lemon juice and half as much simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with maraschino cherries or lemon peel.
Get the full recipe at The Spruce Eats
Tom Collins
This gin based traditional mixed drink is very old, but still tastes great. Like the whiskey sour, this drink includes the tart flavor of lemon juice and the sweet balance of sugar syrup, but it also adds soda water. It reminds you of lemon-lime soda mixed with gin, but this mixed drink is done the traditional way.
Begin by filling a tall glass with ice. Then add the lemon juice, gin, and sugar syrup. Stir it, then top off the glass with soda water. The resulting bubbly drink is refreshing and does the trick for those late night outings.
Get the full recipe at Make Me A Cocktail
Old Fashioned
Fresh fruit and bourbon are the stars of this traditional mixed drink show. If you plan to try this drink when you go out, please hand the bartender the recipe I referenced below. The recipe creator makes this drink the way it would have been done back in the day. It looks and sounds so good, though the method may not be ideal now a days.
In this recipe, begin by slicing an orange wheel from an orange, then cut that wheel in half and put it in the bottom of a glass, along with two cherries. Next, add a little water and sugar and crush the ingredients together, or “muddle” them, using a muddler or a similar device. Place ice on the muddled fruit, then add the bourbon and swirl to mix. How crazy good does that sound?!
Get the full recipe at Dishes Delish
Manhattan
This is another traditional mixed drink centering around whiskey. It involves sweet vermouth, which is a fortified wine, and bitters, which is a flavor concentrate of herbs and related flavors. Traditionally, rye whiskey was used in this mixed drink, but if you prefer other whiskey, while it will not be original, it will still be close enough to be called a Manhattan.
To make this drink, fill a mixing class half way with ice. Add the whiskey, vermouth, and bitters, and stir to combine. Strain into a cocktail glass and get drinking! There are actually a lot of variations that have stemmed from this drink, so you may get something other than what you expect when you order this traditional mixed drink. No matter what, those drinks were popular because they were good, so get adventurous and go for it.
Get the full recipe at Sidewalk Shoes
Corpse Reviver #2
How fun and how cool would it be to order this traditional mixed drink. So order it and be that cool bar person who knows this stuff! There is a list of corpse reviver traditional mixed drinks, but the second on the list is the most popular of the bunch. These drinks got their name because they were claimed to be able to cure drunkenness, bringing back people from the dead. But they are alcoholic drinks!
The corpse reviver #2 does include an absinthe rinse (a sure cure for drunkenness?), so you can’t just order it anywhere. Make it at home, if nothing else, or just do without the absinthe. To make this traditional mixed drink, begin by rinsing a chilled martini glass with absinthe. Next, combine gin, orange liqueur, Lillet blanc (a white wine), and fresh lemon juice in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into the martini glass and brace for an awakening.
Get the full recipe at Liquor
Alexander
There are some variations to this traditional mixed drink, but this is the one that began the Alexander chain. This drink is very creamy and sweet, almost like a dessert treat, but with gin in it, so extra on the treat side. If you feel like dressing in your 1920s getup and strolling over to the bar just because, order this traditional mixed drink to complete your ensemble.
To make this traditional mixed drink, combine dry gin, crème de cacao liqueur (a chocolate flavored liqueur), and double cream in a shaker and shake until cold. Strain this into a glass filled with ice, or into a martini glass for a fancier feel.
Get the full recipe at The Bar
Mint Julep
Because of its popularity at the Kentucky Derby, this traditional mixed drink will never fade away. The mint mixed with whiskey creates a very refreshing drink that will also cause inebriation. What’s better? Thankfully, because this drink is more popular, the bar tender will at least know what you are talking about when you order it.
The recipe referenced below for this traditional mixed drink guides you through making the mint syrup too, just like in the olden days. For the syrup, boil water an sugar in a saucepan until the sugar is dissolved. In a separate bowl, muddle (mash) pieces of fresh mint leaves, stir into the dissolved sugar mixture, and let cool for a few minutes. The drink itself is easy enough. Just fill a tall glass with ice, pour in the whiskey, and top with the mint syrup and a few fresh mint sprigs.
Get the full recipe at Betty Crocker
