Parties are incomplete without cocktails. Any generic alcoholic drink having two or more than two ingredients earns itself the title of a cocktail. Does not matter if you are a professional bartender, or assume the role of one for your house party, you should absolutely be familiar with the nitty-gritty of some drinks. From sweet to dry, hot to icy, stirred to shaken, the number of cocktails available today is overwhelming. Selecting a few out of such a variety available seems tough.
Here are the top 7 cocktails with the liquid gold to try this weekend:
- Manhattan – A cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, Manhattan is generally served straight up without ice garnished with Maraschino cherry in a cocktail glass. Instead of serving straight up, the drink can also be served on the rocks in a lowball glass. Traditionally made with American rye whiskey, the cocktail finds its origins in Manhattan Club in New York City. Many variations of the drink are available around the globe with some of them even being prepared using Canadian whiskey, blended whiskey or Tennessee whiskey. Closely related to the Brooklyn cocktail, it is one of the six basic drinks listed in the book ‘The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks’. Quite popular the drink is!
- The Witty Comeback – This cocktail surely has the most unique name ever! A favorite among the masses preferring drinks with alcohol, The Witty Comeback is prepared using rye whiskey, fresh lemon juice, Averna Amaro, Ginger simple syrup. Garnished with an orange twist, the drink is the perfect example of a house cocktail. The drink is traditionally served in a cocktail glass with or without ice.
Whiskey Sour – A mixed drink containing whiskey, lemon juice, sugar and a dash of white egg, whiskey sour is a respectable name in the world of cocktails and belongs to the family of citrus-based cocktails. Usually served in a cocktail glass, poured over ice before dinner, the drink has many variants across the globe. The most popular variation is the Ward 8 based on bourbon or rice whiskey. Often garnished with half an orange slice and a maraschino cherry, the drink is an IBA official cocktail.- Sazerac – Next on the list is Sazerac. Prepared using rye whiskey, absinthe, Peychaud’s Bitters, Sazerac is the oldest known American cocktail. Served straight up without ice in an old-fashioned glass after dinner, the drink is a bit spicy due to the addition of different types of bitters. The drink is quite popular due to its method of preparation too! Two glasses are generally used for the preparation. The first one is used to hold absinthe while the rest of the ingredients are mixed in the second glass. The contents of the second glass are later poured into the first. Thus, its preparation is a defining characteristic of Sazerac, unlike other cocktails which are prepared by just mixing all the ingredients in definite proportion using a single container.
- Boulevardier – A popular cocktail prepared using whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Campari, Boulevardier is similar to Negroni. Garnished with orange peel or cherry, the drink is usually served in an old-fashioned glass. Perfectly suited for a summer day, the cocktail is rich and intriguing. Many variations of the drink are available, the popular ones being Negroni, Dry Negroni, Old Pal, Milano Torino etc.
- Blood and Sand – As unique as the name is, the Blood and Sand is one of the few classic cocktails prepared using Scotch whiskey! Very few cocktails are prepared using Scotch whiskey out of which ‘Blood and Sand’ is a popular name. The other ingredient being vermouth, the drink is usually served in a cocktail glass or a Collins glass straight up, without ice garnished with Maraschino cherry. Looking like a silent movie sunset, the drink is quite popular among the people fond of Scotch whiskey and is said to have originated in the 1920s. Considered a ‘classic’ in the world of cocktails, the drink is best served with dinner.
Rob Roy – Last on the list is the Rob Roy. Created in 1894 by a bartender in the New York City, the drink is prepared using Scotch Whiskey. Quite similar to Manhattan, the only difference lies in the use of Scotch whiskey in its preparation instead of rye. Served on the rocks in a cocktail glass garnished with two Maraschino cherries, the drink can be customized according to your taste. It can be sweet, dry or perfect. The standard, however, is the sweet version.
These were just some of the drinks to try. Many other popular cocktails like ‘Bas Best Old Fashioned’, ‘Citrus – Irish Whiskey Punch’, ‘Rye and Pomegranate Punch’, ‘Espresso Old Fashioned’ and ‘Hard Cider Spritz’ are equally good. Be it a house party, beach party or a night at the pub with your friends, the kind of drink you chose to have either adds more fun or spoils it all.
So roll up your sleeves and collect all the ingredients and prepare these whiskey cocktails for a fun and rocking party!
