CLASSIC COCKTAIL CRAFTING

& How to make them

Did you guys see my Instagram Live with my dad? It was seriously so much fun! He taught me how to make a Tom collins, Gin Gimlet, Manhattan, Old Fashion, and a Sazerac. It was the perfect way to hang out leading up to Father’s Day! He also shared a lot of history behind the cocktails themselves. It was great to learn about these classic cocktails!

I also learned a lot about my dad and his experience with tending bar. He learned how to bartend when one summer when he was in his 20’s from an old Manhattan bar tender. He has kept his bartending skills sharp ever since then, and trust me, we have reaped the benefits!

The way we worked through these cocktails was in the order you would drink them. My dad suggested that you would drink a Tom Collins by the pool, then the Gimlet while you are changing for dinner. Then, when you head down to the restaurant before dinner you would order a Manhattan. Then, either before or after dinner you could order an Old Fashion. Then you would have a Sazerac to finish off your meal! This was such a fun way to talk through making all of the cocktails.

Below is a list of all the drinks we made, plus a break down of the glasses, ingredients, and processes of each drink. Plus, check the video at the end to view the replay of our Live!

Tom Collins:

1 1/2 ouches vodka

1 ounce lemon juice

1/2 ounce simple syrup

1 splash of club soda

*put the ice end at the end*

*give it a swirl and mix it up*

Garnish with 1 orange peel, and a maraschino cherry

Glass: You want to use a high boy glass here. There are a couple below that are suppler affordable and perfect for poolside drinking! I love the woven wrapped one!

Gimlet:

We served this one Up instead of on the rocks. I learned that women usually drink gimlets Up, and men usually drink them on the rocks - who knew! We also made this with Gin, but you can also make it with Vodka.

2 1/2 ouches gin

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

1/2 ounce simple syrup

*Add all the ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake*

*Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

* Garnish with a lime wedge

Glass: We served ours in a Martini glass, but these Coup Cocktail Glasses below are also super chic and definitely staples to have in your home.

Manhattan

2 ounces bourbon or rye

1 ounce sweet vermouth

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 dash orange bitters

We served ours shaken (not stirred- lol) because my dad said that shaking your drink will cool it down quicker than stirring it. However if you want to look super badass you could get a really tall stirring glass (linked below)

Garnish with a brandied or Maraschino cherry

Glass: We served ours in a Martini or Coupe glass again. Here are a couple of awesome ones you can serve it up in.

Old Fashioned

2-3 sugar cubes

2 dashes of angostura bitters

*muddle the sugar cubes in with the bitters with the Muddlers linked below

Pour in 2 ounces of rye whiskey or bourbon

Add in one large ice cube with the ice cube maker below, or just a couple of smaller ice cubes.

Garnish with an Orange Twist

Glass: any classic rocks glass would be perfect here!

My dad also told me the Old Fashion was the first written down cocktail recipe ever. And, for the last few years it has been the most popular drink made! This is pretty cool that the “oldest drink” is still the most popular drink made.

Sazerac

This is by far my most favorite drinks. My dad likes to call it a cousin of an Old Fashion, but better. This is also the most involved drink to make, but it is so worth it!

Start off by spritzing the inside of a rocks glass with Absinthe. Then, place this glass in the freezer while you make the rest of the drink.

In your shaker add:

2 sugar cube

3 dashes of Peyschaud’s bitters

2 dashes of Angostura bitters

*muddle the sugar cubes and bitters together

Then, pour in 1 1/4 ounces of Rye Whiskey into your shaker

*add crushed ice to your shaker and shake well.

Pour the drink into your frozen glass

*garnish with a orange

Glass: We used a stemless wine glass here. My dad wanted to use this type of glass instead of a rocks glass because this drink is all about the aromas - and you can smell the aromas better in a wine glass.

You could say we had fun making all of these drinks!! I think my biggest take away is to always have good equipment, good quality mixers, and good glasses. I will definitely be updating my glass ware in home asap! Hope you enjoy all of these recipes - cheers!