There are several bright and trendy cocktails reigning in the cocktail world now, but the classics can never be forgotten! After all, these retro cocktails deserve all the love and attention they can get. So, we decided to help you give the perfect throwback to these drinks by reminiscing their recipes and whipping them up. So, keep reading!
7 Best Retro Cocktails We Need To Bring Back Right Now
- Classic Manhattan
- Sidecar
- French 75
- Tom Collins
- Old-Fashioned
- Grasshopper Cocktail
- Gimlet
1. Classic Manhattan
You can’t say no to an elegant bourbon drink, can you? If that’s the case, then let us tell you that Classic Manhattan sits right on top of the bourbon cocktails hierarchy. In every sip, you can feel the subtle yet prominent sweet and bitter notes touching your palate. Here’s how you can make this cocktail from the 1800s.
Ingredients
- Bourbon (2 ounces)
- Vermouth (1 ounce)
- Aromatic bitters (16 drops)
- Spiced cherry bitters (8 drops)
- Orange bitters (8 drops)
- Orange peel to garnish
How To Make Classic Manhattan
- In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine bourbon, vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir until it’s chilled and strain into a glass.
- Garnish with the orange peel and it’s ready to serve!
Also Read: 6 Best Manhattan Variations To Try Right Now
2. Sidecar
The age of the next cocktail on the list is as old as World War I and is one of the best retro cocktails out there. It’s believed that the drink gets its name from the motorcycle sidecar. But what makes it so special is the perfect balance of sweet and tart that it gracefully pulls off. Have a sip and you can taste its crisp, warm, and rich layers all at once! Go on and follow the below steps to whip a Sidecar cocktail at home.
Ingredients
- Cognac (2 ounces)
- Cointreau liqueur (1 ounce)
- Lemon juice (1 ounce)
- Orange or lemon twist for garnish
- Powdered sugar (optional)
How To Make Sidecar
- Run a lemon wedge around the rim of a cocktail glass and dip the rim into a plate of powdered sugar.
- Now, in a shaker add all ingredients with a handful of ice and shake.
- Once it’s chilled, strain the mixture into the cocktail glass.
- Finally, garnish with a lemon or orange twist.
Also Read: 7 Best Egg White Cocktails That Tastes Like A Dream
3. French 75
What do you think about pairing champagne with gin? If this idea excites you, then the French 75 cocktail is for you. The name has an interesting history that dates back to the French World War I. Created in 1915 at a New York Bar In France, the taste was said to be felt like being hit by a powerful 75-mm field gun! Fascinating, right? If this fun fact doesn’t impress you, maybe it’s time to try the drink and let it speak for itself.
Ingredients
- Gin (1 ½ ounces)
- Fresh lemon juice (¾ ounce)
- Simple syrup (¾ ounce)
- Chilled champagne (2-3 ounces)
- Lemon peel as garnish
How To Make French 75
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice into it.
- Shake for about 20 seconds and strain into a champagne glass.
- Top it off with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
Also Read: 7 Best Absinthe Cocktails To Try Right Now
4. Tom Collins
Are you a fan of lemonade? Well, Tom Collins is basically the grown-up version of it and a great company for summers. All you need are a few basic and easy-to-get ingredients and you can whip one up easily at home. The name Tom Collis is believed to be originated as a joke made by a group of friends. As per the stories, Tom Collins was a fictional man who was rumored to be spreading false information about people in bars.
The rumor picked fire and inspired bartenders to name a drink after this elusive figure. The drink was mentioned in the Bartender’s Guide of 1876 which was created by Jerry Thomas, the father of American mixology. By the end of the decade, it was a hit at the bars! There might be several versions of Tom Collins today, but here’s how to make the original one.
Ingredients
- Gin (2 ounces)
- Lemon juice (1 ounce)
- Simple syrup (½ ounce)
- Club soda
- Lemon wedge or cherry for garnish
How To Make Tom Collins
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice and pour in the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake the contents and strain them into a glass.
- Fill the rest of the glass with club soda and stir gently.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge or cherry and enjoy!
Also Read: Best Mixers For Gin
5. Old Fashioned
It’s no surprise that Old Fashioned has made it to this list of the best retro cocktails. Sure its name has “old” in it, but have you ever wondered why? The name came from a small rebellion that happened when the bartenders started to experiment with whiskey cocktails in the 1870s and 1880s. There were many displeased customers resistant to the change and actively started ordering old-fashioned whiskey cocktails, which we now know as Old Fashioned. This one too is a quick-to-whip cocktail that needs only four main ingredients. If you’re a whiskey lover, then sign the petition to bring this drink back by actually making it with this recipe.
Ingredients
- Bourbon or whiskey (2 ounces)
- Simple syrup (¼ ounce)
- Bitters (2 dashes)
- Orange peel or cherry for garnish
How To Make Old-Fashioned
- Fill a rocks glass with simple syrup, bitters, and ice and stir to mix.
- Add the whiskey in it and stir for 30 seconds.
- Garnish with orange peel or cherry.
Also Read: 7 Best Snacks To Pair With Whiskey
6. Grasshopper Cocktail
Nope, no grasshoppers were harmed in preparing this cocktail. In fact, this delicious drink was the winner of a cocktail competition organized in New York in 1918. Trust us, one look at this sweet-minty paradise curated in a glass will justify its popularity back then. So in case there’s no dessert post-dinner, you can always relish a chilled Grasshopper cocktail. Here’s what and how you need to make this cocktail on your own.
Ingredients
- Crème de Menthe or mint simple syrup (¾ ounce)
- Crème de Cacao, Kahlua, or any chocolate or coffee-flavored liqueur (¾ ounce)
- Heavy cream (¼ ounce)
- Mint leaf or sprig to garnish
How To Make Grasshopper Cocktail
- Add all ingredients and ice into a cocktail shaker and shake till it’s chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass.
- Finally, garnish with a mint sprig or leaf and serve.
Also Read: 8 Dessert Cocktail Recipes To Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth
7. Gimlet
Gimlet is a crisp cocktail created in the 18th century by the soldiers in the British Royal Navy and remains to be a popular retro drink. This simple and refreshing cocktail essentially heroes both gin and lime. With each sip, you can feel the simple syrup mellow down the citrus and a whole level of botanical complexities brought by the gin. Try this recipe and you’ll definitely root for this cocktail to come back.
Ingredients
- Gin (2 ½ ounces)
- Lime juice (¾ ounce)
- Simple syrup (¾ ounce)
- Mint leaf or rosemary sprig, for garnish
How To Make Gimlet
- In a cocktail shaker, combine all three ingredients and ice.
- Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
- Add the rosemary sprig or mint leaf to garnish.
Also Read: Best Homegrown Gin Brands
Summing Up
With a retro cocktail in your hand and an old photo album to flip through, what else do you need to get nostalgic? Maybe this is your cue to help these retro cocktails make a comeback. So hurry, and get started on whipping these classic cocktails one by one!
FAQs
What Drinks Are Trendy Right Now?
Compared to old times, people tend to give more emphasis to the flavor now. Some of the drinks at the moment are Gin Margaritas, Negroni, and Mezcal Old Fashioned.
What Are The 6 Basic Cocktails?
Some of the most popular and basic cocktails every bartender will know are:
- Sidecar
- The Manhattan
- Old-fashioned
- Daiquiri
- Martini
- Jack Rose
What Are The 7 Spirits Of Cocktails?
There are different types of distilled spirits that are often used when making cocktails. Some of these include:
- Gin
- Rum
- Whiskey
- Vodka
- Mezcal
- Brandy
What Are The 7 Families Of Cocktails?
Broadly speaking, cocktails can be classified into 7 different families. There are:
- The Milk Punch (circa 1700)
- The Sling (circa 1759)
- The Sour (circa 1850)
- The Punch (circa 1632)
- The Cocktail or Bittered Sling (circa 1806)
- The Highball (circa 1870)
What Is The Oldest Cocktail?
Most experts agree that the Sazerac was the first-ever cocktail that was introduced in the cocktail world. It was a blend of absinthe, whisky, sugar, and bitters that made up this oldest cocktail.
