All Hail the Cocktail: World Cocktail Day Recipes

Join us on May 13^th as we raise a glass to World Cocktail Day!

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a cocktail is “an alcoholic drink consisting of a spirit or spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as fruit juice or cream”.

The reason we celebrate World Cocktail Day on May 13^th is because it was first described by Harry Croswell in an issue of The Balance and Columbian Repository published on May 13^th, 1806 as “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters”.

Origins of “Cocktail”

Interesting, yes, but do you know where the term cocktail actually comes from? Etymologists endorse the following theory:

Back in the day it was customary to dock the tails of horses that were not thoroughbred. These horses came to be called cocktailed horses, and later, simply, cocktails. By extension, the word cocktail was applied to a vulgar, ill-bred person raised above his station, one that assumed the position of a gentleman, but was deficient in gentlemanly breeding. It was then used to describe an alcoholic drink that took a “purebred” spirit and diluted it with other ingredients. A cocktail was a beverage “raised above its station”.

Now that we’ve all learned something, let’s celebrate with a cocktail! We’ve put together a list of five delicious, lesser-known mixed drinks to help you “rise above your station” and celebrate World Cocktail Day like the maestro of mixology you are!

Orange Grove Cocktail

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz. jalapeño infused tequila
• .5 oz. lemon juice
• 1 oz. orange juice
• .5 oz. (2:1) demerara
• 2 dashes angostura
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters

Directions

1. Shake and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with two jalapeño slices and an orange twist.

Cinnamon Tom Cat Mint Julep

Ingredients

• 2 oz. barrel-aged gin
• 3/4 oz. cinnamon syrup
• 10 leaves fresh mint

Directions

1. Muddle fresh mint and cinnamon syrup in the bottom of julep tin or cocktail glass.
2. Add crushed ice until the glass is filled about 1/2 way then pour 1 1/2 oz. of the gin in over top and stir.
3. Continue to add crushed ice as you stir until the glass is almost full.
4. Finish by pouring an additional 1/2 oz. of the gin over top and garnishing with fresh mint and grated cinnamon.

Espresso Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 2 shots espresso
• 1 oz. Larceny bourbon
• ¼ oz. simple syrup
• dash of bitters
• 1 lemon peel, for garnish

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.
2. Stir about 30 seconds; strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
3. Twist lemon peel over cocktail and add to drink.

Monastery

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz. Maraska Slivovitz
• 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz. honey syrup (1:1 or equal parts Acacia honey and water)
• 1 tsp. plum preserves
• 3 fresh basil leaves
• garnish: basil leaf
• garnish: Peychaud’s bitters

Directions

1. Lightly muddle the basil leaves in a shaker, then add the remaining ingredients, and shake well until chilled.
2. Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass.
3. Garnish with a basil leaf and a few drops of Peychaud’s bitters.

Amaro Lucano Afternoon Refresher

Ingredients

• 2 oz. cold brewed coffee
• 2 oz. Amaro Lucano
• seltzer

Directions

1. Mix in a tall glass with ice and top with seltzer.