That’s how granddaddy did it, that’s how daddy did it, that’s how I’m going to do!
There’s one thing for certain when it comes to grandparents, they’ve had their fair share of experiences and fun. It may be hard to conceive now in their old age that they once had vigor, became rowdy, and had fun nights out on the town with friends. But you would do well to remember that they perhaps had even more fun than you, and beyond that, have had a lifetime to narrow down their drinks to be only the best they’ve come across. Compound that with the same decisions of every other grandparent, and you would soon realize a few similarities between the drinks they’ve all chosen as their favorites.
Nowadays with “mixologists” and every other confounded fancy-pantsed bartender, it seems everyone is trying to impress and surprise their customers palate. After adding foods, colors, garnishes, and a whole slew of other ingredients, you soon forget you’re even drinking an alcoholic beverage. So if you feel your grandparents had good taste, or are simply looking to try something out of the ordinary which is strange considering these are oldies. Chances are you won’t be surprised, and it won’t become a conversational piece, you’ll simply be pleased.
Tom Collins – Did you hear what Tom Collins said about you? This question used to be the start of a prank back in 1864. Where after saying this unknown Mr. Collins has been spreading rumors, the person being pranked would then go about searching for this person to straighten things out. However, they didn’t exist. Suppose it was funny enough watching a person search for something they couldn’t find… oh those were simpler times. But because of the popularity of this little game, the Tom Collins was created. It is essentially nothing more than Gin with sparkling lemonade, simple and to the point, sort of as the joke was.
Gin and Bitters – Gin & Bitters is also known as Pink Gin because the Gin takes on some of the color of the bitters being used. Originally this drink was made popular and created by the royal Navy to make Angosutura bitters, which the Navy used in their medical treatment for sailors to make the medicine more palatable, and perhaps in part, more potent. As most olden goodies, this drink is plain and to the point. You simply need gin, and a few dashes of Angostura bitters.
Old Fashioned – This cocktail originated around the 1880s in the Pendennis Club of Louisville Kentucky. There are claims that this drink was the first ever “cocktail” created, but that would certainly be hard to prove. Traditionally, the Old Fashioned contains 1 sugar cube, a few dashes of Angostura bitters, a few orange slices, a Maraschino cherry, and your choice of bourbon whiskey.
Hurricane – In 1939, the Hurricane first debuted at the World’s Fair and received its name due to the hurricane lamp-shade glasses they were served in. Beyond the glass type, this drink also has a hurricane of ingredients added in. This is usually due to the fact that lesser quality rum is used. To make one, you will need 2 ounces of light rum, 2 ounces of dark rum, 2 ounces of passion fruit juice, 1 ounce of orange juice, and a few squeezes of lime. You then add 1 tablespoon of simple syrup, 1 tablespoon of grenadine, and an orange slice and Maraschino cherry for garnish.
Mint Julep – The Mint Julep has been around as long as the Kentucky Derby and is its traditional drink. Every year for the Derby, around 80,000 Mint Juleps are served, and as a result it has become a rather popular drink outside of the Derby, and mostly to be enjoyed on hot and sunny days. It is essentially Bourbon, a handful of mint sprigs for flavor and garnish, and a few sugar cubes or a half ounce of simple syrup. It refreshing and crisp, just what’s needed on a warm day to sooth your throat after yelling at horses to go faster for hours.
Absinthe – If it wasn’t for Vincent Van Gogh, I’m not sure any other person would become the poster boy for absinthe. And fortunately so, absinthe has been a trusted companion of artists and musicians alike for centuries. Now of course there are drink recipes, but traditionally, there is one method to drink absinthe that is preferred by all. All you need is absinthe, a sugar cube, and ice cold water. If you have a dripper all the better, but if not, patience will be your best friend. You simply pour 1 part absinthe into your glass, and slowly drip cold water over top of the sugar cube until the cube has dissolved and fallen into the absinthe. You want to match as much water as you have absinthe with a 1:1 ratio. If you do this correctly, you will have created the perfect “louche” which is the cloudiness that occurs when water touches the absinthe.
Bees Knees – “You’re the Bees Knees Johnny boy!” We don’t use this expression much nowadays, but back during the prohibition era, calling someone or something the Bees Knees was likened to calling them “awesome”, “sweet”, “radical”, or “sick”. The idea of the time was to add something to mask the stench of the bathtub gins being used. To make this drink, you’ll add 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounces of honey syrup, and half ounce of fresh lemon juice together. The lemon juice takes away the scent of alcohol while the honey masks it’s taste.
Bloody Mary – The Bloody Mary has long stood as a hangover cure, and takes on the idea that the “hair of the dog” will do the trick. Meaning whatever it is that ails you, if consumed again, will fight the affects. This drink also has quite a few ingredients inside of it, which may do more to help you handover than strictly the alcohol. You will want to add 3 ounces of tomato juice, 2 ounces vodka, half ounce of lemon juice, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. You then add celery sticks for garnish, ground pepper, hot pepper sauce, and a little bit of horseradish. After all of that, it would be hard to attribute where the cure is really coming from.
Hot Toddy – Most Grandmothers have been known to drink at least one or two Hot Toddy’s, and especially if they are not feeling well. It’s a great hot drink to warm your bones, soothe a sore throat, and after a few of them, help to forget you were sick altogether. You have your option from adding one ounce of brandy, whiskey, or rum, however brandy is probably the most preferred. You then add one tablespoon of honey, a quarter of a lemon squeezed, and 1 cup of your favorite hot tea. Generally black and green tea works best as it complements the honey and lemon, but other have been known to be used.
Highball – The highball is high class, or at least that’s what many business professionals would drink back in the day. If you want to appear like Mad Men’s Don Draper, than you need a drink that looks clean and elegant and tastes the same. Fortunately, the Highball isn’t even all that impressive, but it’s simplicity speaks volumes more. It’s on 2 ounces of whiskey mixed with Ginger Ale. Simple enough right? Well actually, yeah it is.
Hopefully one of these 10 drinks will help the nostalgia come flooding back about how great your Grandparents were, or in the least remind you of a few of their favorite drinks which you should keep going. It would be a shameful thing to let these and many other classics be replaced by Red Headed Sluts, Irish Car Bombs, and Kamikazes (all of which have ridiculously offensive names yet are popular). The only way to keep the past alive is to remember it, and these drinks don’t deserve to be forgotten.
Featured images:
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/619099
The author of this article was Damien S. Wilhelmi. If you enjoyed this piece you can follow me on Twitter @CustParadigm. When I’m not writing about what classic cocktails are worth drinking, I can usually be found perusing the web for places to buy wine online, as it seems often times you have look far and wide to find exactly what you’re looking for.
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