Latest features Cocktails - the classics

Date Published:

13/06/2008

Forget fly-by-night drinks with names that make you cringe, classic cocktails have real staying power. Charlie Cottrell spoke to a top mixologist to find out a little more about our favourite tipples

Scott Walker knows a thing or two about cocktails. As head trainer at Shaker UK's Birmingham BarSchool, he's had his hands on more bottles than a shelf stacker at Oddbins.

We caught up with Scott for a quick lesson in the cocktails that have become bar room big boys. Pay attention, here comes the history part.

Manhattan

Back in the 1800s the Manhattan was made with American rye whiskey, which was the common style produced in the distilleries around New York State. Then along came prohibition and the Second World War and booze making took a big hit. There are now only a couple of distilleries in this area.

The cocktail itself is said to have been created in around 1874 at the Manhattan Club, New York especially for a party thrown by Jennie Jerome, later to become Lady Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill's mother.

This is a drinker's drink, the older brother to the more famous Martini and made to be sipped whilst smoking a cigar and discussing the weighty issue of the day.

Manhattan recipe

Cosmopolitan

Don't be mistaken by its delicate pink appearance, this is a strong, sharp, citrusy cocktail. A good Cosmo should be light pink in colour, not blood-red. If it's too dark in colour it has simply been lengthened with cranberry juice and will not be fresh and citrusy.

Created in the mid 1980s, the Cosmopolitan has had many incarnations. The cocktail we know today was developed at the Odeon Club, New York, by Toby Cecchini. He fine-tuned a recipe he had heard of that used lime cordial and regular vodka, using fresh lime to add sharpness and citron vodka, which was being heavily marketed at the time.

A Cosmo makes an ideal aperitif, or could just be drunk on a night out in a club or bar.

Cosmopolitan recipe

Margarita

If made well a Margarita is a wonderfully refreshing, sharp cocktail and the best way to drink un-aged or young tequila.

Many women claim to be the inspiration for the Margarita, but with no documented evidence nobody knows for sure. One of the most popular stories is that it was made for the American actress, Marjorie King, who was attending a party at Danny Herrera's Rancho La Gloria in Tijuana in 1948. Ms King was allergic to every spirit except tequila and so Danny set about creating a cocktail his guest could enjoy and named it in her honour.

Best drunk on a hot summer's day or as an aperitif.

Margarita recipe

Singapore sling

A true Singapore Sling is a long, fruity, cherry flavoured, gin based cocktail.

It was created at the famous Raffles hotel in Singapore by bartender Ngian Tong Boon sometime between 1911 and 1915. The drink was popular at the time but did not become famous until much later on when new management wanted to try and recapture the spirit of the hotel's heyday. Unfortunately no-one knew the exact recipe, so Ngian's nephew and some of the old bartenders were drafted in to replicate the original.

This is a long refreshing summer punch, best enjoyed in the garden whilst being kept cool by a large palm leaf fan.

Singapore Sling recipe

White Russian

This is an easy drinking, coffee flavoured cocktail.

Even the Cold War couldn't dampen these spirits. The White Russian was created in America in the mid 1960s when, despite international tensions, vodka was starting to become popular in the States and was being mixed with everything. Even milk.

Sweet, with coffee flavours the White Russian is ideal served after dinner as a replacement for coffee or a dessert.

White Russian recipe

Bellini

Light, fruity and elegant, the Bellini is a classic chic cocktail marrying the delicate flavours of peach with a little of the bubbly stuff.

Bellinis were created at the famous Harry's Bar in Venice in 1943. With a history of A-list clientele that included Proust, select members of Europe's royal families and legendary hedonist Byron, the bar has a reputation for making only the very best cocktails. As a result, purists will say a Bellini should only be made with fresh Italian white peaches and is therefore a seasonal cocktail, but for most people a Bellini can be enjoyed all year round.

This drink can be enjoyed any time, at a party, as an aperitif or in the garden in the summer.

Bellini recipe

Mojito

Some stories claim this drink goes back to the 1580s when Europeans were discovering the New World. Richard Drake is said to have mixed local aguadienté with lime and mint and named it, El Draque, in honour of his captain, Sir Francis Drake.

More modern stories claim it takes its name from the word mojo meaning little magic and was created in Cuba. La Bodeguita Del Medio is most famously linked with the Mojito, and was where Ernest Hemmingway would go to enjoy his.

The fresh mint and lime give the Mojito a wonderful aroma and makes it an ideal summer drink.

Mojito recipe

Caipirinha

This is a raw but fantastically refreshing short drink, made with the potent Brazillian liquor, cachaca. Like rum, cachaca is made from sugar cane, but it is processed and aged differently, retaining a unique, almost agricultural flavour.

Caipirinha translates as 'peasant's drink' or 'hillbilly's drink'. It's a strong drink, Legend has it 400 years ago, plantation owners served cachaca to their slaves to increase vigour.

A 'caipi' tastes wonderful with fresh fruit like strawberries, mangos and blueberries. It is a drink that should be sipped slowly to allow the flavours to develop and sweeten. If you want to soften it slightly use rum (to make a Caipirisma) or vodka (to make a Caipiroska).

Caipirinha recipe

Harvey Wallbanger

A cocktail born out of a cautionary tale. According to cocktail legend, 'Harvey' was a Californian surfer, who after a bad day on the waves went back to Panho's Bar on Manhattan Beach to drown his sorrows. He asked for his usual Screwdriver (vodka and orange juice) with a Galliano float.

After several of these he attempted to leave the bar, a feat difficult enough after a few too many, but made even harder by the fact that he was carrying his surf board under his arm. He eventually bounced his way through the bar but was from then on known as 'Harvey Wallbanger'.

Harvey Wallbanger recipe

Long Island Iced Tea

Many people believe this drink was created during prohibition as a way of disguising alcoholic drinks as innocent iced teas. Unfortunately for this charming tale, the drink actually came round about 50 years after prohibition was repealed.

Robert (Rosebud) Butt at the OakBeach Inn, Long Island, New York is credited with creating Long Island Iced Tea, although there are unconfirmed reports that it was first made in the 1930s by Charles Bishop of Long Island, Tennessee. Unfortunately for Mr Bishop, Tennesee remained a 'dry state' after Prohibition was repealed, meaning he could not claim the creation as his own.

This is a strong but refreshing cocktail and definitely a party drink - no sipping or savouring required.

Long Island iced tea recipe

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