1. The Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is the definition of a cool, vintage cocktail. Dating back to 1806, it came about after one Harry Croswell wrote to a newspaper to describe a cocktail as a mixture of any spirit, water, sugar, and bitters. While this recipe didn’t specify whisky, this is what the Old Fashioned became synonymous with in later years.  

While its name remained elusive for decades, the Old Fashioned was popular through the 19th century. George Kappeler outlined the traditional recipe in Modern American Drinks in 1895 and it has been a bar menu staple ever since.

The Old Fashioned is not just an icon but has featured heavily in mainstream culture. Popular TV show Mad Men is just one example, where the series’ protagonist, Don Draper, is known for his crisp advertising copy, sharp sense of style, quick wit, and his favourite cocktail – the Old Fashioned.

2. The White Russian

The White Russian is a popular cocktail, created in the 1960’s, made famous by the cult 90’s film, The Big Lebowski, and popular to this day.

Originally a variation of another vodka cocktail called the Black Russian – created in Brussels in 1949 – the name ‘White Russian’ was first spotted in the Oakland Tribune in 1965.

An obscure cocktail by the late 80s, it arguably had the starring role in the 1998 Coen Brothers classic, The Big Lebowski, which saw main character ‘The Dude’ set off to the supermarket in search of cream — one of a White Russian’s three classic ingredients.

3. The Gin Rickey

While most retro drinks have a shaded past, the history of the Gin Rickey is clear. Named after the democratic lobbyist, Joe Rickey, it became a staple during the late 19th century, gaining further popularity in the 20th century through the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Rickey liked combining bourbon and carbonated water. He asked a bartender at Washington DC’s Shoomaker’s Saloon to add lime to his highball – creating the Bourbon Rickey.

A simple twist on this soon became more popular: the Gin Rickey. Exchanging the bourbon for gin saw the botanicals amplified through fresh lime and sparkling water.

The drink was a favourite of F. Scott Fitzgerald and is mentioned in his novel, The Great Gatsby.

4. The Hemingway Daiquiri

The story goes that Ernest Hemingway, a loyal regular of El Floridita, loved the Daiquiri. When his favourite bartender, Constantino Ribalagiua, decided to lighten up on the rum and add cherry liqueur, the Hemingway Daiquiri was born (although it was originally known as the Papa Doble, after Hemingway’s Cuban “Papa” nickname).

From its creation in 1921, it has appealed so much that people still love it today, and it’s now officially recognised by the International Bartenders Association.

When you make a Hemingway Daiquiri, you might find it needs even more sweetness than El Floridita made it. It’s common for mixologists to add a touch of simple syrup to the recipe to make it just a little more mellow.