The Army & Navy

About The Army & Navy

First published in 1948 by David Embury’s The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, the Army & Navy is a classically styled cocktail that presents a floral and fragrant taste. This cocktail is reputed to be named after the rivalry between West Point and the Naval Academy in college sports.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. London Dry Gin

• ½ oz. Orgeat Syrup

• ½ oz. Lemon Juice

• Dash of Angostura Bitters

• Garnish with a Lemon Twist

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:     Up

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

The Brain Buster

About The Brain Buster

Meet the Empire Signature, the Brain Buster cocktail. This cocktail creates a powerful combination of flavors and blends them into a palatable cocktail that is sure to please. This cocktail will leave your head spinning and brain busted. Drinker beware, this cocktail packs a serious punch.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Absinthe

• 1 oz. Rye Whiskey

• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth

• Dash of Angostura Bitters

• Dash of Lemon Juice

• Lemon Twist for garnish.

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Up

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Combine all ingredients with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

The King

About The King

A custom creation from our Lead Mixologist, the King cocktail is a throwback recipe with a modern flavor twist. The grenadine brings out the inherent fruitiness of the rye spirit, while the rum and brandy keep the flavor bold. Try these flavors out and feel like you’re sipping on the throne with the King cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Silver Rum

• ½ oz. Rye Whiskey

• ½ oz. Brandy

• ½ oz. Grenadine

• ½ oz. Lemon Juice

• Lemon Twist

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Sweet

Method:

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

The Chocolate Martini

About The Chocolate Martini

A dessert in a martini glass. The Chocolate Martini is a decadent cocktail that combines vodka & chocolate to create an excellent after-dinner option. This cocktail may not be as versatile as the Appletini and Cosmopolitan, but it some ways (especially in flavor) outdoes them completely.

Ingredients:

• ½ oz. Vodka

• 1½ oz. Chocolate Liqueur

• 1½ oz. Creme de Cacao

• 2½ Heavy Cream

• Chocolate Syrup for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Chocolate

Method:

Shake ingredients with ice until very well chilled. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Drizzle chocolate syrup in glass for garnish.

The Vieux Carré

About The Vieux Carré

The Vieux Carré is named for the French Quarter of New Orleans. The cocktail traces its origins to the 1930s but officially appeared in print in 1937. It is a rich in flavor cocktail that employs the use of decadent ingredients. Raise a toast to New Orleans!

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Rye Whiskey

• 1 oz. Cognac

• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth

• 1 Barspoon Bénédictine©

• 2 Dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters

• Orange Zest and Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange zest and a maraschino cherry.

The French Martini

About The French Martini

This cocktail debuted in the 1980s but was not properly introduced on drink menus until 1996 in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. The key ingredient in this cocktail is Chambord©, which is a French liqueur created in France since the late 1600s.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Vodka

• ½ oz. Raspberry Liqueur (Chambord©)

• ½ oz. Pineapple Juice

• Lemon Peel for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Pour all ingredients into shaker with ice cubes. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze oil from lemon peel onto the drink.

The Paradise

About The Paradise

The Paradise cocktail is the O.G. Gin and Juice cocktail made famous again by rapper Snoop Dogg. The cocktail originated in 1930 and was invented by famous mixologist Harry Craddock. The recipe has remained largely unchanged with the exception of variations on the amount of “juice” and brandy.

Ingredients:

• 1¼ oz. Gin

• ¾ oz. Apricot Brandy

• ½ oz. Orange Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Shake together over ice. Strain into cocktail glass and serve chilled.

The Naked and Famous

About The Naked and Famous

The Naked and Famous is a new era cocktail that has been added to the list of IBA Official Cocktails. Although I typically discourage intensely specific cocktails due to their inability to replicate accurately, the Naked and Famous is a throwback to a bygone era of cocktails and has the flavor profile to back it up.

Ingredients:

• ¾ oz. Mezcal

• ¾ oz. Aperol

• ¾ oz. Yellow Chartreuse

• ¾ oz. Lime Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Pour all ingredients into shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

The Hanky Panky

About The Hanky Panky

The Hanky Panky originates from the Savoy Hotel in London, England and first appeared in the year 1903. Credited to Savoy’s head bartender Ada Coleman. The Hanky-Panky is a variation on the sweet martini, as it calls for gin and sweet vermouth, but Coleman's secret ingredient was Fernet-Branca, a bitter Italian digestivo.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Gin

• 1½ oz. Sweet Vermouth

• 2 Dashes of Fernet-Branca

• Orange Zest for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Stirred over ice, strained into a chilled glass, garnished, and served up.

The Espresso Martini

About The Espresso Martini

This IBA Classic hails from London, England and it is mostly agreed that the official version debuted sometime in the 1980s. There are few variations to this recipe, some including lemon zest or differing proportions of ingredients as well. We recommend using a quality espresso to reach the true flavor profile of this cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1¾ oz. Vodka

• 1 oz. Coffee Liqueur

• ½ oz. Simple Syrup

• ½ oz. Strong Espresso

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Coffee

Method:

Pour ingredients into shaker filled with ice, shake vigorously, and strain into chilled martini glass.

The Tipperary

About The Tipperary

Named after a town in Southern Ireland, the Tipperary is an Irish twist on the Bijou cocktail that also adds Green Chartreuse in honor of the Irish color. The exact origin of this recipe is unknown as it is new to the cocktail and mixology scene.

Ingredients:

• 1¾ oz. Irish Whiskey

• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth

• ⅓ oz. Green Chartreuse

• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters

• Orange Slice for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Pour all ingredients into mixing glass with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of orange.

The Last Word

About The Last Word

The Last Word is a gin-based prohibition-era cocktail originally developed at the Detroit Athletic Club. While the drink eventually fell out of favor, it enjoyed a renewed popularity after being rediscovered by the bartender Murray Stenson in 2004 during his tenure at the Zig Zag Café and becoming a cult hit in the Seattle area.

Ingredients:

• ¾ oz. Gin

• ¾ oz. Maraschino Liqueur

• ¾ oz. Green Chartreuse

• ¾ oz. Lime Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

The Golden Dream

About The Golden Dream

The Golden Dream is an IBA Official Cocktail that originated at the Old King Bar in Miami, Florida in the 1960s and 70s. The cocktail was named after period actress Joan Crawford and experienced a surge in popularity in the late 60s specifically.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Silver Rum

• ⅔ oz. Galliano© Liqueur

• ⅔ oz. Triple Sec

• ⅔ oz. Orange Juice

• ⅓ oz. Heavy Cream

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Shake ingredients with ice until very well chilled. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

The Corpse Reviver №2

About The Corpse Reviver №2

The Corpse Reviver №2 as described in the Savoy Cocktail Book is the most commonly drunk of the corpse revivers. The dash of absinthe can either be added to the mix before shaking, or added to the cocktail glass and moved around until the glass has been coated with a layer of absinthe to give a subtle absinthe aroma and flavor to the drink. The Savoy №2 recipe noted that “Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again.”

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Gin

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• 1 oz. Lillet Blanc

• 1 oz. Lemon Juice

• Dash of Absinthe

• Orange Zest for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Shake ingredients together in a mixer with ice. Strain into chilled glass. Garnish with orange zest.

The Ace of Spades

About The Ace of Spades

So there’s about 30 cocktails that go by this name that are all completely different. Empire Mixology acknowledges the 1930s version that originated at the NYC club called the Ace of Spades. I mean it sounds like the most original version right? This cocktail packs a wallop and is very spirit forward, however the creme de cacao adds a chocolatey hint of flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Golden Rum

• ½ oz. White Creme de Cacao

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• ½ tsp. Simple Syrup

• 4 Drops, I said Drops not Dashes of Angostura Bitters (optional)

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit, but Chocolatey

Method:

In a cocktail shaker, add all of the ingredients and shake until chilled. Strain into martini glass and serve. Optionally you can add four drops, not dashes, of Angostura Bitters. I said drops.

The American Beauty

About The American Beauty

Another Washington D.C. original cocktail, the American Beauty is an eclectic cocktail creation named after the District’s Official Flower; the American Beauty Rose. This cocktail combines Cognac and Port Wine along with Creme de Menthe. The resulting flavor profile is strong willed, yet smooth as well. Certainly, a sipping drink, the American Beauty is best served in good company.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Cognac

• ¼ oz. Creme de Menthe

• ¼ oz. Port Wine

• ¼ oz. Simple Syrup

• 1 oz. Orange Juice

• ½ oz. Grenadine

• Mint Sprig for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the port and mint. Shake well; strain into a chilled martini glass. Stir in the port. Garnish with the mint.

The Grasshopper

About The Grasshopper

The Grasshopper is a sweet, mint-flavored, dessert cocktail. The name of the drink derives from its green color, which comes from creme de menthe. A bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, claims the drink was invented in 1918 by its owner, Philip Guichet. The drink gained popularity during the 1950s and 1960s throughout the American South.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Creme de Cacao

• 1 part Creme de Menthe

• 1 part Cream

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Minty

Method:

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake briskly and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Angel Face

About The Angel Face

Another Londoner cocktail, the Angel Face appeared at the Savoy Hotel in the 1930s and was published in print that same year. The combination of brandy flavors creates a very fruity, yet strong cocktail. The recipe calls for Calvados© specifically as an ingredient, but can be substituted with apple brandy if not available.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Gin

• 1 oz. Apricot Brandy

• 1 oz. Apple Brandy (Calvados©)

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Alexander

About The Alexander

A cocktail named the Alexander debuted in 1910 but the version listed below and recognized by the IBA as an official cocktail wasn’t published in print until 1915. A famous after-dinner cocktail, the Alexander is still a popular cocktail in the current mixology scene and is often seen in upscale establishments.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Cognac

• 1 oz. Creme de Cacao

• 1 oz. Light Cream

• Nutmeg for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain contents into a cocktail glass. Sprinkle nutmeg on top and serve.

The Mexicana

About The Mexicana

The Mexicana is a fruity flavored, tequila based cocktail that mirrors a typical tropical style cocktail with a different flavor profile. The pineapple and grenadine flavors help to smooth the boldness of tequila and the citrus lemon also assists with the aftertaste of the spirit. Best enjoyed in the spring and summer and a good pairing for southern-style food.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Silver Tequila

• 1 oz. Lemon Juice

• ½ oz. Pineapple Juice

• 1 tsp. Grenadine

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Shake ingredients with ice until very well chilled. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.