The Yellow Bird

About The Yellow Bird

As usual, the Yellow Bird’s origins are a bit shrouded. The prevailing argument is that the cocktail named after a Haitian song from the era, although an argument exists it is named after one of its signature ingredients; Galliano© Herbal Liqueur. Variations exist that use golden rum instead of silver, however these variations are not recognized by the IBA.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Silver Rum

• ½ oz. Galliano© Liqueur

• ½ oz. Triple Sec

• ½ Lime Juice

• Lemon Slice and Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Herbal

Method:

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

The Martinez

About The Martinez

The Martinez is a classic cocktail that is widely regarded as the direct precursor to the Martini. It serves as the basis for many modern cocktails, and several different versions of the original exist. These are generally distinguished by the accompaniment of either Maraschino or Curacao, as well as differences in gin or bitters. The exact origin is unclear but it is widely agreed that it appeared before the 1900s.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Gin

• 1½ oz. Sweet Vermouth

• 1 Barspoon Maraschino Liqueur

• 2 Dashes of Orange Bitters

• Lemon Zest for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

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

The Lemon Drop

About The Lemon Drop

This San Francisco born cocktail originated in the 1970s and is both available in the martini style and shot form. This cocktail is a great balance of sweet and sour and is light, crisp, and refreshing. Highly recommended as a summertime cocktail, the Lemon Drop is a perfect sipping cocktail. Using freshly squeezed lemon juice is recommended to enhance the flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Lemon Vodka

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• 1 oz. Lemon Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Citrus

Method:

Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker, shake well with ice, strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with sugar rim around the glass.

The Clover Club

About The Clover Club

The Clover Club dates back to the pre-Prohibition era in Philadelphia. The cocktail itself is named after the Gentlemen’s Club of the same name and first appeared in print around the year 1917. The cocktail has somewhat fallen out of favor due to its use of a raw egg white which has all but vanished from the mainstream cocktail scene today.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Gin

• ½ oz. Lemon Juice

• ½ oz. Raspberry Syrup

• 1 Egg White

• Lemon Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Dry shake ingredients to emulsify, add ice, shake and served straight up.

The John Collins

About The John Collins

Debuting in 1869’s Steward and Barkeeper's Manual . Some cocktail historians also pinpoint popular cocktails similar in composition in New York City a decade earlier. The Tom Collins variation appeared a few decades later and used Old Tom style Gin (hence the name change). The John Collins is a true classic in the world of mixology.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Gin

• 1 oz. Lemon Juice

• ½ oz. Simple Syrup

• Fill Carbonated Water

• Dash of Angostura Bitters

• Lemon Wedge and Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Pour all ingredients directly into highball glass filled with ice. Stir gently. Garnish. Add a dash of Angostura bitters.

The Mai Tai

About The Mai Tai

The Mai Tai is perhaps the most famous Tiki cocktail and was invented in 1944. Trader Vic’s is credited with inventing the drink although friendly rival Don the Beachcomber claimed to invent a very different iteration of the drink in 1933. The name was allegedly taken from maita'i, the Tahitian word for "good" or "excellence." The Mai Tai was immensely popular in the Tiki Culture phase of the 40s, 50s, and 60s.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Silver Rum

• ½ oz. Dark Rum

• ¾ oz. Orange Curacao

• ¾ oz. Lime Juice

• ½ oz. Orgeat Syrup

• Crushed Ice

• Spearmint & Lime Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Shake all ingredients except dark rum with ice. Strain into glass. Float Dark Rum over the top of the cocktail. Garnish and serve with straw.

The Old Cuban

About The Old Cuban

The Mojito connects with the French 75 in this old school throwback cocktail. This recipe hails from New York in the SoHo neighborhood. This modern cocktail is appetizing and pairs well with any sort of food. This cocktail is designed to be made with passion and requires patience; it’s not meant for speed.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Aged Rum

• 2 oz. Champagne/Prosecco

• 1 oz. Simple Syrup

• ¾ oz. Lime Juice

• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters

• 6-8 Mint Leaves

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Medium

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Minty

Method:

Pour all ingredients except the wine into cocktail shaker, shake well with ice, strain into chilled elegant cocktail glass. Top up with the sparkling wine and garnish with mint sprigs

The Bramble

About The Bramble

This English IBA Cocktail hails from London and was invented in the 1980s. The name of the drink comes from the fact that blackberry bushes are called brambles. The Bramble was invented as a springtime cocktail ans is best enjoyed with “red fruits” such as blackberries, cranberries, and raspberries as something to snack on.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Gin

• ½ oz. Blackberry Liqueur

• 1 oz. Lemon Juice

• ½ oz. Simple Syrup

• Crushed Ice

• Blackberry & Lemon Wheel for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Fill glass with crushed ice. Build gin, lemon juice and simple syrup over. Stir, and then pour blackberry liqueur over in a circular fashion to create marbling effect. Garnish with two blackberries and lemon slice.

The Casino

About The Casino

This 1917 cocktail is an IBA Official Cocktail and is a very flavorful and strong drink. This classic has fallen out of popularity but still retains a unique flavor pattern and can be found in upscale lounges and not ironically, casinos!

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Gin

• ½ oz. Maraschino Liqueur

• ½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

• 2 Dashes Orange Bitters

• Lemon Twist and Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 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. Garnish with a lemon twist and a maraschino cherry. Serve without a straw.

The Russian Spring Punch

About The Russian Spring Punch

The Russian Spring Punch was created in London, England by Dick Bradsell in the 1980s. He claims not to remember which bar he was working at at the time, but tells the story of how he created the recipe for personal friends wishing to hold a cocktail party while minimizing the amount of money they had to spend on alcohol. Participants were provided with the vodka, cassis, simple syrup and lemon juice, and were asked to bring their own sparkling wine.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Vodka

• 1½ oz. Creme de Cassis

• ½ oz. Simple Syrup

• 1 oz. Lemon Juice

• Fill Sparkling Wine

• Garnish with Blackberries or Lemon Slice.

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker except the sparkling wine, shake well with ice, strain into chilled tall tumbler glass filled with ice and top up with sparkling wine.

The Singapore Sling

About The Singapore Sling

The concept of a “Gin Sling” hails from the 1700s but the first appearance of the Singapore Sling can be dated to the 1930s in print, but was likely invented sometime around 1915 in Singapore. The cocktail has been made many different ways and for a long time had a vastly oversimplified recipe that was largely reminiscent of the Gin and Juice of the time. The Singapore Sling has been seen as a Mark of Mastery in recent times in a number of mixology schools.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Gin

• ½ oz. Cherry Liqueur

• ¼ oz. Triple Sec

• ¼ oz. Bénédictine

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• ½ oz. Grenadine

• 4 oz. Pineapple Juice

• Dash of Angostura Bitters

• Pineapple Wedge & Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Tropical

Method:

Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into highball glass. Garnish with pineapple and cocktail cherry.

The Mary Pickford

About The Mary Pickford

A Mary Pickford is a Prohibition Era cocktail made with white rum, fresh pineapple juice, grenadine, and Maraschino liqueur. It is served shaken and chilled, often with a Maraschino cherry. Named for Canadian-American film actress Mary Pickford (1892–1979), it is said to have been created for her in the 1920s by either Eddie Woelke or Fred Kaufmann at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba on a trip she took to Havana.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Silver Rum

• ¼ oz. Maraschino Liqueur

• 1½ oz. Pineapple Juice

• Splash of Grenadine

• Cherries for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Shake and strain into a chilled large cocktail glass

The Mimosa

About The Mimosa

The origins of the Mimosa are quite shrouded. It is known that variations of Mimosa cocktails have been enjoyed in the Mediterranean for centuries, specifically in Spain. There are some credits to the first “written” recipe for a Mimosa hailing from a Spanish Resort, however the claims are widely doubted. The epitome of first class and brunch cocktails anywhere, the Mimosa is a timeless classic and IBA Official Cocktail that is most likely here to stay.

Ingredients:

• 2½ oz. Champagne

• 2½ oz. Orange Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Orange

Method:

Ensure both ingredients are well chilled, then mix into the glass. Serve cold.

The Tommy's Margarita

About The Tommy’s Margarita

The new era IBA Official Cocktail Tommy’s Margarita is a slight spin on the original Margarita recipe. Invented in the year 1990 in San Francisco at Tommy’s Restaurant. Mixologist Julio Bermejo had recently started using Agave Nectar in his recipes and decided that the Agave would better accentuate the Margarita’s inherent citrus flavor better than the industry standard Triple Sec. Julio turned out to be correct , and the flavor profile of the Tommy’s Margarita is noticeably different from the traditional.

Ingredients:

• 2½ oz. Tequila

• 1½ oz. Lime Juice

• 3 Bar Spoons of Agave Nectar

• Salt for Glass Rim

• Lime Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Margarita

• Strength:    Strong

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Spirit

Method:

Pour all ingredients into shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into margarita glass rimmed with salt.

The Paloma

About The Paloma

Meet the popular Mexican cocktail that is enjoyed all over the world. This grapefruit and lime flavored juice cocktail is perfect on a hot sunny day. The range of garnishes available for the Paloma include lime, grapefruit slices, kosher salt, among other options. The Paloma is similar in composition to the Greyhound but adds a few other steps to make itself unique.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Silver Tequila

• 3 oz. Grapefruit Juice

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• 2 Tbsp. Simple Sugar

• Fill Soda Water

• Lime & Grapefruit Slices and/or salt for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Medium

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Build all ingredients in mixing glass minus club soda and stir well. Pour into ice filled and salt rimmed glass and top with club soda and garnishes.

The Sea Breeze

About The Sea Breeze

The Sea Breeze is an offshoot of the Cape Codder and the Salty Dog and has undergone many recipe changes in the last 100 years. Originally containing Gin, Brandy, and Grenadine; it would evolve a few more times until the 1960s when the modern recipe came into favor. The Sea Breeze, Cape Codder, and Bay Breeze were amongst the most popular cocktails of the 1960s and 1970s before becoming generic cocktails and base recipes for further variations.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Vodka

• 1 oz. Grapefruit Juice

• 4 oz. Cranberry Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Build all ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime wedge.

The Boulevardier

About The Boulevardier

The 1920s cousin of the Negroni, the Boulevardier is currently enjoying a large revival in the cocktail scene. Invented by an American writer that published a newspaper in Paris known as the “Boulevardier,” this cocktail is an offshoot of fellow IBA cocktail the Negroni with the notable change of gin to bourbon. The substitution creates a different flavor profile and mixes with fellow spirits vermouth and campari to create an entirely new tasting experience.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Bourbon Whiskey

• 1 part Sweet Vermouth

• 1 part Campari

• Orange Peel/Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Build ingredients in lowball glass with ice. Stir gently and garnish with an orange peel and/or maraschino cherry.

The Bee's Knees

About The Bee’s Knees

The Bee’s Knees hails from the Ritz in Paris in the year 1921. The namesake comes from the Prohibition Era where the term “That’s the Bee’s Knees” meant something was great and/or amazing. Frank Meier, the original head bartender at the Ritz is credited with this creation. There are quite a few variations to this recipe, however, the recipe listed below is the IBA Official recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gin

• ¾ oz. Lemon Juice

• ¾ oz. Honey

• Lemon Wheel for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Gin but Sweet

Method:

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled large cocktail glass

The Horse's Neck

About The Horse’s Neck

Remarkably similar to cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Rye & Ginger; the Horse’s Neck is a cocktail from the late 19th century. Originally a non-alcoholic drink, the addition of originally bourbon was named the Horse’s Neck with a Kick. Brandy later became the premier spirit of choice for this recipe and with the non-alcoholic version falling out of its namesake, the cocktail simply became known as the Horse’s Neck. The addition of bitters is optional, however we highly recommend it, as it strongly diversifies the flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Brandy

• 4 oz. Ginger Ale

• Few Dashes of Angostura Bitters

• Lemon Twist for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Build Brandy and Ginger Ale in highball/lowball glass with fresh ice. Stir gently. Gently add a few dashes of Angostura Bitters if desired. Garnish with lemon twist.

The French Connection

About The French Connection

The classic French Connection cocktail is the marriage of the famous French Spirit Cognac, and the Italian Liqueur known as Amaretto. Named after the 1971 neo-noir film The French Connection starring Gene Hackman. It can be served on the rocks in a lowball glass or neat in a Brandy Snifter. For www.empiremixology.com purposes we chose the latter, although the lowball version is equally as good.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Cognac

• 2 parts Amaretto

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks or Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Build ingredients in serving glass with ice (if in lowball glass). Stir until well mixed.