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 Zombie

About The Zombie

This recipe is probably the most complex cocktail on all of www.empiremixology.com. This cocktail is an original of Don the Beachcomber at his eponymous restaurant around the year 1934. It would later show up at the 1939 World’s Fair where it became popular on the East Coast. This cocktail is served with a strict limit of 2 per customer due to its high potency. The name originates from a businessman who had one and he returned to Donn’s restaurant and told him that it “made him a zombie all weekend.”

The name stuck and the rest is history. This recipe is highly complex and it is indeed a flammable cocktail so drink responsibly and remember safety when playing with fire. There is also a recipe for Donn’s Mix listed below which is an essential ingredient.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Silver Rum

• 1½ oz. Dark Rum

• 1 oz Apricot Brandy

• Splash Overproof 151 Rum

• ½ oz. of Don’s Mix***

• 1 oz. Lime Juice

• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice

• 1 oz. Mango Juice

• ½ oz. Grenadine

• Dash of Angostura Bitters

For Donn’s Mix

• 3 Crushed Cinnamon Sticks

• 1 Cup of Sugar

• 1 Cup of Boiling Water

• 2 Cups of Grapefruit Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Complex

• Flavor:       Tiki

Method:

Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice. Pour into glass with ice. You can float the 151 to create a longer lasting flame when lit.

For Donn’s Mix

• Bring 3 crushed cinnamon sticks, 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

• Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and let sit for at least 2 hours before straining into a clean glass bottle.

• Then add 1 part of the syrup and 2 parts of fresh grapefruit juice together.

The Champagne

About The Champagne

This 19th century recipe hails from the birthplace of ALL champagne; France. First listed in an 1862 guide to cocktails, the drink was later revitalized by Jerry Thomas who added a few variations to the earliest recipes. The quintessential “American” version is to omit the brandy/cognac addition. This cocktail can still be seen at New Year’s Eve events around the country.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz. Chilled Champagne

• ⅓ oz. Cognac or Brandy

• 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

• 1 Sugar Cube

• Orange Slice & Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Medium

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spiced

Method:

Add dash of Angostura bitter onto sugar cube and drop it into champagne flute. Add cognac followed by gently pouring chilled champagne. Garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry.

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 Barracuda

About The Barracuda

We searched for the origin of this cocktail but we came up empty on this one. Most bartenders agree the drink became popular during the 1970s and may have something to do with the vehicle also named Barracuda being popular at the same time period. Others point to a classical origin for the cocktail so we kinda just threw our hands up on this one. A deceptively strong cocktail utilizing Italian spirits along with Rum; the cocktail makes a great apertif.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Gold Rum

• ⅓ oz. Galliano Liqueur

• 2 oz. Pineapple Juice

• 1 Dash of Lime Juice

• Top with Prosecco/Sparkling Wine

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into glass, top with sparkling wine and serve in a Margarita glass.

The French 75

About The French 75

The French 75 or just the 75 Cocktail if you’re from France, is an early 20th century cocktail created at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France. The recipe is simple but remains crisp and flavorful. The cocktail was named after a French 75 Field Artillery due to the cocktail having a strong kick of flavor; like the kick of the artillery. This cocktail has been featured in various John Wayne films and others, such as Casablanca.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Gin

• 2 oz. Champagne

• ½ oz. Lemon Juice

• 2 Dashes of Simple Syrup

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Combine gin, syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled champagne glass. Top up with Champagne. Stir gently.

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 White Lady

About The White Lady

The White Lady is essentially a sidecar made with gin in place of brandy. What makes it different from the simple gin sour is the switching of sugar for triple sec. The cocktail sometimes also includes additional ingredients, for example egg white, sugar, or cream. The classic concoction is most commonly served in a cocktail glass. When an egg white is added a champagne coupe is preferable; the silky foam clings more pleasingly to the curved glass.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Gin

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• ⅔ oz. Lemon Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into large cocktail glass.

The Mint Julep

About The Mint Julep

The Mint Julep is the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby. The Mint Julep originated in the southern United States, during the eighteenth century. The earliest known mentions come from 1770 and include a satirical play by Robert Munford, The Candidate. Further evidence of mint julep as a prescription drink can be found in 1784 Medical Communications: "sickness at the stomach, with frequent retching, and, at times, a difficulty of swallowing. I then prescribed her an emetic, some opening powders, and a mint julep."

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Bourbon

• 2 tsp. Water

• 1 tsp. Powdered Sugar

• 4 Mint Leaves

• Crushed Ice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

In a highball glass gently muddle the mint, sugar and water. Fill the glass with cracked ice, add Bourbon and stir well until the glass is well frosted. Garnish with a mint sprig.

The Suffering Bastard

About The Suffering Bastard

So there are actually two versions of this cocktail but the IBA recognizes the original recipe which is listed below. Trader Vic also created a popular Tiki cocktail using the same name, however it is a tropical juice and rum variant. We chose to mirror the IBA and feature the OG Recipe featuring gin and brandy. This recipe was a “hangover cure” for WWII troops stationed in Egypt.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Gin

• 1 oz. Brandy

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

• Top with Ginger Beer

• Lime Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spiced

Method:

Shake everything but ginger beer with ice, pour unstrained into glass, top with ginger beer.

The Hemingway Special

About The Hemingway Special

You can probably imagine whom this cocktail is named after. Whilst staying in Cuba, author Ernest Hemingway tried the local Floridita cocktail and remarked that although he liked it, he preferred no sugar and double the rum. Thusly, the Hemingway Special was born and would in time become a selected IBA Official Cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Silver Rum

• ½ oz. Maraschino Liqueur

• 1½ oz. Grapefruit Juice

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• Lime Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker, shake well with ice, strain into chilled cocktail glass.

The Sidecar

About The Sidecar

The invention of the drink is credited to an American army captain in Paris during World War I and named after the motorcycle sidecar that the captain used. The Sidecar cocktail is a highly customizable cocktail, and it serves as the launch point for several sister cocktails similar in design.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Cognac

• ¾ oz. Triple Sec

• ¾ oz. Lemon Juice

• Orange Slice for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into large cocktail glass.

The Canchanchara

About The Canchanchara

This interestingly named cocktail is a 2020 IBA Official Cocktail from the New Era. Hailing from island nation of Cuba, the Canchanchara is supposed to feature Cuban Aguardiente which is kind of a generic alcoholic drink. We chose to use Rum, since that makes more sense.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Rum

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• ½ oz. Honey

• 1½ oz. Water

• Lime Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Lime

Method:

Mix honey with water and lime juice and spread the mixture on the bottom and sides of the glass. Add cracked ice, and then the rum. End by energetically stirring from bottom to top.

The Tuxedo

About The Tuxedo

Related to the martini, the Tuxedo has had many variations since its inception in the 1880s. The cocktail is named after the Tuxedo Club in Orange County, New York where it was first mixed. Tuxedo Park, the planned community where the club was built, is itself a derivation of the Lenape word tucseto. The form of menswear by the same name originated at the same country club around the same time.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Gin

• 1 oz. Dry Vermouth

• ½ barspoon Maraschino Liqueur

• ¼ barspoon Absinthe

• 3 Dashes Orange Bitters

• Cherry and Lemon Zest for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry and a twist of lemon zest.

The Brandy Crusta

About The Brandy Crusta

First published in 1862, the Brandy Crusta is a throwback to a bygone era of cocktails. The Brandy Crusta all but vanished from the cocktail scene near the Prohibition period but has recently began a revival in New Orleans. The Crusta is an aromatic cocktail that is strongly spirit forward, so make sure to use a brand you enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Brandy

• ¼ oz. Maraschino Liqueur

• 1 Barspoon Curacao

• ½ oz. Lemon Juice

• 1 Barspoon Simple Syrup

• 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

• Orange/Lemon Peel for Garnish

• Sugar for Glass Rim

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Mix all ingredients with ice cubes in a mixing glass. Strain into slim cocktail glass rimmed with sugar.