The Rob Roy

The Rob Roy

Hailing from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, the Rob Roy is an 1894 cocktail that is very spirit forward with a flavorful finish due to the Angostura Bitters. The drink is named after an opera of the time period based on the Scottish folk hero Rob Roy McGregor. Although not an IBA Official Cocktail, the Rob Roy is a solid Scotch Whisky cocktail option that is meany for sipping and casual enjoyment.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Scotch Whisky

• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth

• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spiced

Method:

Stirred over ice, strained into a chilled glass, garnished, and served straight up, or mixed in rocks glass, filled with ice.

The International

About The International

Meet your new favorite cocktail. Classy yet fun, the International is a personal recipe of our resident Lead Mixologist. This cognac and vodka based cocktail is absolutely packed with flavor and delivers a smooth finish. The triple sec and elderflower liqueur mask the “bite” of the primary spirits, creating a delectable and flavor packed finish to your sip. This is one our signature recipes at Empire Mixology and we hope you enjoy it just as much as we do.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Cognac

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• 1 oz. Elderflower Liqueur

• ½ oz. Vodka

• Lime Wedge for Garnish

• Lemon Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 5.0 Stars

• Served: Neat

• Strength: Medium

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Sweet

Method:

Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Unlike James Bond, stir this one until well chilled and strain into a martini glass.

Empire Tip: Garnish with a lemon twist or olives to your preference.

The Derby

About The Derby

The Derby is a southern style IBA Official Cocktail. This recipe is best enjoyed on a cool summer evening or with a light dinner. The refreshing juniper flavor of gin and mint combined with peach bitters creates a sweet yet smooth taste.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gin

• 1/2 oz. Peach Bitters

• 2 Mint Leaves for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Strong

Method:

Pour Gin and Peach Bitters into mixing glass with ice. Stir until well chilled and strain into martini glass. Garnish with fresh mint.

The Kangaroo

About The Kangaroo

Meet the Vodka Martini. It’s technically a Kangaroo Cocktail by trade, however vodka has nominally replaced Gin in the classic recipe seen here. The favorite of James Bond and others, the Vodka Martini is not a traditional Martini according to most purists. The cocktail is meant to be stirred and not shaken, contrary to the popular quote. This recipe is very popular in the modern US cocktail scene and is likely to always remain a symbol of class and elegance.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Vodka

• .5 oz. Dry Vermouth

• 1 Cocktail Olive/Lemon Twist

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:   Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Just like the Martini, stir this one until well chilled and strain into a martini glass.

Empire Tip: Garnish with a lemon twist or olives to your preference.

The Between The Sheets

About The Between The Sheets

The cousin of the Sidecar, the IBA Classic Between the Sheets is a product of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France. There’s also claims it was invented in French brothels or rival hotels. This is a spirit forward cocktail that exudes class and a taste for vintage drinks. Order this at your local bar to impress the mixologist and the friends in your company.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Silver Rum

• 1 oz. Cognac

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• .5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:  Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Strong

Method:

Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

The Bacardi

About The Bacardi

This cousin of the Daiquiri is a pre-prohibition cocktail and a former IBA Classic. Although the original version of this drink originates from Cuba, the grenadine addition is a United States variation and creates a more sweet flavor. This cocktail is still fairly spirit-forward so sip responsibly and slowly.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz. Bacardi® Superior Rum

• 2 oz. Lime Juice

• 1 oz. Grenadine

• 1/4 oz. Sugar

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:  Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Add all ingredients to shaker glass with ice. Shake until well chilled and strain into martini glass.

Empire Tip: Try an orange peel as a garnish!

The Cidertini

About The Cidertini

Introducing the great fall cocktail. Fall includes some of our favorite flavors like cinnamon, apples, pumpkin and more. So why not celebrate in style with a delicious apple flavored martini? But not just a simple appletini will do, why not give the Cidertini a shot instead.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Caramel Vodka

• 0.5 oz. Apple Brandy

• 3 oz. Apple Cider

• Pinch of Cinnamon

• Apple Slice, Cinnamon Stick, Brown Sugar for garnish.

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:        5 Stars

• Served:      Cocktail Glass

• Strength:    Medium

• Difficulty:    Medium

• Flavor:        Spiced

Method:

Place all ingredients except cinnamon and garnishes in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled sugar and cinnamon rimmed martini glass. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon, an apple slice, and a cinnamon stick.

The Martini

About The Martini

Once called the greatest American invention of all time, the actual origins of this cocktail are shrouded in mystery; credited to both Italy and San Francisco, CA. The Martini became the signature cocktail of the United States during prohibition and has endured as a true symbol of elegance and class. The Martini is an essential in every bartender’s toolkit and no self-respecting mixologist may use the title without mastering this cocktail. Also, note the Martini is made with GIN not vodka, and is STIRRED, and not shaken.

Ingredients:

• 2.5 oz. Gin

• .5 oz. Dry Vermouth

• 1 Cocktail Olive/Lemon Twist

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty: Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Unlike James Bond, stir this one until well chilled and strain into a martini glass.

Empire Tip: Garnish with a lemon twist or olives to your preference.

The Monkey Gland

About The Monkey Gland

Yeah what’s with the name right? It’s a long story about plastic surgery and monkey testicles so we’re just not going to go there. This cocktail is an IBA Classic; and probably the oddest titled one on the list. hailing from Paris, France at Harry’s New York Bar This cocktail can hit you hard with its powerful recipe and the addition of Absinthe. Have fun ordering this one at the bar and not sounding like a weirdo.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Gin

• 1.5 Orange Juice

• Dash of Absinthe

• Dash of Grenadine

• Sugar to preference/taste.

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:  Strong

• Difficulty: Complex

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled and strain into a martini glass.

The Porto Flip

About The Porto Flip

Say hello to the long forgotten and formerly extremely popular Porto Flip Cocktail. First officially referenced in the mid 1800s, this recipe was almost completely lost after the turn of the century. Although the ingredients may make you cringe this cocktail is actually fairly sweet and creamy with a strong spirit flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz brandy

• 3/4 oz port wine

• 1/4 oz simple syrup

• 1 whole egg

• Nutmeg (for garnish)

• Ice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Put all ingredients (yes, even the egg yolk) into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake very well. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with grated nutmeg and enjoy? Maybe?

The Daiquiri

About The Daquiri

Considered one of the six basic drinks and a foundation of mixology, the Daiquiri is refreshing and tangy as it combines perfect proportions of sweet, sour, and spirit. Rising to popularity in the 1940s during World War II, the original founding of this cocktail can be traced to Cuba during the Spanish-American War. President John F. Kennedy also included this cocktail as one of his personal favorites.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Silver Rum

• 1 oz. Lime Juice

• 1 oz. Simple Syrup

• 1 Lime Wheel

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:  Strong

• Difficulty: Medium

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into martini glass and garnish with lime wedge.

The Manhattan

About The Manhattan

The Manhattan; one of the core drinks in mixology. Every bartender whether enthusiast or professional should know how to make this classic concoction. The true way of making a Manhattan is with RYE whiskey and not BOURBON. In fact, bourbon only became a substitution in the Prohibition Era when Rye was in hard supply. The drink is also typically garnished with a maraschino cherry and not a lemon twist.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Rye Whiskey

• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth

• Dash Angostura Bitters

• 1 Maraschino Cherry

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:     Neat

• Strength:  Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Strong

Method:

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir with ice until chilled. Strain into chilled cocktail glass and garnished with a maraschino cherry.

Empire Tip: You can modernize the classic recipe by using bourbon rather than rye and use a lemon twist for garnish.