Blog Archive: Tag: history

A sophisticated blend of bourbon, bitters, soda and sugar, the Old Fashioned cocktail has roots that go all the way back to the 1800s! The name comes from the way it is made, with people heading to cocktail bars and requesting for their drink to be created in the ‘old fashioned way’. The Origins of… read the full article…

A very fancy cocktail with an extremely glamourous namesake, the Mary Pickford cocktail was created during prohibition and is saved for only the classiest of establishments. Who was Mary Pickford? Born in Canada in 1893 with the name Gladys Mary Smith, Mary Pickford was one of the very first Hollywood superstars. The highest paid woman… read the full article…

The Gimlet has one of the more interesting stories concerning its creation, although it is now enjoyed for pleasure rather than ‘necessity’! Concocted by a doctor, rather than a mixologist, the drink was made as a way to administer medicine to British Navy Officers back in the 19th century. All Aboard for the Gimlet At… read the full article…

This week, the Moscow Mule was rated the top cocktail in Michigan, according to research undertaken by Versus Reviews. Its easy to see why; who can resist that mouth-watering combination of spicy ginger beer combined with tart lime juice, over the crisp freshness of a good vodka? But who knew that this delicious concoction came… read the full article…

In a bid to encourage those that have so far managed to complete two weeks of Dry January, we are taking a look back at the classic mocktail inspired by a child movie star. The Shirley Temple was made for the actress of the same name on her tenth birthday. The Story Famed for her… read the full article…

All the best cocktails have back stories that are romantic, unusual and a little bit unlikely – sometimes the story is even more entertaining than the drink! But the cocktails that make it to ‘classic’ status usually have more than one story, so that you are never really sure where the drink was first made…. read the full article…

No brunch is complete without a Mimosa or two alongside your eggs benedict and smoked salmon, and it is a great tipple to have before a wedding, but the history behind our favourite pre-midday cocktail is much disputed. Of course, there is little doubt that the Mimosa is simply a variation of the much-loved Buck’s… read the full article…

To get your name in the history books, you must have done something wondrous or terrible. To be remembered, you need to be considered a hero or a villain. But you only know that you have really made it when your name is given to a cocktail. A mixologist in Colchester, UK, has created a… read the full article…

With Christmas on its merry way, we are taking this opportunity to celebrate three of the most popular tipples at the time of year. Whichever one you prefer, it is always interesting to know the history behind these traditional cocktails. Eggnog Eggnog is a creamy cocktail made of milk, sugar and eggs, as well as… read the full article…

The 2015 Kentucky Derby begins on May 2nd and it is expected that somewhere between 80,000 and 120,000 Mint Juleps will be purchased over the weekend. The official drink of the event has an interesting history behind it. The first origins are unknown for sure, but the word Julep is Persian for rose water. Some… read the full article…

The Mojito has got to be one of the most easily recognisable cocktails. Most people of cocktail-drinking age can identify that it contains rum and lime. But the drink has a very interesting past that links back to the 1500s when it was considered to be a drink for the Cuban working class. There are… read the full article…

The Sidecar was created towards the end of the First World War. There are many conspiracy theories as to the origins of this drink, but there are two stories that seem to be quoted most often. The French like to take the credit, believing that the drink was made in Harry’s New York bar. The… read the full article…