Level up - History
Level up your cocktail historical knowledge
Explore the captivating history of cocktails with our 'Level Up Your Knowledge of the History of Cocktails' series.
Delve into the origins and evolution of iconic drinks, from the classic Old Fashioned to the sleek Martini. Each article brings to life the stories and milestones that shaped mixology, offering a glimpse into the cultural impacts and legends behind your favorite cocktails. Perfect for enthusiasts and history buffs, this series enriches your understanding of cocktail craft, one fascinating tale at a time.
The History of the Martini
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... read more
The History of the Mimosa Cocktail
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 cocktai... read more
Cocktails Created from the History Books
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 i... read more
The Story of the Seelbach
All the best cocktails have a long and fascinating history behind them, and the Seelbach cocktail is no exception. A delicious combination of bourbon, Cointreau, Champagne, Angostura bitters and Peych... read more
The History of Christmas Cocktails
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 histo... read more
The History of the Mint Julep
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 interestin... read more
The History of the Mojito
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... read more
The History of the Sidecar Cocktail
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 F... read more
The History of the Alexander
The Alexander is a dessert cocktail steeped in history that is made using a basic mixology template that every experimental cocktail should start with. The original drink is made using gin, chocolat... read more
Perfect Pairings with Popular Cocktails
As every responsible drinker knows, it is important not to drink on an empty stomach. Unless your aim is to fall out of a bar after a couple of cocktails and seeing your drinks in reverse, it is sensi... read more
The History of the Singapore Sling
There are not many cocktails that can claim to be as controversial as the Singapore Sling. The actual recipe is a source of much debate, with many different variations of the cocktail to be found on t... read more
History of the Hot Toddy
Ask the average person if they’ve ever heard of a Hot Toddy, and they’re likely to say they have. Ask them what a Hot Toddy is, and you may get a variety of answers. The cocktail doesn’t have a standa... read more
Bartender's top tip
Latest articles
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get tips straight into your inbox.