Cocktails Created from the History Books

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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 new drink named the Bad Girl Boudica. Named after one of the area’s most notable historical figures, the sweet concoction is a closely guarded recipe created by Don Quinn.

Boudica formed a rebellion against the Romans around 2000 years ago, where she almost burned Colchester to the ground and ultimately lost her battle. Her story is still taught to schoolchildren around the country. Yet she is not the first historical figure to be immortalised in such a way.

1. Rob Roy

A drink made with scotch whiskey, Martini Rosso, Angostura Bitters and some lemon zest, this drink is always topped with a cherry. The Rob Roy is named after a famous Scottish rebel who became known as a Robin Hood character, who fell out with the Duke of Montrose and so began stealing from his lands.

The drink was invented when the story of Rob Roy was made into a Broadway musical in 1984. The nearby Waldorf Astoria (now the Empire State Building) created the drink in celebration of the new show.

The Rob Roy cocktail invented in 1984, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, in celebration of the Broadway premiere of the operetta Rob Roy, based on the Scottish folk hero. The drink was a variation of the Manhattan, substituting Scotch whisky for bourbon or rye, making it distinctively Scottish in theme, much like the character from the musical.

The original Waldorf Astoria Hotel stood where the Empire State Building is now located, but the hotel itself moved to a different location in the 1930s. The Rob Roy has since become a classic cocktail, enjoyed for its smooth and slightly smoky flavor.

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Rob Roy

Recipe card

4.56 / 5

Cocktail glass

Microbadges

15 key ingredients

Cocktail Of The Day

Invented

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1894

Base ingredient

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Whiskey

Calories

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132 calories

Garnish

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Cocktail cherry

Alcohol content

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31.43% | 2.2 units of alcohol ^*

Details

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Classic

Stirred

The Rob Roy is a classic Scotch whisky cocktail akin to a Manhattan but distinguished by its use of Scotch rather than rye or bourbon. The drink is named after the Scottish folk hero Robert Roy MacGregor and traditionally features a combination of Scotch whisky, red (sweet) vermouth, and a dash of Angostura bitters, resulting in a smooth, rich drink with herbal and spice undertones. The bitters add depth and complexity to the sweetness of the vermouth, which complements the smoky notes of the Scotch. It's often garnished with maraschino cherries, adding a touch of fruitiness and color to the presentation. Served in a cocktail glass, the Rob Roy offers a perfect balance of flavors for a sophisticated and timeless drinking experience.

Ingredients

Angostura Bitters

Red vermouth

Whiskey

Method

How to make a Rob Roy

Serves 1 · Takes 3 minutes

Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir quite vigorously combine the ingredients

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Garnish with two maraschino cherries and serve

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2. Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer was the man credited with making golf popular. It helped that his career coincided with the rise of the television, but the sporting legend was considered to be one of the best golfers ever, and the term ‘to Palmer’ is still often used on the courses.

Arnold had a huge fanbase, who soon learned that his favourite drink was iced tea mixed with lemonade. They started to order it themselves, a for a long time this drink was known as a Half and Half. A few decades later, Palmer and his friends joined forces with a beverages company and Arnold Palmer Tee was born.

It has since become a staple drink, synonymous with the golfer himself and enjoyed by fans around the world.

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Tipsy Arnold Palmer

Recipe card

4.8 / 5

Pitcher glass

Base ingredient

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Tea

Calories

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1068 calories

Garnish

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Lemon

Alcohol content

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6.75% | 9.6 units of alcohol ^*

The Tipsy Arnold Palmer is a spirited twist on the classic non-alcoholic beverage named after the renowned American golfer Arnold Palmer. It is a refreshing mix that combines the tartness of lemon juice with the sweet and robust flavor of black tea, providing a perfect balance of citrusy zing and soothing tea notes. The addition of bourbon infuses the drink with a smooth, oaky warmth, making it an ideal choice for a relaxed outdoor gathering or a casual get-together. Enhanced with the subtle aromatics of orange and lemon zest, this cocktail offers a complex flavor profile served in a pitcher, perfect for sharing with friends on a lazy summer afternoon.

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Ingredients

Lemon Juice

Sugar

Bourbon

Tea

Orange

Lemon

Method

How to make a Tipsy Arnold Palmer

Serves 1 · Takes 3 minutes

Place four tea bags in a large bowl with the sugar and the zest of one orange and one lemon, and pour four cups of boiling water over the top

Stir until all the sugar has dissolved, and then cover and leave to steep for five minutes

Strain into a pitcher, discarding the tea bags and zest

Add four cups of cold water, along with the bourbon and lemon juice

Chill and serve over ice with a lemon peel garnish

~ This recipe makes enough for one large bowl. ~

Makers mode

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3. Shirley Temple

The Shirley Temple cocktail was created in honor of the beloved child star with the signature ringlet curls when she dined out with her family. As she was too young for alcohol, bartenders crafted a sweet, non-alcoholic drink just for her, often made with ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, grenadine, and a maraschino cherry on top.

Shirley Temple quickly became a household name in Hollywood during the 1930s, famous for her charm and talent. By the age of six, she was commanding an unprecedented $50,000 per film, starring in timeless classics like Heidi, The Little Princess, and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, making her the highest-paid child actor of her time.

While her film career faded as she grew older, Shirley Temple transitioned into public service and diplomacy. After retiring from acting, she embarked on a successful second career in politics, notably serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana in the 1970s and later as the U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

She sadly passed away in 2014, leaving behind not only a legacy as a pioneering child actor but also as a respected diplomat. The Shirley Temple drink, like the star herself, remains a symbol of sweetness and timeless charm, enjoyed by all ages for decades.

Conclusion

So there you have it: if you want to be talked about for years after your death, have a cocktail created in your honour. It helps if you already have a reason to be famous, obviously, as every concoction needs a story behind it.

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Shirley Temple

Recipe card

4.38 / 5

Highball glass

Microbadges

15 key ingredients

Cocktail Of The Day

Invented

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(1930)

Base ingredient

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Lemon Juice

Calories

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83 calories

Garnish

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Lemon, cocktail cherry

Alcohol content

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Non-alcoholic

Details

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Classic

Stirred

The Shirley Temple cocktail is a non-alcoholic beverage that has been enjoyed by both adults and children for decades. Named after the famous child actress, this mocktail is believed to have originated in the 1930s during a visit by the actress to the famous Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood. The classic recipe consists of lemon juice, ginger ale, and a splash of grenadine, giving it a sweet and tangy flavor profile. The bright red color and fruity taste make it a popular choice at children's parties and can also be made with different variations of lemon-lime soda and grenadine. This refreshing and easy-to-make drink has stood the test of time and is still a fan favorite to this day.

Ingredients

Lemon Juice

Ginger Ale

Grenadine

Method

How to make a Shirley Temple

Serves 1 · Takes 3 minutes

Pour all ingredients into a highball glass and stir gently

Garnish with a lemon slice and a maraschino cherry and serve

Makers mode

View the full recipe