Margarita History The Margarita rose to fame in the 1940s and 1950s along the U.S.–Mexico border, gaining popularity in bars and resorts for its bright, refreshing balance of tequila, citrus, and orange liqueur. Its exact origin is murky, claimed by bartenders, hostesses, and performers, but what is certain is its rapid ascent into global cocktail…
Moscow Mule History Despite its name, the Moscow Mule is an American creation, born in 1940s Los Angeles through a partnership between a struggling vodka importer and a ginger beer producer. The copper mug, now inseparable from the drink, was a clever marketing choice that created instant visual appeal. The Mule’s vibrant combination of lime…
Old Fashioned with Aromatic Bitters History The Old Fashioned is the original cocktail—a formula that dates back to the early 1800s, when “cocktail” meant spirit, sugar, water, and bitters. As bartenders began experimenting with new liqueurs and exotic ingredients, some patrons requested their drink the “old-fashioned way,” giving the drink its enduring name. It remains…
GIN & TONIC with Lemon Bitters History The Gin & Tonic began as a medicinal necessity in 19th-century India, where British officers mixed gin with quinine-rich tonic water to make the bitter malaria remedy more enjoyable. What started as a functional drink evolved into a global classic, a refreshing symbol of warm evenings and minimalist…
Rum Old Fashioned with Cacao Bitters History Long before whiskey dominated American cocktails, rum was the spirit of choice in taverns across the colonies. The Old Fashioned, spirit, sugar, water, bitters, was originally made with whatever base spirit was available, which in many ports meant rum. The modern Rum Old Fashioned is a tribute to…
Paloma with Grapefruit Bitters History The Paloma is a drink deeply woven into modern Mexican cocktail culture. While its precise origin is uncertain, many trace it to mid-20th-century bartenders experimenting with freshly popular grapefruit soda. Unlike the Margarita, the Paloma wasn’t created for glamour, it was created for refreshment. Its effortless blend of citrus, tequila,…
History The Negroni was born in 1919 at Caffè Cassoni in Florence, after Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender to strengthen his usual Americano by replacing soda water with gin. Bold, bitter, and sophisticated, the drink quickly captured the spirit of Italian aperitivo culture. Over the years it evolved from a regional curiosity into a…
History The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is one of the most iconic “pick-me-up” cocktails of the early 20th century. First recorded in Harry Craddock’s Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930, it was part of a humorous category of drinks meant to “revive” the drinker from the after-effects of the night before. Unlike its darker, brandy-based predecessor,…
History The Gimlet traces its roots to the British Royal Navy, where sailors mixed lime cordial with gin as a practical way to prevent scurvy. What began as necessity evolved into a refined cocktail—crisp, clean, and elegantly simple. By the mid-20th century it became a staple of cocktail culture, praised for its straightforward, refreshing balance.…
History The Martini is one of the most storied cocktails in mixology, evolving from gin-heavy, sweet-vermouth-driven recipes of the 1880s into the dry, crisp versions we know today. Early recipes universally included orange bitters, creating an aromatic link between gin’s botanicals and vermouth’s herbal character. As tastes shifted toward ultra-dry martinis, bitters were often left…
