The Sex on the Beach

About The Sex on the Beach

The IBA Contemporary Classic, the Sex on the Beach. This cocktail has been going strong for decades as a summer classic and cult favorite. Despite the provocative name, this cocktail is surprisingly smooth and sweet as the juices combine to eliminate the sharp bite of vodka. Easily enjoyed during a hot summer day or a night out with friends, this versatile recipe is an essential to keep in your toolkit and should be able to be ordered anywhere you go. We’ve also thrown in a shot-version recipe just for fun!

Ingredients:

For Cocktail Version:

• 1½ oz. Vodka

• ½ oz. Peach Schnapps

• Equal parts Orange Juice & Cranberry Juice

For Shot Version:

• 1 part Vodka

• ½ part Peach Schnapps

• Splash of Orange Juice

• Splash of Cranberry Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       5.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:    Medium

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Sweet

Method:

Build all ingredients in highball glass with fresh ice. Pour vodka and schnapps first, then orange juice and then cranberry juice. Garnish with choice of orange slice or lemon with maraschino cherries.

For the shot version, shake ingredients lightly in shaker with ice and then strain into shot glass.

The Stinger

About The Stinger

You may not be familiar this one, but back in its heyday the Stinger was a popular evening beverage. Famous drinkers include Cary Grant and your idol and mine; James Bond. The Stinger used to be known as an evening drink or even as a hangover cure (yuck!). The Stinger is a fairly powerful cocktail that is typically drank slowly to avoid it, well, stinging you.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Cognac

• 1/2 oz. White Crème de Menthe

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Pour ingredients into mixing glass with ice and stir gently. Strain into martini glass or into rocks glass with ice if preferable.

The Gin Fizz

About The Gin Fizz

The New Orleans original has been in fashion since the 1800s, with its peak during the early to mid 1900s before it became an international sensation. Mostly seen now as a retro-classic cocktail, the Gin Fizz remains a pillar of modern mixology and can be changed to suit the individual drinker by substituting gin with whiskey or rum.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gin

• 1.5 oz. Lemon Juice

• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup

• Top Club Soda

• 1 Lemon Slice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:  Medium

• Difficulty: Medium

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, except the Club Soda. Strain into highball glass with fresh ice. Top with Club Soda and garnish with a lemon slice.

The Whiskey Sour

About The Whiskey Sour

The 1800s created a lot of cocktails that are considered classic, the Whiskey Sour is one of them. Unlike other drinks such as the Old Fashioned, this recipe has withstood the test of time and has never fallen too out of favor. The sweet and sour taste of this drink is pleasing to the palate and makes for a perfect evening drink.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Bourbon Whiskey

• 1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

• 1/2 oz. Gomme Syrup

• Dash of egg white (optional)

• 1 Lemon Wedge for garnish

• 1 Maraschino Cherry for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Complex

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with lemon wedge and maraschino cherry.

Empire Tip: The egg white ingredient is often skipped due to food allergies.

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 Old Fashioned

About The Old Fashioned

One of the foundation recipes for any mixologist, the Old Fashioned is a time tested cocktail that is presently enjoying a revival thanks to the hit show Mad Men. First mentioned in the early 1800s, the true origin of this drink is shrouded in mystery with some sources pointing to the late 1870s as a possible inception date. Any self-respecting bartender/mixologist should master this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Rye Whiskey

• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

• 1 Sugar Cube

• few dashes of Plain Water

• 1 Orange Rind

• 1 Orange Wheel for Garnish

• 1 Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Complex

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

In an Old Fashioned glass add sugar cube, bitters, orange rind, and water. Muddle until well mixed and sugar mostly dissolved. Remove the orange rind and add Rye and ice. Garnish with orange wheel and cherry.

Empire Tip: Bourbon is commonly accepted as a substitute for Rye, and numerous recipes also call for Gin instead of Whiskey.

The Aviation

About The Aviation

This blast from the past hails from the Hotel Wallick in New York City. The following recipe is NOT the original recipe; it is the accepted IBA Classic recipe as recorded in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book. The original recipe calls for Crème de Violette, however the ingredient is often overlooked or substituted for Crème de Cassis.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin

• 1/2 oz maraschino liqueur

• 1/4 oz crème de violette

• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

• Maraschino cherry (for garnish)

• Ice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Add all ingredients to an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake until well chilled. Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with cherry.

The Sazerac

About The Sazerac

The IBA Classic from the Big Easy makes a claim to be the oldest known American cocktail, with possible pre-Civil War origins. Although it can be a little tricky to make, this cocktail is typically a showcase drink for accomplished mixologists and is typically not in favor in the current bar scene. The Sazerac was named as the official cocktail of New Orleans in 2008.

Ingredients:

• .5 oz. Absinthe

• 2 oz. Cognac

• .5 oz. Simple Syrup

• 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

• 1 Lemon Twist for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Complex

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Rinse a chilled Old Fashioned glass with Absinthe, then fill with crushed ice. In a mixing glass (separate from the Old Fashioned glass), add all other ingredients and fill with ice. Stir until well chilled. Discard ice and excess absinthe in the Old Fashioned glass, and strain ingredients into glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

The Rusty Nail

About The Rusty Nail

You might think the Rusty Nail hails from Scotland; the world capital of scotch whisky, but the truth is no one really knows where this drink truly hails from. Some attribute the cocktail’s origin to Thailand, where this drink exploded in popularity. However, the NYC bartender scene is also given the same claim. This is a powerful drink not for the faint of heart, and is a popular suggestion for any scotch drinker.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Scotch Whisky

• 2/3 oz. Drambuie

• Lemon Twist for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor:       Strong

Method:

Pour all ingredients into old fashioned glass with ice. Gently stir and garnish with a lemon twist.

The Mojito

About The Mojito

The Mojito is yet another IBA Classic Cocktail originating from Havana, Cuba and is a distinct mixology icon. A long favored summer drink in Europe and all season favorite in the Caribbean and lower US states, the Mojito reached mainstream popularity in the 1930s thanks to celebrities such as Errol Flynn, Ernest Hemingway, and Brigitte Bardot.

The minty-lime flavor of the Mojito is easily substituted or added to in modern mixology; making the Mojito one of the most versatile cocktails in mixology today.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Light Rum

• 1 oz. Lime Juice

• 2 tsp. Fine Sugar (to taste)

• 2 Sprigs of Mint

• Soda Water

• Fresh Mint Leaves (for garnish)

• 4 Lime Wedges (for garnish)

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:  Medium

• Difficulty: Medium

• Flavor:       Mint

Method:

Add a few mint leaves, lime juice, one lime wedge, and sugar to a highball or desired glass. Muddle ingredients until most of the sugar has dissolved and the juices and oils from the mint and lime have been released. Fill the glass with ice, mint spring, and lime wedges, then pour rum over the ice and fill with soda water. Garnish with additional mint spring and lime wedge.

The Margarita

About The Margarita

This 1930s cocktail hails from the land of tequila itself, Mexico. A common staple of the summer season, the Margarita like the Martini, has evolved over the years and many variants have been invented since its inception. At Empire Mixology we typically do not use sour mix in our Classic Margarita recipe, although some do find the taste more enjoyable. Arguments can go all day regarding when and where it was founded exactly; whether or not salt is necessary, or if you have to use Cointreau© or not; but the important part is that we all enjoy a cool and refreshing Margarita once the warm weather days arrive.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Tequila

• 1.5 oz. Triple Sec

• 1 oz. Lime Juice

• Salt (for rim of glass)

• Lime for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      Margarita

• Strength:    Strong

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Spirit

Method:

Pour all ingredients into shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass rimmed with salt.

Empire Tip: The Margarita has become a base cocktail recipe in similar vein to the Martini or Daiquiri, try experimenting with our recipe and see what you can figure out!

The Bellini

About The Bellini

Hailing from Venice, Italy; the Bellini is a simple, light, and elegant cocktail perfect for a quiet evening or a formal event. Founded by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice, the Bellini became a worldwide sensation after a Frenchman started using white peaches for the purée. There are many multiple versions of this recipe, but we prefer to show you the original to its purest form. Give the Bellini a chance, it may even replace the modern love affair of the Mimosa. Both serve as perfect breakfast drinks, or as an after-dinner cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Prosecco (or Champagne)

• 1 part Peach Purée

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:    Medium

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Sweet

Method:

Pour peach purée into chilled flute, add sparkling wine. Stir gently.

Empire Tip: Traditionally, the IBA Official version of this recipe calls for white peaches as the fruit of choice.

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 Black Russian

About The Black Russian

The IBA Classic Black Russian that isn’t Russian at all is a 1949 classic from the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, Belgium. Named after the color of the drink and the fact vodka is the primary ingredient, the Black Russian has numerous variations and cousin recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Vodka

• .5 oz. Coffee Liqueur

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor:       Strong

Method:

Pour all ingredients into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Stir gently and enjoy!

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.

The Planter's Punch

About The Planter’s Punch

This is one of the older IBA Classic Cocktails on the list, with it first being mentioned in 1878 in London. The cocktail itself is disputed to have originated from Charleston, SC or Jamaica. This is a sweet summertime punch that hides its potent alcohol content well. Although rarely ordered at a bar anymore, this is classic and essential recipe to know.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Dark Rum

• 1 oz. Orange Juice

• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice

• 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

• 1/2 oz. Grenadine

• 1/2 oz. Simple Sugar Syrup

• 3 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

• Cocktail Cherry & Pineapple Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Medium

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Pour all ingredients, except the bitters, into shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled. Pour into large glass, filled with ice. Add Angostura bitters as a floater and do not stir. Garnish with cocktail cherry and pineapple.