The Tom Collins

About The Tom Collins

The Tom Collins has a shrouded origin, but first appeared in the Grandfather of American Mixology Jerry Thomas’s writings in 1876. There are stories of the cocktail being enjoyed in the first half of the 19th century in England but it cannot be substantiated. The cocktail has gone through numerous evolutions but this recipe is the “standard” in modern mixology. The namesake ingredient of this cocktail is Old Tom Style Gin. This ingredient has enjoyed a revival in the craft cocktail culture but still isn’t all that common. It is slightly sweeter than London Dry Gin, but the latter can easily be used as a substitute.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Old Tom Gin (or London Dry if you do not have)

• 1 oz. Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

• ½ oz. Simple Sugar

• Fill Soda Water

• Lemon Slice & Maraschino Cherry for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Medium

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Mix the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup in a tall glass with ice, top up with club soda, garnish and serve.

The Gin Rickey

About The Gin Rickey

This cocktail hails from Washington D.C. in the late 19th century. It was created by Joe Rickey, a resident of the District who first called for a Bourbon Rickey. The beverage later exploded in popularity and was even featured in the F. Scott Fitzgerald great novel “The Great Gatsby.” The Gin Rickey became the most popular and enduring variation and remains part of his namesake.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gin

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• Fill Soda Water

• Lime Wheels for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Lime

Method:

Build all ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime wheel.

The Tokyo Tea

About The Tokyo Tea

Meet the Far Eastern cousin of the famous Long Island Iced Tea. This recipe follows Empire Mixology’s Long Island recipe with a few distinctions. Firstly, the cocktail is green so Melon Liqueur is used to give the drink its color. Three cherries are also used as garnish to mimic Bubble Tea. The addition of sprite makes the taste a little lighter, but do not be fooled; this cocktail is just as potent as your standard Long Island.

Empire Note: This cocktail is featured in our Master Mixologist’s signature collection.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Vodka

• 1¼ oz. Rum

• ¾ oz. Gin

• ¾ oz. Tequila

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• 1 oz. Melon Liqueur

• 2½ oz. Sour Mix

• Fill Lemon Lime Soda

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4.5 Stars

• Served: On the Rocks

• Strength: Strong

• Difficulty: Medium

• Flavor: Sweet

Method:

Build ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice, except for the soda. Gently stir a few times to chill ingredients. Pour with ice into highball or pint glass. Add splash of soda and stir gently. Add three cherries as garnish.

The Dark 'n' Stormy

About The Dark ‘n’ Stormy

Meet the Dark ‘n’ Stormy, a trademarked cocktail belonging to Gosling Brothers Ltd. This recipe was invented in Bermuda, shortly following WWI. Originally this cockatil used Gosling Black Seal Rum and Barritt’s Ginger Beer, however after the partnership ended Gosling Brothers created their own Ginger Beer. Technically, the ingredients listed below reflect Gosling Brothers products, but to keep in parity with our other recipes we simply list as ginger beer and dark rum. (Can you tell we wrote this to avoid litigation?)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Dark Rum

• 3½ oz. Ginger Beer

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4.5 Stars

• Served: On the Rocks

• Strength: Mild

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Spirit Forward

Method:

Fill glass with ice, add Dark Rum and top with ginger beer. (Reverse for photogenic effect). Garnish with lime wedge.

The Seven & Seven

About The Seven & Seven

The Seven & Seven is a simple recipe that can be also called “The Highball.” This simple two-step recipe involves using Seagram’s 7 Whiskey and 7-Up; hence the name Seven & Seven/7&7. This cocktail is easy to make and refreshign with a light and crisp taste.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Rye Whiskey

• Fill Lemon-Lime Soda

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Build all ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with lemon wedge.

The Woo Woo

About The Woo Woo

The Woo Woo is a variant of the grandaddy of Island Cocktails; the Cape Codder. A Woo Woo adds to the traditional recipe by adding in Peach Schnapps to make a fruity and smooth flavor. This recipe is a great spring/summer cocktail that is perfect for a warm sunny day. A variant of the Woo Woo is the Georgia Peach, which substitutes Silver Rum for the Vodka.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Vodka

• 1 oz. Peach Schnapps

• 3 oz. Cranberry Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Build all ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime wedge.

The Princess Shot

About The Princess Shot

The Princess Shot is the shot equivalent of a Pink Starburst Candy. This crowd pleasing shot is a relatively modern invention that has seen a popularity boom at bachelorette parties and weddings. The shot is a bit sour due to the mix and watermelon pucker, but it is packed with flavor accordingly. The shot could be made into a highball using lemon lime soda, but is best saved as a shot.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Vodka

• 1 part Watermelon Pucker

• 1 part Sour Mix

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:      4.5 Stars

• Served:     Shot

• Strength:  Medium

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Pink Starburst

Method:

Combine all ingredients in shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled and strain into shot glass.

The Gibson

About The Gibson

So there’s the ubiquitous Martini, it’s cousin the Kangaroo, and then there’s that other cousin; the Gibson. The Gibson is the same recipe as the hallmark Martini with the exception of its garnish; a silverskin onion. Some prefer the sweetness of the pickled onion, whereas others strongly prefer the olive juice of the Martini. The Gibson was invented in the late 1800s in California when it was asked to make something better than a Martini . The bartender switched garnishes and the Gibson was born. There’s also stories of people requesting a cocktail glass of cold water and an onion to differentiate between that and the Martinis also being ordered.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gin

• .5 oz. Dry Vermouth

• 1 Silverskin Onion

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:   Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit

Method:

Stir well in a shaker with ice, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish and serve

The Dive Bomber

About The Dive Bomber

Adding to our repertoire of Depth Charge cocktails, we introduce the Dive Bomber. The Dive Bomber delivers a sweet shot of schnapps & amaretto into a smooth lager styled beer. Remember to chug responsibly.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 oz. Root Beer Schnapps

• 1/3 oz. Amaretto

• 1 bottle of Lager-style Beer

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 3.5 Stars

• Served: Neat

• Strength: Medium

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Sweet

Method:

Mix amaretto and schnapps in a shot glass and then drop into a pint glass of beer. Chug (responsibly!).

The Vesper

About The Vesper

Created in 1953 in the book Casino Royale, James Bond orders this cocktail to his exact specifications. We at Empire use the IBA Official Cocktail recipe in contrast to Bond’s preference for a stronger count of each spirit and we also stir our spirit only drinks, not shake. This cocktail is a variant of the Martini that offers a more aromatic taste but with a slightly harsher finish.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gin

• ½ oz. Vodka

• ¼ oz. Lillet Blanc

• 1 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. Stir and strain into cocktail glass.

Empire Tip: Despite James Bond’s prefernce, stir this, not shake.

The Piña Colada

About The Piña Colada

The official drink of Puerto Rico, the Piña Colada literally translates to “strained pineapple.” The history of this all time freat cocktail is shrouded in debate. It’s disputed founding is back to the early 1800s when El Pirata Cofresí created the drink to boost the morale of his crew. The more modern founding of the cocktail dates to either Cuba or Puerto Rico during the 1950s depending on which historian you choose to follow. Regardless, the Piña Colada was named the National Cocktail of Puerto Rico in the 1970s and July 10 is now known as International Piña Colada Day!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Silver Rum

• 1 oz. Cream of Coconut

• 1 oz. Heavy Cream

• 6 oz. Pineapple Juice

• ½ cup of Crushed Ice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:        4.5 Stars

• Served:      Frozen

• Strength:    Mild

• Difficulty:    Medium

• Flavor:        Tropical

Method:

Blend all the ingredients with ice and pur into desired glass. Garnish with cherry and/or pineapple wedge.

The Tequila Sunrise

About The Tequila Sunrise

Originally hailing from Phoenix, Arizona in the 1930s/1940s, the Tequila Sunrise became modernized and exploded in popularity in San Francisco, California in the early 1970s. The recipe became an instant hit and was featured heavily on brands such as Jose Cuervo and was even named the favorite of the Rolling Stones during their 1972 tour.

This IBA Contemporary Classic is an easy to make and refreshing cocktail to enjoy year around. the complimenting flavors blend together to create a smooth and sweet finish.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Tequila

• ½ oz. Grenadine

• 4 oz. Orange Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor:       Orange

Method:

Pour the tequila and orange juice into glass over ice. Add the grenadine, which will sink to the bottom. Stir gently to create the sunrise effect. Garnish and serve.

The Mountain Dew

About The Mountain Dew

We get how you feel about Mountain Dew, because we feel the same way. Now you can enjoy that flavor (sort of) in a dedicated Depth Charge Cocktail known as the Mountain Dew. Although this recipe is called a Mountain Dew because of the color and the fact the primary base is soda, it still does have a very sweet taste and is reminiscent of a soda type drink.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Melon Liqueur

• 1 oz. Vodka

• Fill Lemon Lime Soda

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4 Stars

• Served: Depth Charge

• Strength: Mild

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Sweet

Method:

Prepare highball or pint glass with 1 oz. Vodka and fill with lemon-lime soda. Drop the shot of Melon Liqueur into the glass and chug (responsibly)!

The Cosmopolitan

About The Cosmopolitan

One of the trendiest cocktails listed on the IBA Official Cocktail list, this perennial A-Lister cocktail has been a staple of major metropolitan bar and club scenes for over two decades. Arising to heavy prominence in the 1990s, the recipe has survived largely unchanged. Cocktail and mixology historians cannot come to a consensus on the founding of this recipe, although an early version of the recipe appears in the 1930s using slightly altered ingredients that would have been more available at the time. Our resident Master Mixologist credits the drink to the East Coast in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

World reknown Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff popularized the use of citrus vodka in the 1990s which has been accepted as the IBA Official recipe, however our team prefers to use unflavored vodka for the recipe as that is how most modern bars serve the Cosmopolitan.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Vodka

• ¾ oz. Triple Sec

• ½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice

• 1½ oz. Cranberry Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Shake all ingredients in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a large cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon slice/twist.

The Harvey Wallbanger

About The Harvey Wallbanger

This once famed cocktail is a variation of former fellow IBA Cocktail; The Screwdriver. This version adds Italian Liqueur Galliano L’Autentico to slightly adjust the flavor. The Harvey Wallbanger began appearing frequently in the 1970s and its popularity continued into the 1980s before wanning in popularity in the years to come. The Harvey Wallbanger is all but forgotten today, and is a classic of a bygone era; however the recipe is just as delicious today as it was in yesteryear and we strongly advocate the return of this former IBA Cocktail!

“Harvey Wallbanger is the name, and I can be made!”

-George Bednar, Executive for McKesson ca. 1960s

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Vodka

• ½ oz. Galliano L’Autentico Liqueur

• 1 Orange Wedge/Wheel for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Citrus

Method:

Pour vodka into highball glass with ice. Pour orange juice into glass and stir until well chilled. Float Galliano on top using a bar spoon. Garnish with orange wedge/wheel.

The Night Train

About The Night Train

The Night Train is an after-dinner cocktail that is similar to profile to an Irish Coffee but adds Vodka instead. Complimenting and assisting the vodka addition is the ingredient of Hazelnut Liqueuer. This helps add immense flavor to the cocktail whilst masking the Vodka aftertaste. This cocktail is best enjoyed in cozy company.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Vodka

• 1 oz. Hazelnut Liqueur

• ½ oz. Simple Syrup

• Fill Hot Coffee

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4.0 Stars

• Served: Hot

• Strength: Mild

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Coffee

Method:

Mix ingredients together gently in serving glass.

The Manmosa

About The Manmosa

So you have a dilemma; you hate tomato juice so the Bloody Mary is out but you think the Mimosa is too girly. We can help, try the MANmosa; a kicked up version of the Mimosa that is sure to make people forget about questioning your masculinity. This version of the breakfast traditional features the addition of vodka and beer instead of champagne.

Ingredients:

• 1 Bottle of Blue Moon®

• 2 oz. Vodka

• 8 oz. Orange Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4 Stars

• Served: Neat

• Strength: Medium

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Brunchy

Method:

Split the ingredients into two highball glasses. Gently stir and enjoy breakfast.

The Pimm's Cup

About The Pimm’s Cup

The English Classic itself, the Pimm’s Cup is a crisp and refreshing cocktail that originated across the Pond in the mid 1800s. This recipe is designed as a sipping summer-style cocktail and is a notable libation served at Wimbledon. In the United States, the Pimm’s Cup found a home in New Orleans and surrounding areas as a way to relax and beat the summer heat.

Empire Tip: Try Ginger Ale instead of Lemon-Lime Soda.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Pimm’s No. 1 Cup

• 3 oz. Lemon Lime Soda

• Cucumber Slice (for garnish)

• Strawberry (for garnish)

• Orange Slices/Wheels (for garnish)

• Mint Sprig (for garnish)

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4.5 Stars

• Served: On the Rocks

• Strength: Light

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Spirit Forward

Method:

Add all ingredients to highball glass with fresh ice. Top with Pimm’s No. 1 Cup for visual effect, stir to serve. Add optional garnishes to increase subtle flavors.

The Lynchburg Lemonade

About The Lynchburg Lemonade

This cocktail hails from 1980 and the great state of Alabama. One of the few recipes out there with a ton of litigation over who created it and who deserves credit; this recipe has survived into the modern day as a favorite summertime drink. The refreshing lemon flavor mixed with the All American Classic that is Jack Daniel’s creates a refreshing southern specialty to keep you cool in the coming warm months.

Empire Note: Our resident Empire Master Mixologist features this cocktail as one of his signature cocktails.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• 2 oz. Sour Mix

• Fill Lemon Lime Soda (or lemonade)

• Lemons and Cherries for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4.5 Stars

• Served: On the Rocks

• Strength: Mild

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Lemon

Method:

Shake Whiskey, Triple Sec, and Sour Mix with ice and strain into ice-filled glass. Top with the lemonade or lemon-lime soda. Garnish with lemon slices and cherries.