If you want to know why Bourbon is capitalized, it’s because it’s a proper name—a county in Kentucky that was named for a very proper family, the Bourbons, once one of the most important ruling dynasties in Europe. (Bourbon vanilla is named for them, too.)

So pick your cocktail, get out the cocktail shaker and the Bourton, and start mixing!

> The history of Bourbon.

> The different types of whiskey
 
 
THE BIG FOUR CLASSIC BOURBON COCKTAILS

In alphabetical order:
 
 
1. THE MANHATTAN

The Manhattan is named after the Manhattan Club in New York City, where it was invented sometime in the mid-1870s (photo # 1).

“Popular history” suggests that the drink was invented by Iain Marshall for a banquet hosted by Jennie Jerome, Lady Randolph Churchill, the mother of Winston Churchill. The occasion was in honor of presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden, the 25th governor of New York and Democratic candidate for president in the disputed 1876 U.S. presidential election* against Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes.

The success of the banquet made the drink fashionable, subsequently prompting people to request the drink by referring to the name of the club where it originated, i.e., “the Manhattan cocktail.”

However, the story may well be apocryphal. Some sources place Lady Randolph in France at the time [source].

Still, a great drink deserves at least a good story.

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. MIX the bourbon, vermouth, and bitters with ice in a mixing glass and stir to combine.

2. STRAIN and pour into a chilled coupe or Martini glass.
 
 
2. THE MINT JULEP

You don’t need a silver julep cup to enjoy a Mint Julep. A rocks glass will do (photo #2).

Similarly, while it’s the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, it’s the semi-official summer drink in our house. Here’s the history of the Mint Julep.

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE the Bourbon, mint leaves, ice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker and shake.

2. FILL the glass halfway with crushed ice. Then strain the cocktail over the ice and top with more ice. (See, it’s great for summer!)

3. GARNISH with mint sprigs and serve with a straw.
 
 
3. THE OLD FASHIONED

The first published recipe dates back to 1806, making the Old Fashioned one of the oldest known cocktails (photo #3).

TIP: Take the orange peel garnish and rub it around the rim of the glass, releasing the aroma and flavor in the peel.

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. RUB a piece of peel around the rim of the glass (optional).

2. COMBINE all of the ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir.

3. STRAIN into a rocks glass over ice and garnish with a twist of orange peel.
 
 
4. THE WHISKEY SOUR

The Whiskey Sour is another oldie, published in Jerry Thomas’ seminal 1862 book, The Bartender’s Guide (photo #4).

Although the egg white is optional for a Whiskey Sour, it adds body and creaminess (photo #5). If you’re concerned about consuming raw egg white, buy pasteurized eggs like Safe Eggs.

If you do use the egg white, you’ll create a foamy head, but can still add the two garnishes. The cherry is always a nice touch, especially if it’s an “adult” maraschino cherry like Luxardo (photo #6) or Tillen Farms.

Here’s the history of the Whiskey Sour.

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously.

2. STRAIN into a chilled glass, garnish and serve.
 
 
________________

* Tilden was the second presidential candidate to lose the election despite winning the popular vote. To date, five presidents won the election despite losing the popular vote: John Quincey Adams (1824), Rutherford B. Hayes (1876), Benjamin Harrison (1888), George W. Bush (2000), and Donald Trump (2016). Here’s more about it.

[1] The Manhattan, one of the oldest cocktails, dates to the 1880s (photo © The Mercury | Atlanta [now closed]).

[2] The Mint Julep cocktail first appeared in print in 1803. You don’t need julep cups to serve a Mint Julep (photo © Distilled NY).

[3] The Old Fashioned recipe first appeared in 1806, making it the oldest of these oldies (photo © Angus Club Steakhouse [now closed].

[4] A recipe for a Whiskey Sour was published in Jerry Thomas’ seminal 1862 book, The Bartender’s Guide (photo © Lognetic | Fotolia).