At some point every mixologist tries to create a new cocktail or put a twist on a popular classic (you've probably tried this yourself). Sometimes they create a worldwide sensation, sometimes they create a mess. But from this experimentation, a few new drinks emerge to become bar staples. Some, like the Martini, rise to become cultural fixtures. So what are the stories behind these classic drinks? Accounts vary, but one thing is certain, the stories behind the drinks are as colorful as the drinks themselves.
Bloody Mary
Like many cocktails, the origins of the Bloody Mary are often disputed. Bartender Fernand Petiot is generally credited with creating the drink during the 1920s while working at Harry's New York Bar in Paris. The drink may have also been created in the 1940s by American comedian George Jessel, who popularized a drink of vodka and tomato juice.
The Cosmopolitan
Known for its pink complexion and swanky style, the Cosmopolitan (or Cosmo) become popular in New York and London during the 1990s. Bartender Cheryl Cook claims to have invented the drink during the 1980s while working as head bartender at a hotel in South Beach. Cook wanted to create a pink drink and was experimenting with flavored vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and bottled lime juice. Frequent appearances on the TV show Sex and the City quickly made the Cosmo a celebrity.
The Margarita
Smitten by love, a person may be inspired to create poems, songs and even a cocktail. Such amorous yearnings prompted bartender Danier Herrera to create the Margarita. Herrera created the drink in 1938 while working at a cabaret in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. He became enamored with a showgirl from Guadalajara named Rita de la Rosa and created the Margarita as an everlasting homage.
The Martini
Shaken by spies, stirred by starlets, the Martini is a cocktail cloaked in intrigue. Many books written about the Martini trace it back to Julio Richelieu, a bartender in Martinez, California. Richelieu mixed a small drink with an olive in it and soon traveled to San Francisco where he made the drink his specialty. By 1887 the drink became known at the "Martinez" before eventually being called the Martini.
The Mojito
During Prohibition, many Americans traveled to Cuba to enjoy the spirits outlawed at home. A legendary bar culture emerged, centered around Bodeguita del Medio, a popular hangout for expatriates like Ernest Hemingway. Americans introduced the Mint Julep to the Cubans and soon a local version was born, the Mojito.
SOURCES:
diffordsguide. Simon Difford. London: Sauce Guides Limited, 2007.
Complete Home Bartender's Guide. Salvatore Calabrese. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2002.