List of cocktails named after New York City boroughs
There are five cocktails that are named after the five boroughs of New York City. In common lore, each has some connection to the borough after which it is eponymously styled.[1]
The Bronx
Named after the borough of The Bronx, a Bronx consists of gin, vermouth, and orange juice. It was formerly listed as an IBA official cocktail and was ranked as the third most famous cocktail in the world in 1934. A pre-Prohibition cocktail, the Bronx appears in the 1908 book The World's Drinks and How to Mix Them.[2] Some accounts say the Bronx originated in Philadelphia and was later popularized in New York. Others say that it was invented by a bartender in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. According to Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill W., the first drink he ever had was a Bronx cocktail, after which he became an alcoholic.
Brooklyn
Named after the borough of Brooklyn, a Brooklyn consists of rye, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Amer Picon. In this regard, it is similar to a Manhattan, but with a specific type of bitters (instead of the several that can be used in a Manhattan) and the notable addition of maraschino.
The Brooklyn was popular in the early 20th century and largely fell into obscurity after Prohibition. It began to regain popularity at the end of the 20th century.[3]
Manhattan
Named after the borough of Manhattan, a Manhattan is a cocktail composed of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, typically served in a cocktail glass. Of the five drinks, it is the only one considered one of "the unforgettables" on the IBA list of official cocktails. It is also listed as one of the six basic drinks in The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks.
The Manhattan is said to have originated at a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill at the Manhattan Club in the late 19th century.[4]
Queens
Named after the borough of Queens, a Queens consists of gin, vermouth, and pineapple juice. The drink dates back to 1930, appearing in Harry Craddock's Savoy Cocktail Book.[5]
Staten Island
Staten Island is the only borough without a cocktail that bears its name directly. A Staten Island Ferry is named after the ferry that carries passengers between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island.
It consists of Malibu rum and pineapple juice,[6] resembling a piña colada. Its tropical flavoring is a satire on the fact that Staten Island is an island though far removed from the tropics.
References
- "What's In A Name? 5 Cocktails Named After NYC And Where to Try Them". Secret NYC. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- Boothby, William "Cocktail". The World's Drinks and How to Mix Them, 1908. Photographed at San Francisco Public Library Historical Materials Collection on December 28, 2007.
- Robert Simonson (2012-05-14). "Cocktails for the History Books, Not the Bar". Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- "The Manhattan project: A bartender spills his secrets on the king of cocktails". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- Johnson, Mary (May 2, 2012). "Midtown Restaurant Mixes Cocktails for All 5 Boroughs". Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- "7 New York-inspired Cocktails And How to Make them (It's Easy)". Secret NYC. Retrieved 2018-07-09.