Welcome 2022! Another “interesting” year is behind us as we open the door to new things. I am no detective, but common sense tells me that 2022 is a year that likely promises more innovation in the Ready to Drink, Bourbon Whiskey, CBD beverages, Celebrity brands, and Non-Alcoholic “Spirits” categories.

In our industry, Innovation is the name of the game and if we ever felt like we are caught up on all the information and happy with where we are at than we are simply not “up with the times”. I for one am a junky for good new products and appreciate good entrepreneurship so I keep a very opened mind and give most things a fair chance to enhance my life.

I do however want to go against the grain to make sure that cool things from the past also get a fair chance to enhance the lives of my readers and to do so I have created a collection of less popular time-tested cocktails for you to try in 2022.

I have picked one option for every major drinking mood you might be in. Chances are that you, or the people you are serving will have a drink craving or an itch that can be satisfied by one of the following drink characteristics and lesser-known classic cocktails here:

For those who are looking for a stiff boozy drink: The Casino cocktail. A classic gin-based cocktail that was very popular in the early 1900’s. It was widely published with slightly different proportions in old cocktail books and the most popular recipe is the one listed in Harry Craddock’s The Savoy Cocktail book from 1930.

CASINO

2 oz. (60ml.) Gin (Old Tom if available)

2 Dashes Orange Bitters

¼ oz. (7.5ml.) Maraschino Liqueur

¼ oz. (7.5ml.) Fresh lemon juice

Method: Pour all ingredients over ice into a mixing glass. Stir the drink and strain into a chilled Cocktail Glass and garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

Perhaps the idea of sipping something out a stemmed cocktail glass sounds up your alley but you’re looking for something a bit lighter and “Carrie Bradshaw-ish” then look no further than the Ward 8. This cocktail goes back to 1898 at the Locke-Ober Cafe in Boston. The name is a reference the political district (named Ward Eight) where the owner of the cafe ran for office.

WARD 8

2 oz. (6cl.) Rye Whiskey

½ oz. (1.5cl.) Lemon Juice

½ oz. (1.5cl.) Orange Juice

Dash of Grenadine

Method: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled Cocktail Glass. Garnish with an Orange Twist.

If a Low-Abv drink is more in tune with your New Year’s resolution how about a Pirlo? It’s a low alcohol options which was born in the city of Brescia in the 1800’s and is said to predate the Venetian Spritz. And if you didn’t think I was not going to make at least one Italian connection in this article than you have probably never met me.

PIRLO

3 oz. (90ml.) Crisp Local White Wine

1 oz. (30ml.) Campari

2 oz. Soda or Seltz

Method: Build in a wine glass and a garnish with a lemon peel

If a low-Abv drink is not low enough and you’re looking for a non-alcohol option lets take a time machine back to the 1850’s where an alcoholic beer cocktail called the “shandy gaff,” was first mentioned relating to beer mixed with ginger ale. The version here is adapted from Jerry Thomas famous 1862 cocktail book “How to Mix Drinks”

6 oz. (180ml.) Fever Tree Ginger Ale (Very cold)

6 oz. (180ml.) Samuel Adams “Just The Haze” Non Alcoholic

Method: Pour the 2 ingredients in the order listed in a cold Pilsner glass. Gently stir and enjoy

I wish you all a delicious 2022!