Celebrating World Cocktail Day – With a Vintage Twist 2

As if you needed a reason for a vintage inspired cocktail… today is World Cocktail Day!

The word “cocktail” was first published on May 13, 1806 in The Balance and Columbian Repository, and read “cocktail is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters.”

Why not call up a few of your friends or neighbors, and invite them over this evening for an impromptu vintage style cocktail party!  Here are some ideas to get you started.

Old Fashioned

• 1 ounce Straight Rye Whiskey
• 1-1/2 ounces Bourbon
• 1/3 ounce Simple Syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)
• 2-3 dashes of Angostura Aromatic Bitters
• Orange Slice
• Marischino Cherry
• Ice Cubes
• Old Fashioned Glass

1. Add 2-3 ice cubes to your glass, then add bourbon and stir
2. Stir in whiskey, sugar syrup, and bitters
3. Add 2-3 more ice cubes and stir
4. Garnish with a twist of Orange zest and add a cherry, if desired

Cocktail Party Beer Cheese Fondue

• 1 chopped onion
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup beer
• 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 2-4 tablespoons Half-and-Half Cream
• Bread Cubes, Soft Pretzels or anything else you’d like to dip in cheese

1. In a small saucepan, saute onion and garlic in butter until tender.
2. Add beer to saucepan and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low.
3. Toss cheese and flour together in small bowl, then stir into saucepan until melted.
4. Add 2 tablespoons cream to fondue, then stir to combine..
5. Transfer to fondue pot to keep warm.
6. Add additional cream if fondue thickens.

The Music

Of course, no vintage inspired cocktail party is complete without some retro music.  Here’s an hour long track that’s sure to set the mood!

Since it’s “World” Cocktail Day, I figure it’s 5:00pm somewhere…. bottom’s up!

Check out my Pinterest board for more inspiration for a vintage cocktail party.