When planning a 1920s theme wedding, it is important not to forget to choose drinks and cocktails that are representative of the Prohibition time period.
The Mint Julep is a drink that began in the 1800s, but F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book “The Great Gatsby, made the drink popular in 1925.
Ingredients
1/2 oz. of Bourbon Whiskey
4 to 6 leaves of mint
1 tsp. powdered sugar
2 tsp. water
Directions
Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a Collins glass. Fill the glass with shaved or crushed ice and add bourbon. Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw.
Classic Martini:
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Gin
1/2 oz dry Vermouth
Directions
Stir ingredients together with ice cubes. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an olive or a twist of lemon.
Red Death Cocktail:
Ingredients
1 oz. Vodka
3/4 oz. Amaretto
3/4 oz. Triple Sec
3/4 oz. Southern Comfort
3/4 oz. Sloe Gin
Splash of Orange juice
Dash of Lime juice
Directions
Shake with ice & Pour into a Tall glass.
Death by Chocolate Desert Cocktail:
Ingredients
1 oz. Dark Creme de Cacao
1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Chocolate syrup
2 Scoops of Chocolate Ice cream
Directions
Blend & Garnish with Whipped Cream & a Cherry.
Charleston Bracers:
Ingredients
1 oz. Mandarine Napoleon
1 oz. Cherry Brandy
3 oz. Lemonade
Directions
Mix together and serve in a Collins glass.
Brandy Sour:
Ingredients
2 oz Brandy
1 oz. lemon squash
2-4 drops of bitters
Lemonade or Soda Water
Ice
Directions
Add ingredients to a tall glass and stir. Then top with lemonade or soda water and ice.
Whiskey Smash:
Ingredients
2 pieces lemons
2 – 3 mint leaves
3/4 oz simple syrup
1 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 oz water
Directions
Muddle the lemon, mint, water and simply syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add bourbon, shake, and strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint, and serve.
Champagne Punch: If you would prefer to make a punch rather than individual cocktails for your guests, try this Champagne Punch.
Ingredients
1 cup water
2 tablespoons Orange Curacoa
2 cups sugar
Juice 2 lemons
1 quart California champagne
2 cups tea infusion
4 tablespoons brandy
Ice
2 tablespoons Medford rum
1 quart soda water
Directions
Make a syrup by boiling water and sugar ten minutes. Mix champagne, brandy, rum, Curacoa, lemon juice, and tea infusion. Sweeten to taste with syrup and pour into punch-bowl over a large piece of ice. Just before serving add soda water.
Pink Murder: Here is a recipe for the famous bathtub gin called Pink Murder.
Ingredients
14 can(s) Beer
1 1/2 liter(s) Vodka
2 bottle(s) Raspberry Ginger Ale
1 package(s) Country Time Pink Lemonade
Directions
Pour all of it in a bucket. Stir in ice. The ginger ale and pink lemonade will give it a pink color, which could be great if your wedding décor is also pink.
Shirley Temple: If you would like to have a non-alcoholic drink available for guests who do not wish to consume alcohol, consider the Shirley Temple.
Ingredients
4 oz lemon-lime mix
3 oz 7-Up soda
1 slice orange
1 maraschino cherry
3 – 5 drops grenadine syrup
Directions
Combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker with crushed ice and shake well. Pour into tulip glass and garnish with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry.
A great resource for more drink recipes is the Alcoholic Beverage E-Book which can be found at http://www.dinnerandamurder.com/recipes/alcoholicebook.pdf
Sources
http://www.dinnerandamurder.com/themes/1920s.htm
http://www.foodtimeline.org/fooddecades.html#speakeasy
