Three is seen as the perfect number to achieve harmony, which alludes to these drinks being well balanced. Make no mistake, three ingredients doesn’t mean the drink will be boring. They are usually composed of a base spirit, a liqueur, and a citrus, sweet, or bitter element.
These classic cocktails have the added benefit of having stood the test of time.
1. Adonis
Created in honor of the 1880’s musical the Adonis that achieved a 500 show milestone for its time. It has a great combination of dry and sweet flavors with a dash of citrus. This wine based cocktail is mostly well balanced and slightly wine forward. It is also described as a low-proof, easier drinking cocktail.
Another easy drinking sherry cocktail, the Bamboo, swaps out the sweet vermouth for dry vermouth.
2. Old Pal
The Old Pal is one a many great cocktails by Scottish-born Harry MacElhone, the proprietor of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France. He created this drink in the 1920’s for William “Sparrow” Robinson, a sports editor for the New York Herald in Paris. It’s a three ingredient cocktail with rye whiskey, Campari, and dry vermouth. It is essentially a drier version of the Boulevardier, which was also invented by MacElhone.
3. Horse’s Neck
Dating back to the late 19th century, the Horse’s Neck is identifiable by its long curly lemon peel. It was first served with just ginger beer and bitters, in 1910 the brandy “kick” was added. The drink can also be found using bourbon instead of brandy.
It falls in the “cooler” category, a class of drinks whose name advertises exactly what it tries to accomplish. It joins the Dark ‘n’ Stormy, Tom Collins, and Pimm’s Cup family.
4. The Vesper
A drink made famous by the greatest spy of all time, his name is Bond, James Bond. He first orders the Vesper in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royal. He tells the barman “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake in very well until it’s ice-cold. Then add a large thin slice of lemon peel Got it?” Fleming invented and named the drink after the novel’s heroine and Bond’s love interest.
Kina Lillet is no longer in production, its best substitute is Cocchi Americano or for a less bitter flavor Lillet Blanc can be used. The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is another classic that also uses Lillet Blanc.
5. Sidecar
The Hotel Ritz in Paris claims the origin of the Sidecar with its first recorded recipe by Henry MacElhone, in 1922. This is widely debated as there are mentions of other bartenders in London and New York having created the drink. However, each had their own variation on the drink’s ratios and the recipe has been refined over the years.
It received its name from the commonly used motorcycle sidecar during World Word I. The recipe evolved from the original sour, much like the rum-based daiquiri. The Brandy Crusta is direct descendant of the Sidecar and if brandy or cognac aren’t around bourbon is a great substitute.
6. Boulevardier
