We all love a good cocktail, but it’s easy to tire of the classics. There’s nothing wrong with a perfectly frosty, salted-rimmed margarita, or a warm-to-your-bones, cherry-topped old-fashioned, but sometimes, you just want something new. Something that makes you think. Something that, perhaps, gives you a chuckle. These are those cocktails.
Back in 2014, bartender Jason Brown of Chicago’s Kinmont restaurant and bar, concocted this cocktail after listening to a Werewolves of London lyric about a werewolf drinking a pina colada. His creativity sparked, and the “Werewolves of London” cocktail was born.
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Though Kinmont has since closed, this recipe lives on through the magic of the internet, being passed on and enjoyed by the most daring of drinkers out there.
Werewolves of London is a mixture of Bombay Dry gin, Pimms No. 1, pineapple juice, coconut syrup, and, of course, pig’s blood.
Camel Milk Cocktail (Abu-Dhabi)
Soy. Almond. Coconut. Cow’s. Goat’s. Why not camel’s?
About ten years ago, the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi hired Mohammad Daoud, who would become the world’s first “Camel Milk Mixologist.” Daoud’s inspiration and creativity came from Ramadan – the holy month of fasting for all Muslims. “Because camel milk has a high level of protein and additional nutrients, it’s an excellent beverage to consume during Sohour, the meal taken prior to sunrise for Muslims fasting during Ramadan,” Daoud said at the time.
Since then, camel milk cocktails have spread online, fans appreciating the milk’s richness and many health benefits. We say, if you can use it to make a chocolate milkshake — why the hell not?
Karsk (Norway)
You know how in old-timey movies, there’s usually a loveable, flannel-clad, bearded old-timer who pours something from a “secret stash” into his coffee to “warm his bones?” – Well, that drink has a name. It’s Karsk. And in this case, that loveable character is probably from Sweden.
Traditionally, karsk is simply two parts vodka and one part hot coffee. Yikes. We’re not sure Karsk qualifies as an actual cocktail or not, but either way, it’ll put some hair on your chest.
Sauerkraut martini (Germany)
To be honest, we think this one sounds absolutely delicious. While it’s obviously a less-than-traditional way to enjoy one’s pickled cabbage, a “Krautini” does seem like it would satisfy that certain craving one gets for heavily brined foods and strong booze. If you’re one of those people who can’t get enough of that vinegary pucker, combined with the signature spicy sweet warmth of gin, this cocktail is probably for you. Just use sauerkraut juice instead of olive brine.
The Sourtoe Cocktail (Canada)
Apparently, in Canada it’s perfectly legal to serve human body parts on the menu. No questions asked. And in Dawson City, Yukon, you can order yourself a sourtoe cocktail at The Sourdough Saloon. The cocktail is a rite of passage of sorts and comes with one rule: “You can drink it fast. You can drink it slow. But your lips must touch that gnarly toe.”
The sourtoe “cocktail” is simply a shot of whiskey – usually Yukon Jack – garnished with one mummified human toe, generously supplied by the good people of a local amputation clinic.
See the most popular cocktail in every state with this map of the U.S.
Where is loving the summery Aperol Spritz, and where prefers a classic Old Fashioned?
We often talk about new and innovative cocktails here, with unusual ingredients or lesser-known spirits. But there is also something to be said for the classics. Drinks which have been popular for decades or even longer tend to have a good balance of flavors, to be relatively easy to prepare, and to use commonly found ingredients -- so it's always useful to know about these popular options to expand your drinks making at home.
A recent study has investigated the most popular cocktail in each state of the U.S. to see what some of America's favorite drinks are. The company Coffeeness looked at data on Google searches related to the 200 most popular cocktails, seeing which are the most searched options in each state. The results show the variety of drinking tastes across the country, but they also show some strong commonalities -- proving that there are some drinks which are widely beloved.
A single malt whisky from England’s Derbyshire, aged in bourbon casks
The Wire Works Bourbon Barrel is a fruity, nutty single malt whisky
When you think of British single malt whisky, your mind surely goes straight to Scotland. But whiskys are being made in other parts of Britain too, like in England's Derbyshire near the beautiful Peak District. The White Peak Distillery there creates its own single malt whiskys, and now it is releasing a new expression which is aged in bourbon barrels.
The new release, Wire Works Bourbon Barrel, is the distillery's old whisky yet and is fully matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks. Bottled with a high abv of 53.5%, the single malt has a fruity, vanilla scent with a nutty, zesty flavor and hints of apple and ginger. It is non-chill filtered to help retain its character
You might not immediately think of whiskey as a summery spirit, and we get that. When you imagine nuanced single-malt Scotch whisky or spicy, warming rye whiskey, you likely envision a cold (possibly snowy) evening. You probably also have thoughts of drinking it neat. What about using whiskey as a summertime mixer?
If you only reach for gin, vodka, tequila, and rum for your mixing needs during the warmer months, you’re missing out. That’s because myriad blended Scotch whiskies, single malts, rye whiskeys, bourbons, and various other types of whiskey are perfect for mixing. Don’t believe us? There are countless summer whiskey cocktails perfect for now until the leaves start falling (and beyond).
Our favorite summer whiskey cocktails
