Cocktails by decade – give me your grandpa's best drink

[dylanhuebner]

So me and some friends are planning on hosting a party where we stop by each others' apartments, each one themed for a different decade and each one with an appropriate drink from that era. I've been shopping around different blogs to get a good idea of what everyone might want to serve, but I realized the collective mind of style forum is going to be a lot better than a mere blog.

So tell me what you think, 1910's to 2000's - what drink defines a decade?

If you can't think of a cocktail for all ten just toss in one; I'll take any input I can get. Thanks!

 

[impolyt_one]

1910's? you and your friends are in your 40's? This seems pretty sad if so.

 

[samblau]

For the close to 30 years I knew my grandparents, all they drank was vodka on the rocks with an olive. Thats it!

 

[FLMountainMan]

2000's - mojito or cosmo
1990's - Long Island Iced Tea
1980's - margarita
1970's - Pina Colada
1960's - martini or gin-and-tonic
1950's - the Grasshopper
1940's - Irish Coffee
1930's - Pink Lady
1920's - Everclear/Moonshine/Rotgut Whisky/Cheap Gin
1910's - WTF? Ask Dakota Rube

I'm sure these suggestions will be met with unanimous approval, or at least near unanimous with lots of helpful suggestions.

 

[FLMountainMan]

Also, it might not be a bad idea to have two cocktails per decade - one girly (rum, vodka or liquer-based), and one manly (gin or whisky based). Although your type of people probably don't have as rigidly-defined gender variation.

 

[Dakota rube]

Brandy Manhattan has to be in there someplace. (And thanks, FLMM; but I'm not that old.)

 

[FLMountainMan]

Originally Posted by Dakota rube

Brandy Manhattan has to be in there someplace.

(And thanks, FLMM; but I'm not that old.)

I doubt you're even near the oldest poster, but it's fun to razz you about it, regardless. What's a brandy manhattan? What timeframe would that be? The fifties? Were you even drinking then?

 

[dylanhuebner]

Originally Posted by impolyt_one

1910's? you and your friends are in your 40's? This seems pretty sad if so.
Er, what? I must have missed the sarcasm tag there – I'm 22. The idea was to cover a full century, so to end in the 2000s it has to start in 1910's, of course And thanks for the replies so far – don't worry, I'm making sure the manhattan gets a spot, i was thinking 40's?

 

[Mark from Plano]

Originally Posted by FLMountainMan

I doubt you're even near the oldest poster, but it's fun to razz you about it, regardless. What's a brandy manhattan? What timeframe would that be? The fifties? Were you even drinking then?

A classic manhattan is two parts Rye Whiskey and one part sweet (Italian) vermouth, with a splash of bitters and served with cherry as garnish.

Presumably a Brandy Manhattan would replace the Rye with Brandy.

 

[Dakota rube]

^Yes. My ex-father-in-law — the preacher — still has one of these every single day at 4 p.m. I think he skips the bitters, though. He's 85!

 

[JustinW]

This is a lot of fun for themed/retro cocktail parties:

http://www.amazon.com/Shag-Party-Coc.../dp/1572840439

 

[Piobaire]

The guy here to ask is Huntsman.

I would offer a few suggestions/additions.

1980s could be a kamikaze or Long Island
1990s would be the cosmo or Jager
2000s would be mojito
Don't forget the whole, ugly Schapps craze
1960s needs to include Canadian Club

 

[Esa]

My grandfathers drink was an ol' fashion (1960) and my dad's drink is still a manhatten (1970). My Granpa's favorite pie was minced meat....no relation to the question but it's good to know...

 

[Davidko19]

lol @ ask rube.



Pabst is timeless and good for any decade

 

[SlyForm]

There was a pretty interesting feature in Gourmet last year about the drinks that defined a decade: http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/cockt..._recipes_1940s My personal favorite is blood and sand. It's a must try in my opinion