5 vintage cocktail recipes to rediscover your inner Mad Men character

​While newfangled cocktail creations seem to emerge daily from modern, innovative mixologists, you know that some drinks are timelessly delicious. And we think that the classics deserve their place in the spotlight as the foundations upon which trendy variations are built.

Long before prohibition or today's craft cocktail scene, a handful of drinks arose that withstood the test of time. For spirit connoisseurs and casual imbibers alike, exploring cocktail history offers a wealth of discoveries. A few classics from bygone eras in particular deserve a spot on any drink-lover's bucket list.

So, we've curated a list of tried-and-true tipples from cocktails' early centuries that could become your new favorites. Whether you're a habitué of the modern bar or simply enjoy the occasional craft concoction, sampling these vintage cocktails promises pleasant surprises. Transport yourself back to the Golden Age of Mixology by taking any of these old souls for a spin. One sip may be all it takes to find a new go-to in an age-old elixir.

1. Pisco Sour

Key Ingredients: Pisco brandy from Peru or Chile, lime juice, egg white, simple syrup

The history behind the mix: More than just a tasty treat, the Pisco Sour pays homage to the national spirit of both Peru and Chile - pisco grape brandy. Believed to have been invented in Lima, Peru in the early 20th century, this frothy libation soon became a symbol of national pride throughout the regions where pisco is produced. The bright, tangy combination of citrus and egg reflects the vibrant flavors of South America. To this day, sipping a Pisco Sour is a tasty way to salute the culture and heritage behind this iconic agave-based alcoholic export.

2. The Manhattan

Key Ingredients: Bourbon or rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, orange bitters

Origins in the Big Apple: The beloved Manhattan traces its roots to America's most iconic city. According to legend, this stirred spirit and wine cocktail was created at the Manhattan Club in New York City in the late 1800s. Said to debut around 1880, the drink took its name from the place of its birth. The signature red hue and complex flavors have captured drinkers' hearts ever since. Between its bold backbone of rye or bourbon mellowed by sweet vermouth and balanced by earthy, citrus-twist bitters, the Manhattan endures as a quintessential New York cocktail - a tribute to the city that birthed this mahogany gem.

3. Kir Royale

Key Ingredients: Chambord or Crème de Cassis black raspberry/blackcurrant liqueur, champagne

An elegant elixir fit for celebration: When it comes to celebratory cocktails brimming with sophistication, few match the Parisian panache of the Kir Royale. As its luxurious name implies, this blend of fine champagne and high-class liqueur is suited for the most glittering of affairs. Often prepared with either Chambord black raspberry liqueur or Crème de Cassis blackcurrant syrup, this luxurious drink infuses bubbly champagne with lush fruit flavors in a subtly sparkling way. Its polished components make it the type of drink you might order after a successful business meeting or to toast an important occasion in style. A refined choice befitting the white-linen setting of any upscale restaurant or special event.

4. Paloma

Key Ingredients: Mescal or tequila, fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice, club soda, sugar or simple syrup, salt, grapefruit or lime wedge for garnish.

An iconic Mexican thirst quencher: Light, refreshing, and boldly flavored, the Paloma has undoubtedly earned its status as a beloved staple of Mexican summertime imbibing. Translating to "dove" in Spanish, this agave-based highball balances the sweetness of sugared tequila or mescal with tangy grapefruit and lime juices for a lip-smacking sour-bitter profile. A dash of salt accentuates the flavors, while effervescent club soda lends a bracing crispness. Though simple in composition, the Paloma mixes South-of-the-Border tradition with hand-squeezed citrus for a liquid treat as vivifying as the southern sun. 

5. The Old Fashioned

Key Ingredients: Rye or bourbon whiskey, sugar, Angostura bitters, orange slice and twist for garnish

The original classic: Simple yet supremely sophisticated, the Old Fashioned stands astride cocktail history as the quintessential spirit-forward drink. While earlier forebears hinted at its recipe, the Old Fashioned solidified as the archetypal whiskey cocktail we know today in the 1880s. More than a century later, industry surveys still find it outranking nearly every modern concoction in global popularity. Comprising just whiskey, sugar, bitters, and a citrus garnish, it demonstrates that truly great cocktails need no bells or whistles to captivate. With its finely balanced profile showing off the soul of straight rye or bourbon, the Old Fashioned elucidates why whiskey and bitters were—and remain—a match made in drinking heaven.

Which one is your favourite?