100 cocktails you should try at least once in your life

I caught a link to this fun list, compiled by Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston, at Varmint Bites, a blog written by my friend Dean.

100 libations you should try at least once in your life, from Anvil Bar in Houston, TX

As a relative neophyte to the cocktail scene, I have to say that the list looks like a lot of fun to tackle. I don't think I've had more than 20 of these libations but seeing as my new year's resolution for 2009 was to drink more alcohol, I plan on trying to work my way through it (even though I'm not likely to complete the task during this calendar year). While the list doesn't provide proportions, some of them are fairly obvious. As for the rest, I will put myself in the hands of various mixologists or make the drinks myself using the written guidance of Gary Regan, Dale DeGroff and David Wondrich, among others.

As Varmint mentions in his entry, the list is not the 100 best cocktails. Instead, it's a list of 100 of them that the folks at Anvil feel should be tried, which makes the list a mighty useful guide (and starting point). I think that working one's way through it would help a person develop a very good fundamental understanding of the world of cocktails. Oh, burdens of scholarship.

=R=

What-no Shirley Temple!!!!!!!!

I'd love to have a comprehensive list of the places in Chicagoland that could make most of those.

teatpuller wrote:I'd love to have a comprehensive list of the places in Chicagoland that could make most of those.

You could definitely start at Bar DeVille. I've had several of them there, each quite delicious.

=R=

Bar DeVille
701 N. Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 929-2349

Excellent. We have the beginnings of a list:

1. Bar DeVille (701 N. Damen)
2. The Violet Hour (1520 N. Damen)
3. Weegee's (3659 W. Armitage)
4. Matchbox/Silver Palm (770 N. Milwaukee)
5. In Fine Spirits (5418 N. Clark)
6. Tiny Lounge (4352 N Leavitt)
7. The Whistler (2421 N Milwaukee)

You can definitely add The Violet Hour to that list. I've had a few drinks from that list there, and loved them.

Also, thanks to Toby Maloney's many recipe postings, you can try making some of them at home...that's how I first had El Diablo (took the ingredients over to a friend's place and made this one for folks at a small dinner party, where it was a big hit). You can find the El Diablo recipe, plus a bunch more, in the Home Made Violet Hour thread. I've collected all the recipes in that thread on this site (hopefully this doesn't count as a shameless plug, as I've got no ads or other revenue streams on there )

Khaopaat wrote:I've collected all the recipes in that thread on this site (hopefully this doesn't count as a shameless plug, as I've got no ads or other revenue streams on there )

And that site has been quite a help to me - thank you.

I'd add Weegee's, the Matchbox/Silver Palm & In Fine Spirits to your list.

I love Bar DeVille's version of the Last Word.

Thanks for posting. I'm rather a sucker for lists like this. I'm a bit ashamed to admit I've only tried about 20 of them. Guess I have some work to do!

Khaopaat wrote:I've collected all the recipes in that thread on this site (hopefully this doesn't count as a shameless plug, as I've got no ads or other revenue streams on there )

Wow! This is great! Thank you so much, for the effort and the link.

=R=

eli wrote:I'm rather a sucker for lists like this.

Likewise. I'm a completionist, so I can't resist trying to check each one of these off. I think I'm at 16 right now.

Looking forward to making some of these at home and posting thoughts and pictures.

Not much to add other than to say...

41 almost half way there.

SSDD

Thanks for kind words! I'm glad to hear folks find the site useful. Go figure that it took booze (or at least the idea of it) to inspire me to do some coding

headcase wrote:41 almost half way there.

Well done! I felt like a bigshot because I'd tried 25...looks like I've got some drinking to do.

I'm 23 and I've had 42 of them...so.... I'm wondering if I should talk to a therapist..

Or perhaps talk to the bartenders at the violet hour about it...they are easy to talk to as well.....

Feeling sorry for myself - I'm only at 32. Time to start drinking more and mixing less.
Daniel
Mixologist - Prairie Grass Cafe

Nordicnectar wrote:Time to start drinking more and mixing less.

LOL . . . words of wisdom!

=R=

Sadly, the more I make my way around town, the more I'm beginning to understand that a vast majority of local bars don't make these (or any) drinks well, at all. The word that comes to mind is 'woeful.' In fact, as teatpuller's ongoing list above indicates, in a city with thousands of bars, there seem to be only a handful of establishments that make cocktails in any sort of laudable way. And when cocktails are bad, they really aren't worth the bother or the indulgence. If I see one more Old Fashioned started with those god-awful foodservice cherries from the Sysco truck and a packet of granulated sugar, I'm going to scream. And, in case there are any interested bartenders reading this, there is no lemon, lime or sour mix in a Mint Julep, either.

I really don't want to turn this thread into a list of places to avoid. That list would be far too long and it would make finding the useful information (which I hope will someday exist) in this thread extremely difficult. So, for sake of this discussion, let's just assume that, with the exception of those specific places listed and agreed upon in this thread (yes, I realize that I am probably opening up a huge can of worms), there are no bars in this city that make worthy cocktails.

If I'm ever going to cover this list, apparently, it's going to require hitting the same few bars over and over (not a problem in and of itself because I like these places but it would be nice branch out a little bit, too) and stocking my home bar even more robustly than I already have. And frankly, I'm running out of room.

Anyway, if you know a place in Chicagoland that makes quality libations, please post the information here. While this thread was originally about a specific set of 100 drinks, information about any places that make their drinks with quality ingredients -- and care -- would be greatly appreciated.

And just to be clear, I am not under the influence while I'm typing this post.

Thanks,

=R=

I was just reading on eGullet that Tony is adding a classics menu to The Violet Hour (http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?/to ... e__st__300).

I've always been able to order these off menu, but it's great they are adding it in!

{Quoting Alchemist}

Classic Cocktails

Aviation Plymouth Gin, Lemon, Luxardo Maraschino, Rothman & Winter Violette Liqueur
Corpse Reviver #2 Bombay Dry Gin, Lemon, Lillet, Marie Brizard Orange Curacao, Pernod Absinthe
Champagne Cocktail Gruet Sparkling, Sugar Cube, Angostura Bitters
Daiquiri Flor de Caña 4 yr Rum, Simple Syrup, Lime
Gimlet Plymouth Gin, Simple Syrup, Lime
Hotel Nacional Brugal Anejo Rum, Lime, Apry, Pineapple
Jack Rose Laird’s Bonded Applejack, Lemon, House Made Grenadine
Mai Tai El Dorado 5 yr Rum, Lime, House Made Orgeat, House Orange Bitters
Manhattan Rittenhouse 100 Rye, Carpano Antica, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters
Margarita El Jimador Tequila, Lime, Marie Brizard Orange Curacao
Martini Plymouth Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth, House Orange Bitters
Mint Julep Weller 107 Bourbon, Demerara Syrup, Mint, Angostura Bitters
Mojito Flor de Caña 4yr Rum, Lime, Mint, Angostura Bitters
Moscow Mule Tito's Vodka, Lime, House Made Ginger Syrup
Negroni Tanqueray Gin, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, Campari, Regans’ Orange Bitters
Old Fashioned Rittenhouse 100 Rye, Demerara Syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters
Pegu Club Tanqueray, Lime, Marie Brizard Orange Curacao, Angostura Bitters
Pimms Cup Pimms #1, Lime, Strawberry, Cucumber, Mint
Perfect Martinez Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, Dolin Sweet & Dry Vemouth, Luxardo Maraschino, Fees Orange Bitters
Presbyterian Wild Turkey 101 Rye, Lemon, Home Made Ginger Syrup
Ramos Gin Fizz Beefeater Gin, Lemon, Lime, Egg White, Cream, Orange Flower Water
Sazerac Jim Beam Rye, Maison Surrenne Cognac, Herbsaint, Peychaud’s Bitters
Sidecar Maison Surrenne Cognac, Lemon, Marie Brizard Orange Curacao, Fees Orange Bitters
Silver Sour Booze, Lemon, Simple Syrup, Egg White
Southside Tanqueray Gin, Lime, Mint, Peychaud’s Bitters
Tom Collins Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, Lemon, Soda Water
Vieux Carre Maison Surrenne Cognac, Jim Beam Rye, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, Benedictine, Peychaud’s Bitters

Yeah, Toby's awesome. Too bad there aren't 23 of him.

=R=

On my way. I'll let you know how far I get.

Up to 24 now from this list but I'm about to buckle down!

=R=

Khaopaat wrote:Thanks for kind words! I'm glad to hear folks find the site useful.

You have no idea. +1 to the thank yous. This is now one of two links that are permanently embedded in my Firefox toolbar (the other being Wondrich's Esquire cocktail database).

ronnie_suburban wrote:Up to 24 now from this list but I'm about to buckle down!

Up to 25 now!

Had the Hemingway Daiquiri at Bar DeVille this evening (along with a few others that are not on the list).

=R=

Can anybody read this list? Even with zoom, it's all just dots.

Pie Lady wrote:Can anybody read this list? Even with zoom, it's all just dots.

try copying the image and pasting it in word. should expand it.

My wife and I have a standing card and cocktails night every other Sunday with another couple. After reading about this list, we've decided to use that night as an excuse/attempt to work through the entire list. The ground rule is that a drink can only be checked off the list if all four of us have tried it. On initial review, we only checked off 13 (but checked off 3 more that first night ) This promises to be quite a fun undertaking. And if nothing else, it gives me an excuse to beef up my liquor cabinet. "Oh, well I guess I have to buy that bottle of creme de violette. I need it for #7."

Since the list was posted, I've tried:

Corpse Reviver #2
French 75
Gimlet
Gin Rickey
Jasmine
Last Word
Maiden's Prayer
Metropole
(Brandy) Milk Punch
Old Pal
Oriental
Ramos Gin Fizz
(Brandy) Hot Toddy

My favorites to date have been the Ramos Gin Fizz, Last Word, and Jasmine.

In my search for recipes, I discovered a nice resource in the form of the New Orleans' Best Cocktail series on Youtube with Chris McMillian. He's got quite a few tutorial videos for these drinks. I find him easy to listen to, entertaining and informative, and I used his recipes for the RGF, French 75, and Milk Punch.

I'm now up to 26. I enjoyed a bright and well-balanced Air Mail at Bar DeVille last night (along with a few other cocktails that are not on the list).

Does this sound familiar?

=R=

Might as well post it here as anywhere else: I've spent the better part of this weekend drinking Maple Leaf cocktails (bourbon, lemon juice, and maple syrup, shaken to hell). I really need to stop lest I dispatch too visible a share of the Old Grand-Dad bottle, but, seriously, wow. Whoever created this thing is a genius.

FWIW, I'm working with 3 oz. bourbon, .75 oz. lemon juice, and .75 maple syrup. Just delicious.

ndgbucktown wrote:Might as well post it here as anywhere else: I've spent the better part of this weekend drinking Maple Leaf cocktails (bourbon, lemon juice, and maple syrup, shaken to hell). I really need to stop lest I dispatch too visible a share of the Old Grand-Dad bottle, but, seriously, wow. Whoever created this thing is a genius.

FWIW, I'm working with 3 oz. bourbon, .75 oz. lemon juice, and .75 maple syrup. Just delicious.

Are you sure the name of that drink isn't the Master Cleanse?

Ha! Trust me, I feel decidedly un-cleansed this morning.