Tequila, Freshly-Squeezed Lime Juice, and Orange Liqueur. Salt Rim Optional.

The 8 most popular cocktails in Boston on National Cocktail Day!

Hey, it’s National Cocktail Day! Why not celebrate with the 8 most popular cocktails in Boston?

OK, not 8. How about just one or two of these tasty cocktails?

Listen, National Cocktail Day is the best day of the year, and anyone who says otherwise clearly hasn’t had enough cocktails. Sure, there are other holidays out there like Christmas, Halloween, and National Pizza Day, but none of them compare to the sheer joy and merriment that comes with a good cocktail.

First of all, cocktails are delicious.

There’s nothing quite like sipping on a perfectly mixed drink, whether it’s a classic like a Martini or a trendy concoction like a Margarita. And with so many different ingredients to choose from, the possibilities are practically endless. Want something sweet? Try a fruity daiquiri. Feeling bold? Go for a spicy Bloody Mary. With so many options, there’s a cocktail out there for everyone.

But cocktails aren’t just tasty; they’re also great for socializing. There’s something about a good drink that brings people together and gets the conversation flowing. Whether you’re at a fancy bar or just hanging out at home with friends, a cocktail is the perfect way to break the ice and start having fun.

Of course, there are some people out there who might argue that National Cocktail Day is a little too indulgent.

They might say that drinking too much alcohol is bad for your health, or that it’s a waste of time and money.

But to those people, I say: lighten up!

Life is short, and sometimes you just need to let loose and have a good time. And if that means enjoying a few delicious cocktails, then so be it.

So go ahead and raise a glass to National Cocktail Day.

Whether you’re sipping on a classic Manhattan or trying out something new and exciting, this holiday is the perfect excuse to celebrate the wonderful world of cocktails. Cheers!

(Please drink responsibly!)

  • 1. Margarita

    Some say the cocktail was invented in 1948 in Acapulco, Mexico, when a Dallas socialite combined blanco tequila with Cointreau and lime juice for her guests.

    I believe it.

    Better get cracking on these though, there’s a tequila shortage on the horizon. Here’s a classic margarita recipe from Liquor.com:

    Classic Margarita

    2 ounces blanco tequila
    1/2 ounce orange liqueur
    1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
    1/2 ounce agave syrup
    Garnish: lime wheel
    Garnish: kosher salt (optional)
    Steps
    Add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake until well-chilled.

    Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

    Garnish with a lime wheel and kosher salt rim (optional).

    The 8 Most Popular Cocktails in Boston on National Cocktail Day

    Margarita cocktail on white wooden table

  • 2. Martini

    James Bond was WRONG. Stir this sucker. Don’t shake it.
    The Nick & Nora Martini is named for characters in “The Thin Man,” a novel by Dashiell Hammett.

    Nick & Nora Martini

    The 8 Most Popular Cocktails in Boston on National Cocktail Day

    Ingredients
    1 1/2 ounces gin
    1/2 ounce dry vermouth
    Garnish: Spanish olive (no pimento)
    Steps
    Add the gin and vermouth to a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled.

    Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass.

    Garnish with a small Spanish olive without pimento filling.

  • 3. Espresso Martini

    It’ll keep you up AND give you a little buzz. Go easy on these though.

    Espresso Martini

    Espresso Martinis

    2 ounces of vodka, 1/2 ounce of coffee liqueur (usually Kahlúa), 1 ounce of espresso, freshly brewed (or cold brew concentrate), 1/2 ounce of simple syrup, and optional garnish of coffee beans.

    Ingredients
    2 ounces vodka
    1/2 ounce coffee liqueur (usually Kahlúa)
    1 ounce espresso, freshly brewed (or cold brew concentrate)
    1/2 ounce simple syrup
    Garnish: coffee beans
    Steps
    Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice and shake until well-chilled.

    Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Garnish with 3 coffee beans.

  • 4. Bloody Mary

    Good Morning! This is a great way to start the day.

    Bloody Mary

    The 8 Most Popular Cocktails in Boston on National Cocktail Day

    Bloody or virgin mary cocktail served in a cup with celery sticks and cherry tomatoes.

    Ingredients
    Celery salt
    1 lemon wedge
    1 lime wedge
    2 ounces vodka
    4 ounces tomato juice
    2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
    2 dashes Tabasco sauce
    2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
    1 pinch ground black pepper
    1 pinch smoked paprika
    Garnish: parsley sprig
    Garnish: green olives
    Garnish: lime wedge
    Garnish: celery stalk
    Steps
    Pour some celery salt onto a small plate.

    Rub the juicy side of the lemon or lime wedge along the lip of a pint glass.

    Roll the outer edge of the glass in celery salt until fully coated, then fill the glass with ice and set aside.

    Squeeze the lemon and lime wedges into a shaker and drop them in.

    Add the vodka, tomato juice, horseradish, Tabasco, Worcestershire, black pepper, paprika, plus a pinch of celery salt along with ice and shake gently.

    Strain into the prepared glass.

    Garnish with parsley sprig, 2 speared green olives, a lime wedge and a celery stalk (optional).

  • 5. Cosmo

    Carrie Bradshaw was NOT wrong. This is a great drink. Simple, sweet, and easy.

    The 8 Most Popular Cocktails in Boston on National Cocktail Day

    Cosmopolitan
    Ingredients
    1 1/2 ounces citron vodka
    3/4 ounce Cointreau
    3/4 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
    1/2 ounce cranberry juice cocktail
    Garnish: lime wedge
    Steps
    Add the vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry juice cocktail into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

    Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Garnish with a lime wedge.

  • 6. Old Fashioned

    Thank you to Don Draper, who made these popular again.

    Bourbon Old Fashioned

    The 8 Most Popular Cocktails in Boston on National Cocktail Day
    Ingredients
    1 teaspoon sugar
    3 dashes Angostura bitters
    1 teaspoon water
    2 ounces bourbon (or rye whiskey, if preferred)
    Garnish: orange twist
    Steps
    Add the sugar and bitters into a mixing glass, then add the water, and stir until the sugar is nearly dissolved.

    Fill the mixing glass with ice, add the bourbon, and stir until well-chilled.

    Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.

    Express the oil of an orange twist over the glass, then drop into the glass to garnish.

  • 7. Ward 8

    The Ward Eight is one of Boston’s major contributions to cocktails. The cocktail was reportedly created in 1898 at the now-closed Locke-Ober in Boston to celebrate the election of Martin M. Lomasney, political “boss” in the city’s eighth ward.

    Ward Eight

    Ingredients
    2 ounces rye whiskey
    1/2 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
    1/2 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed
    2 teaspoons grenadine
    Garnish: 2 or 3 speared cherries
    Steps
    Add the rye whiskey, lemon and orange juices and grenadine to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

    Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Garnish with speared cherries.

  • 8. Cape Codder

    This classic summer drink will get you from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Sure, you might not remember anything, but it’s a refresher!

    Cape Codder

    The 8 Most Popular Cocktails in Boston on National Cocktail Day

    Cranberry Vodka Cocktail with lime and ice on black table. Cape Codder Cocktail with cranberry juice and vodka, alcohol drink.

    Ingredients
    1 1/2 ounces vodka
    Cranberry juice, chilled, to top
    Garnish: lime wedge
    Steps
    Add the vodka into a highball glass over ice.

    Top with cranberry juice and stir briefly to combine.

    Squeeze a lime wedge over the glass and drop it into the drink.

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