5 Delicious Cocktails to Celebrate National Cocktail Day 2023

Posted on March 24, 2023 by englishivys

National Cocktail Day is here! How do you want to celebrate? With some cocktails, of course! In honor of a wonderful and well-deserving nationally recognized day, let’s talk drink orders! From tangy Bloody Mary’s and refreshing Aperol spritzers to the elegant Manhattan and the classic Old Fashioned, there are plenty of deliciously conventional cocktails that can be enjoyed on National Cocktail Day.

So, whether you choose celebrate by heading out to your local bar and restaurant, or just staying at home and raiding your personal mini bar, consider this collective list of traditional cocktail recipes for National Cocktail Day!

Happy National Cocktail Day!

March 24^th, 2023

Let us celebrate Jace Shoemaker-Galloway for instituting National Cocktail Day — a day to imbibe in our beloved cocktails. Why not raise a glass of your favorite drink? Interestingly, the Margarita is America’s most popular tipple! So, go ahead and enjoy it first on this festive occasion!

Margarita

With that fun fact, let’s start with the Margarita! This zesty tequila-based cocktail is the perfect way to kick off National Cocktail Day. Simply mix tequila, lime juice, and triple sec in a shaker and rim your glass with salt. Then, shake everything together and pour into glasses over ice for a refreshing beverage. To add an extra tangy twist, you can also muddle some fresh fruit into your margaritas such as strawberries or oranges.

Manhattan

Next on our list of National Cocktail Day recipes is the Manhattan. This Manhattan is a classic whiskey cocktail that’s sure to please the mavens of mixology. Simply combine whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters in a shaker and strain into rocks glasses filled with ice. If you’re looking for an extra flavor boost, add some orange or cherry juice for a sweeter Manhattan.

Old Fashioned

Third on our list of delicious cocktail recipes is the Old Fashioned. This timeless drink combines bourbon, sugar, Angostura bitters and a splash of soda water for a perfectly balanced sip. To make this classic concoction all you have to do is mix the ingredients in a shaker and strain over fresh ice cubes into an old fashioned glass. You can also garnish the drink with an orange peel or a cherry to add a bit of extra flavor.

Bloody Mary

You can also celebrate National Cocktail Day with a tangy Bloody Mary. This classic vodka-based cocktail is perfect for those who like their drinks on the spicier side. Simply mix tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, and celery salt in a shaker and pour over ice into glasses. Then, garnish your Bloody Mary with pickles, olives or lemon wedges for an extra zing.

Aperol Spritzer

Finally, you can top off National Cocktail Day with an Aperol Spritzer. This light and refreshing drink is perfect for those who like to keep it simple. Simply pour Aperol, prosecco, and soda into a wine glass filled with ice. Then, garnish the Aperol spritzers with orange slices or fresh fruit for an extra special touch.

National Cocktail Day is Your Chance to Expand Your Drink Order Horizon

No matter which cocktail that you choose to celebrate National Cocktail Day, it’s sure to be a hit. Get creative and have fun experimenting with different flavors and ingredients. Remember, National Cocktail Day is the perfect time to let your bartenders and local mixologists experiment and make something truly special! And don’t forget to share your favorite recipes and raise a glass in honor of this special occasion. Have fun and cheers to National Cocktail Day!

Ready to head out and celebrate National Cocktail Day in Downtown Indy? Come hang out at English Ivy’s Eatery and Pub – No reservations required! Enjoy a wide menu selection of lunch and dinner options, plus drink specials every day of the week, all at neighborhood prices! Friday’s specials include $22.00 Prime Rib Dinner, $4 Effen, $5 Kettle One, and $3 house wine by the glass!

2 New Takes on the Traditional Old Fashioned

Posted on September 17, 2021 by englishivys

The Old Fashioned is one of the most respected and honored cocktails that has maintained popularity for hundreds of years. Classically made with bourbon, bitters, and sugar, the Old Fashioned is admired for its depth, richness, and history. It is rumored that the drink was created at the Manhattan Club in New York City in the early 1870’s for a banquet in honor of presidential candidate, Samuel J. Tilden. So, people began calling this drink the “Manhattan cocktail” after the club.

Although the name implies that innovation is not something of interest, with such an easy foundation of ingredients it’s hard to resist the temptation to innovate and tweak the recipe just a little. You see, bourbon and sugar might be customary for making a classic Old Fashioned, but many are pleasantly discovering that you can use any base liquor and ingredients you would like, including sweet vermouth, tequila, and more!

If you are a fan of the Old Fashioned, but would like a fresh take on it, continue reading for two inventive recipes that may turn into your new go-to after-work or weekend drink!

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It is Time to Change the Way You Think About an Old Fashioned

The classic recipe for an Old Fashioned is 2 ounces bourbon, 1 sugar cube, 2 dashes of angostura bitters, and 1 dash of water, then garnished with a cherry on a toothpick. However, as classic as this cocktail might be, it too has been altered overtime.

Many people substitute bourbon for other types of liquor, such as whiskey or scotch. Many have also substituted sugar cubes for sweet vermouth or even a teaspoon of maple syrup. Others eliminate the dash of water altogether. Some even swap the cherry for dried fruit, orange slices, olives, and rosemary sprigs.

For most, developing a personalized recipe for an Old Fashioned take some time and some adjusting. But as mentioned, if you are tired of the same old town bourbon cocktail you been drinking for years, try out these two recipes that may change the way you think about Old Fashioned cocktails forever!

Traditional Version of an Old Fashioned

Just as a reminder for comparison purposes, to make a traditional Old Fashioned cocktail, drop a sugar cube inside a rocks glass and saturate it with 2 dashes of bitters. Then add a dash of water. Muddle the sugar cube until it is fully dissolved. Now fill the glass with ice and add 2 ounces of bourbon. Finish by garnishing it with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry on a toothpick.

🥃 The Improved Whiskey Cocktail 🥃

This recipe is not a new one. It is actually a classic cocktail that was even mentioned in “The Bar-Tender’s Guide” of 1887. Try this improved whiskey cocktail the next time you visit your favorite Downtown Indianapolis bar restaurant!

▻ 1.5 OUNCES HIGH RYE BOURBON
▻ 1 SUGAR CUBE (substitute 1 tsp. maple syrup or 1 bar spoon of granulated sugar)
▻ 1 BAR SPOON MARASCHINO LIQUEUR
▻ 1 DASH ABSINTHE
▻ 1 DASH CHERRY OR LICORICE BITTERS
▻ 1 DASH AROMATIC BITTERS
▻ GARNISH WITH CITRUS PEEL

To make this cocktail, follow the same instructions you would for a classic Old Fashioned. In your rocks glass, muddle your sugar cube or sugar option with your bitters, absinthe, and Maraschino liqueur. Next, pour in your bourbon and ice, then stir. It is recommended to use a single large block of ice for this cocktail.

🥃 The Reposado Old Fashioned 🥃

If you are a fan of tequila, then this is the new take on a classic Old Fashioned you’ve been looking for. With a different selection of bitters, a bit of agave, and a different base liquor, this rendition of an Old Fashioned will have you feeling like you’ve gone south of the border.

▻ 1.5 OUNCES AGED TEQUILA
▻ 1 BAR SPOON SIMPLE SYRUP
▻ 2 DASHES AROMATIC BITTERS
▻ GARNISH WITH AND ORANGE PEEL

To make this new version, you will start off a bit differently than a traditional Old Fashioned. Begin by using a wide vegetable peeler to peel your orange. Use the orange peel to express all of the essential oils within inside the rocks glass. Add all of your ingredients into a glass including a single block of ice, and then stir. Garnish with a new orange peel.

Are you excited for these new versions of your favorite Old Fashioned? Visit English Ivy’s Downtown Pub and Eatery and place your order with the bar today! You can enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner, and delicious drinks! Be sure to check out our daily specials, too!

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The 3 Basic Cocktails and How to Make Them

Posted on December 9, 2019 by englishivys

If you are hosting a holiday party this month, you should impress your guests with some fancy bartending skills. But you don’t have to put in a lot of studying and practice. All you really need is some basic bartending knowledge. A good place to start is by learning what the three basic cocktails are and how to make them. Continue below to get started!

Classic Cocktails Downtown Indianapolis 317-822-5070

Classic Cocktails Leave a Lasting Impression

When it comes to the holiday season, everyone loves traditions. What better way to embrace holiday traditions than by serving some classic cocktails? Classic drinks, like martinis, daiquiris, and Old-Fashioned’s, are always a hit, as they are very universal. You can customize these basic cocktails in an endless array of flavors and themes, all of which will certainly leave a lasting impression on your friends and family. By knowing these basic cocktails, you can use your own personal tastes and creativity to build upon them and make them your own!

🍸 Martini

When it comes to constructing a great martini, all you need to do is know the basic recipe. From there, you can customize a martini into anything you want, from dirty martinis made with olive juice and lemon drop martinis that offer a citrus splash, to expresso martinis that give a good pick-me-up, and much more.

Recipe for Basic Martini:

2 Ounces Vodka or Gin
1.5 Ounces Dry Vermouth
2 Dashes Orange Bitters (optional)

Add all ingredients into a shaker. Add ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into martini glass. Serve with a lemon peel or olive. You also have the option of stirring your martini, rather than giving it a good shake. But as Bond requests, “Shaken, not stirred.”

🍹 Daiquiri

Daiquiris are fun cocktails because they can be made frozen slushy or as a drink. As a refreshing drink that can be customized in thousands of ways, you can never go wrong serving up a tray of traditional daiquiris. You can also use their recipe as a base for shooters.

Basic Daiquiri Recipe:

2 Ounces White Rum
0.75 Ounces Simple Syrup
0.75 Ounces Lime Juice

Add all ingredients into a shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds and then strain it into a chilled glass. Garnish your daquiri with a lemon twist. For frozen daquiris, add all ingredients into a blender with ice, and blend until you reach a slushy consistency.

🧉 Old-Fashioned

Old-fashioned cocktails are among the most revered classics, making it an important recipe to add to your bartending acumen. They are great to serve to guests because they appear fancy but in fact quite simple to make. Although bourbon is customary, you can use any base liquor.

Recipe for a Basic Old-Fashioned:

2 Ounces Bourbon (or any liquor)
1 Sugar Cube (or 1 tsp. maple syrup)
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
1 Dash Water

Place a sugar cube inside your glass and saturate it with bitters. Then add a dash of water. Muddle the sugar cube until it is fully dissolved. Now fill the glass with ice and add the bourbon. Finish by garnishing it with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry on a toothpick.

Where to Get Classic Cocktails in Indianapolis This Holiday

English Ivy’s is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11AM to 12 PM this year! Call 317-822-5070 to ask about our dinner and drink holiday specials we are offering this season. We offer a seasonal-inspired, multi-cuisine menu that is locally-sourced and curated by our chef. From classics like wings and burgers, to specialty entrees like prime rib and baked scallops, and everything in between, you will find exactly what your taste buds crave this holiday on our exclusive holiday menus. With neighborhood prices and the nicest service around, you will enjoy every minute you spend at our Downtown Indianapolis bar and restaurant!