Drinks-o’clock: three old-school cocktails to make now

Remember the days when going out for cocktails was the height of glamour? With so many fruity concoctions and whizz-bang creations, the cocktails of today just aren’t what they used to be. Paying homage to the drinks of a bygone era here we bring you the recipes for three all-time favourites.

Old Fashioned

While it may be old-school the adored Old Fashioned cocktail is never out of fashion.

Serve in a… rocks glass

Ingredients

• 1 Brown sugar cube
• ½ tsp white sugar
• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1 dash Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6
• ¼ oz cold water
• 2 oz George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee Whisky 
• Lemon and orange twists to garnish

Instructions: Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass. Muddle to break down the sugar and stir briefly. Fill with ice, stir again and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Twist slices of lemon and orange peel over the drink and drop them in.

Vesper

An old-school cocktail list would not be complete with paying tribute to 007 himself, Mr James Bond.

Serve in a… cocktail glass

Ingredients

• 3 oz Plymouth Gin
• 1 oz Absolut Vodka
• ½ oz Lillet Blanc
• Lemon peel to garnish

Instructions: Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Twist a slice of lemon peel over the drink, rub along the rim of the glass and drop it in.

Clover Club

A pre-Prohibition classic, this cocktail was a favourite amongst lawyers and writers in Philadelphia in the 30s.

Serve in a… cocktail glass

Ingredients

• 2 oz Plymouth Gin
• 1 Egg white
• ½ oz Fresh lemon juice
• ½  oz Raspberry syrup
• Lemon twist or raspberries

Instructions: Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or raspberries.