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10 Cocktails To Make You Look More Sophisticated

10 Cocktails To Make You Look More Sophisticated

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So you’re out at the bar and trying to impress somebody — your date, that hottie at the end of the bar, your hard-working bartender — or you just want to mix it up from your standard house pint, rum and coke, or whatever the cheapest thing is on the menu. Try one of these classic drinks — 10 cocktails to make you look more sophisticated.

Sources: Metrowize.com, Epicurious, LA Weekly, Scribd, San Jose Mercury News

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Negroni

One part gin, one part semi-sweet vermouth, and one part campari – garnished with an orange peel, of course – is all you need for a classic Negroni. The drink has a long and storied history dating back to the 1910s in Florence, Italy, but all you really need to know is that James Bond drinks one in “Thunderball.” If that’s not the mark of a real drink (because the shaken-not-stirred martini thing is so overdone), then I don’t know what is.

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Old Fashioned

Despite its name, the Old Fashioned is anything but. It’s a classic, for sure, but remains as vital and trendy as ever (partially thanks to Don Draper’s character on “Mad Men”). Comprised of muddled sugar with bitters and citrus, topped with a nice whiskey or brandy, an Old Fashioned dates back to the early 1800s, and has enjoyed several modifications throughout the years. Just please don’t order this one when it’s four-people deep at the bar. Anything that your bartender has to muddle means that they will probably spit in it at that point.

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Sazerac

If you order a Sazerac in New Orleans, Louisiana, you’ll be in good company. The classic cocktail is recognized as the oldest known American cocktail, created in the city back in the pre-Civil War era. In fact, the Sazerac was declared the official state cocktail of Louisiana in 2008. A delectable combination of cognac, absinthe, bitters, and sugar, Sazeracs are also sure to give you a good buzz, given that absinthe is about a gazillion-proof.

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Moscow Mule

If you haven’t discovered ginger beer yet, you absolutely need to, and there’s no better way than ordering a nice Moscow Mule – a cocktail made of vodka, ginger beer, and lime, and most traditionally served in a copper mug. Though the cocktail actually came around in the U.S. during the 1950s vodka craze, it got its name from the popular perception of vodka as a Russian product.

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A really nice Scotch

This one isn’t a cocktail, but it’s a standby that you shouldn’t be afraid of. If you have the money (although honestly, some really nice scotches are only an extra few dollars up from the house brand), don’t be afraid to order a nice scotch. Neat, of course, because you can’t be caught watering down that majesty.

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Gin Fizz

Though you can order a fizz with any kind of liquor – it really just means adding an acidic juice (normally lime, but lemon also works) and soda water, and often a bit of sugar – gin is the best kind. Think of it as a more classy and better-tasting gin and tonic, and you can also get even fancier with different varieties: a Silver Fizz (add an egg white), a Golden Fizz (toss in an egg yolk), a Diamond Fizz (sub in sparkling wine for soda water), and you get the idea. The possibilities are endless!

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Singapore Sling

With a nod to non-Western cocktails, the Singapore Sling is a Southeast Asian cocktail developed back in the early 1900s, and is seriously delicious. Though it’s got more ingredients than most – gin, cherry liqueur, cointreau, grenadine, lime juice, and bitters – it’s worth the effort, assuming that your bartender isn’t too slammed, and actually likes making cocktails. Maybe just wait ’til you find a place that specifically has it on the menu, and you’ll be A-OK.

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French 75

Named for French artillery during World War I, a French 75 consists of gin, champagne, lemon, and sugar and is thought to pack the same punch as being shelled with the powerful French 75-millimeter field gun. Though that might be an exaggeration, it’s actually a seriously cool drink, and mixes up that boring old champagne – plus, it’s served in a bigger glass to accommodate all the extra ingredients, so you’ll be getting more bang for your buck.

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Sidecar

Invented around the time of World War I, the Sidecar consists of cognac, orange liqueur (most often Cointreau or triple sec, but high rollers can also sub in Grand Marnier or Grand Gala instead), and lemon juice. Some places will throw in a sugared rim on a Sidecar, but purists know that it’s not necessary.

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Manhattan

A variation on the martini, a Manhattan is the ideal choice for rye whiskey lovers. Sweet vermouth replaces dry vermouth, and a high quality rye is used, along with a dash of bitters and the ever-classy maraschino cherry. Sip slowly, and savor!