Celebrate Independence Day with Iconic Bars, Patriotic Cocktails, and Legendary Bartenders

Sip & Synopsis - This Weeks Inspiration

• Celebrating our Independance
• Custom Cockatil: Colonial Rum Punch
• Iconic American Bars
• Patriotic Cocktails to Celebrate the 4th 
• Legendary Bartenders Who Shaped America
• How to Keep Your Cocktails Cold 

Hello, cocktail enthusiasts! As we gear up to celebrate Independence Day, let’s take a moment to appreciate the rich history of American cocktail culture. This week, we’re exploring iconic bars, legendary bartenders, and classic drinks that have shaped the United States. Raise a glass to the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Photo Credit: Fraunces Tavern Museum

Explore the historic bars that have played a significant role in American history and cocktail culture.

Fraunces Tavern, New York City:

Established in 1762, Fraunces Tavern is one of New York's oldest and most historically significant bars. It was a meeting place for the Sons of Liberty and hosted George Washington's farewell address to his officers. After Washington was inaugurated as the nation's first president in 1789, Fraunces became steward of the President's house in New York. When the capital moved to Philadelphia in 1790, Fraunces followed. 

Signature Drink: Try their historic Rum Punch, a nod to the colonial era.

The Sazerac Bar, New Orleans:

Named after the Sazerac cocktail, this bar is renowned for its role in popularizing the drink. It opened in the 1850s and remains a landmark of New Orleans’ cocktail scene.

Signature Drink: The Sazerac, made with rye whiskey, Peychaud's Bitters, sugar, and a hint of absinthe.

Star-Spangled Sangria:

Ingredients: 1 bottle white wine, 1/4 cup brandy, 1/4 cup triple sec, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and apple slices, soda water, ice.

Instructions: Combine wine, brandy, and triple sec in a pitcher. Add fresh fruit and refrigerate for at least an hour. Serve over ice and top with soda water.

Liberty Lemonade:

Ingredients: 2 oz vodka, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, soda water, ice, fresh mint leaves.

Instructions: Shake vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice, top with soda water, and garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Photo Credit: Dale Degroff, Bartenders Business

Celebrate the bartenders whose creativity and innovation have left a lasting impact on the American cocktail landscape.

Jerry Thomas, "The Father of American Mixology":

Known for his flamboyant style and groundbreaking cocktail book, "The Bartender’s Guide," published in 1862. He popularized many classic cocktails, including the Blue Blazer and the Tom Collins.

Signature Drink:The Blue Blazer, a spectacular flaming whiskey cocktail.

Dale DeGroff, "King Cocktail"

Dale DeGroff is a modern legend who played a crucial role in reviving classic cocktails in the 1980s and 1990s. As the head bartender at New York City's Rainbow Room, DeGroff championed the use of fresh ingredients and classic techniques, helping to spark the craft cocktail movement. His book "The Craft of the Cocktail" is a must-read for aspiring bartenders.

Signature Drink: The Cosmopolitan, which he helped popularize.

How-To:

• Pitchers & Bickets: Use insulated pitchers and ice buckets to keep your drinks cool during outdoor celebrations.
• The Pre-Chill Game: Pre-chill your glasses and ingredients to ensure your cocktails stay cold longer.
• More Tips: Serious summer heat calls for seriously cold drinks: Seven tips for keeping beverages chilly at an outdoor event during the warmer months.

As we celebrate Independence Day, let’s raise a glass to the rich history and vibrant culture of American cocktails. From iconic bars and legendary bartenders to patriotic drinks and colonial recipes, we hope these stories and recipes inspire you to savor every moment. Cheers to freedom, creativity, and the joy of a perfectly crafted cocktail!

Cheers!

~ Andrea