Cocktails and disco

Imagine it’s 1976 and you are walking into the legendary Studio 54 nightclub in New York. You just bought a groovy new outfit and you’re wearing the perfect dancing shoes. This is no coincidence since you have an important mission for this evening: BOOGY until your legs feel like spaghetti! If you catch my drift. But there is still one thing you have to figure out; what am I going to drink tonight?   

" BOOGY until your legs feel like spaghetti! "

There is no easy answer to this question if you knew what was on the cocktail menu during the late 70’s. Take the Harvey Wallbanger, the Golden Cadillac or the Pinks Squirrel for example. These names are radical! Choosing the right cocktail, however, is very important. You can tell a lot about a person by what they choose to drink. To make it a little bit easier for you we made a special selection and we hope that these awesome beverages will make you dance and shout during this summer.

Harvey Wallbanger

Some will say that it’s just a story, but we like to believe that this drink is named after a surfer called Tom Harvey. At the Blackwatch bar in Los Angeles, bartender Donato aka “Duke” Antone, came up with the name for this drink after Harvey supposedly got so drunk he started running into the walls. 

• 1/4 effen vodka
• 3/4 orange juice
• Splash of Galliano
• Orange slice

Instructions: Watch your head! 

Rusty Nail

This truly is a cocktail for the tough and the lazy, since it contains only two ingredients; Scotch and Drambuie. We believe that at some point in history during a certain Friday afternoon, a carpenter had to explain himself what he was drinking during working hours. He simply answers that he must have dropped a rusty nail in his glass of water.     

• 1/2 Oban scotch
• 1/2 Drambuie

If you want to make it look a little bit more sophisticated, add some lemon zest and a couple of ice cubes. Not able to find Drambuie nearby? Just add a little bit more Scotch and a sip of honey and some of your favorite herbs from your spice rack.

Instructions: Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice. Pour in scotch. Float Drambuie on top. 

 The pink squirrel

This cute little cocktail is not as popular as it was back in the old days. Don’t let the pink color fool you, this ain't no raspberry or strawberry flavored cocktail. Crème de noyaux tastes similar to amaretto since it also is made from nuts. So, don’t let this cocktail stand outside for too long, it will attract all the squirrels from your neighborhood. 

• 1/4 crème de noyaux
• 1/4 Bols Cacao White
• 2/4 Heavy cream or a big scoop of vanilla ice cream

Instructions: add all ingredients and some ice into a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a nice coupe glass.

Tom Collins

The origin of this cocktail remains a bit of a mystery but most likely this cocktail was served for the first time at the Limmer’s hotel in Londen by a barman called John Collins. During 1874 the same name was used for a practical joke and is now known as the Tom Collins Hoax. 

Arriving at the saloon the bartender (who was already in on the prank) would point out to a random unsuspecting man, claiming that this man was Tom Collins. You can imagine the amount of confusion this conversation would start. In the resulting confusion, tempers would flair, the joke would eventually be realized, and the crowded bar (most certainly in on the act) would erupt with laughter. Of course, this sort of scene would require a round of drinks to get everyone to simmer down and heal egos.

• 1/6 fresh lime juice 
• 2/6 Gin
• 3/6 soda water 
• 2 lemon wedges
• 2 teaspoons of sugar 

Instructions: Fill a Collins glass halfway up with ice, set aside in the freezer. Combine gin, lemon juice, sugar and some ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until chilled. Strain into the chilled Collins glass. Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wedge.

The Jitterbug Ghost

Alright, we are going to be totally honest with you on this one. We made it up, this cocktail didn't really exist during the 70’s. But in our opinion, it could have existed and maybe it should exist. There just has to be this one cocktail on the menu that you are a little bit scared of. This cocktail is only set aside for the true venturers, you never know what will happen after! The secret behind this recipe is that it looks harmless, calm, transparent, clean like a glass of water, but this mysterious recipe will kickstart your nightly endeavors with lightning speed. 

• 1/4 vodka
• 1/4 gin
• 1/4 white rum
• 1/4 soda water 
• Some Lime 

Instructions: Pull up your pants and just order the drink. It goes down easier if the drink is served in an ice-cold glass. 

The Green Stinger (AKA The Green Hornet)

Not everybody’s cup of tea, but don’t let that the menthe flavor scare you off. When the menthol flavor is combined with brandy or cognac, the drink is rather smooth and even a little soothing. Feel like a superhero this evening? The Green Hornet will titillate and get your blood pumping. 

• 1 /4 Brandy Vieux
• 1 /4 Creme de Menthe Green Continental
• 2 /4 Crushed ice
• Some mint leaves 

Instructions: Fill up a glass with ice and add all the ingredients, stirr firmly and garnish with some mint leaves. Don’t let the stinger get you!

Don’t be a closet disco queen and make yourself one of these cocktails and let’s get the groove on!

Dance and drink safe brother!