Cocktails: The New Golden Age

Once illegally consumed behind hidden doors, cocktails burst back into the light after Prohibition's repeal. Toast the cocktail's liberation with these colorful, fun-loving cocktails!

Then and Now

True, the "cocktail" predates Prohibition. But cocktail culture really caught fire during Prohibition, when, of course, booze was ostensibly outlawed. As the saying went: "Prohibition is better than no liquor at all."

Back in the day, speakeasies became the illegal laboratories for developing new cocktails. Over the years, modern mixologists, working with superior ingredients, perfected the art, bringing the cocktail up from the basement and into the spotlight.

"Prohibition has made nothing but trouble."

-- Al Capone

Kinky Martinis

Warning: martini purists might want to skip over this section. For the rest of us, here are some funky, spunky "martinis" that give gin and vermouth the slip.

• Pineapple Cake Martini
• Chocolate Banana Martini
• Carmel Apple Martini

Everything-but-the-Kitchen-Sink Cocktails

For when one, two, even three different kinds of booze just aren't enough. But be careful! Our advice? Jot down the phone number for the local taxi service and stuff it in your pocket before unscrewing the first bottle cap. Better yet, just stay put for the night.

• Storm of the Century Hurricane
• Big Kev's Texas STyle Long Island Iced Tea
• Pangalactic Gargleblaster
• Blue Motorcyle
• Coco Lopo
• Twisted Stripper

Top 5 Brunch Cocktails

Here are the cocktails that go down easy when you're drinking before noon.

• Bellini Meanie Martini
• Mimosa
• Best Screwdriver
• Pierced Fuzzy Navel
• Sriracha Bloody Mary

Ignition, Blastoff

A cocktail party isn't really a party until something's engulfed in flames. Here are a couple drinks that call for a touch of fire.

• Blue Flame
• Flaming Doctor Pepper I
• Flaming Doctor Pepper II

Drink Globally

Feeling international? May we recommend a few "national cocktails" from around the world?

• Frozen Mojito
• Rob Roy
• Caipirinha

Don't Forget the Ice!

The best tasting cocktails usefresh ice made from pure, filtered water. "Fresh" means the cubes haven't been sitting around for weeks in the freezer soaking up the stale, flavor essences of long-lingering foods. Bring the water to a quick boil for best results. Make it the morning of the day you plan to mix your cocktails, and you'll enjoy the freshest, most delicious cocktails.

Check out our collection of Cocktail Recipes.