Remember the days when ordering a drink wasn’t just saying “beer” or “wine”? There was a time when bartenders were artists and drinks had fascinating stories behind them. Many amazing cocktails from the past have faded into history, pushed aside by simpler, mass-marketed options. But these forgotten gems pack more personality and taste than many popular drinks today. Ready to bring some old-school class back to happy hour? Here are some amazing old-timey drinks that deserve another shot.
The last word cocktail nearly disappeared forever
Imagine a drink so good it vanished for almost 50 years before making a comeback. The Last Word was created in the 1920s at the Detroit Athletic Club, then completely forgotten until 2004. This perfectly balanced mix combines equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice. What makes it special is how these strong-flavored ingredients work together – the herbal notes from the Chartreuse, the sour lime, the sweet cherry flavor, and the botanical gin create something truly magical.
The revival of The Last Word happened thanks to a bartender in Seattle who found the recipe in an old book and put it on his menu. From there, it spread among craft cocktail bars across the country. Its comeback story shows how great old drinks can return if given the chance. When mixed correctly, this pale green drink offers a complex taste experience that most modern cocktails can’t match. It’s proof that sometimes the best forgotten classics just need someone to rediscover them.
The bee’s knees was created to hide bad booze
During Prohibition, people had to get creative with their drinks because most illegal alcohol tasted awful. The Bee’s Knees was born from this need to mask the flavor of bathtub gin. This simple yet genius cocktail mixes gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup. The name itself was 1920s slang for “the best,” which tells you how much people loved it. The sweet honey and tart lemon worked together perfectly to hide the harsh taste of homemade spirits while creating something truly delicious.
What’s cool about the Bee’s Knees is that it actually tastes better with good gin. Unlike many Prohibition-era recipes, this one evolved from a necessity to a quality drink in its own right. The honey gives it a depth and richness that plain sugar syrup can’t match. It’s super simple to make at home too – just combine two ounces of gin, 3/4 ounce of fresh lemon juice, and 3/4 ounce of honey syrup (mix equal parts honey and warm water until dissolved). Shake with ice, strain into a glass, and enjoy a taste of history that still holds up today.
The bijou sparkles with the colors of jewels
The Bijou cocktail is like finding buried treasure in your glass. Created in the 1890s by famous bartender Harry Johnson, its name means “jewel” in French – and for good reason. The drink combines gin (representing diamond), sweet vermouth (representing ruby), and green Chartreuse (representing emerald). These ingredients create a rich, complex cocktail that looks as beautiful as it tastes. Most people today have never heard of it, which is a shame because it offers a drinking experience completely different from modern cocktails.
What makes the Bijou special is its bold, herb-forward flavor profile that doesn’t try to hide behind sweetness. It’s definitely an adult taste – intense, complex, and sophisticated. The typical recipe calls for equal parts of each main ingredient plus a dash of orange bitters, stirred with ice and garnished with a cherry or lemon twist. The result is a deep amber drink with reddish hints that truly resembles a jewel in the glass. If you’re tired of overly sweet modern drinks, the Bijou offers a glimpse into a time when cocktails were meant to be sipped slowly and appreciated for their complexity.
The hanky panky has a name as fun as its taste
With a name that raised eyebrows even in the early 1900s, the Hanky Panky has personality from the first sip. This cocktail was created by Ada Coleman, one of the few famous female bartenders of the era, while working at the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel in London. The story goes that she made it for a regular customer who asked for something with “a bit of a punch.” The name “Hanky Panky” was slang for magic or witchcraft at the time, though it later took on more risqué meanings, which only adds to its charm.
The drink itself is a modified sweet martini with a special twist. The recipe calls for gin and sweet vermouth in equal parts, but the magic comes from a few dashes of Fernet-Branca – an intensely bitter Italian amaro that gives the drink its distinctive character. This bitter kick transforms what would be a simple martini variation into something mysterious and complex. When properly made, the Hanky Panky balances sweetness, bitterness, and herbal notes perfectly. It’s typically garnished with an orange peel, which adds an aromatic citrus note that completes the experience. Why this delicious cocktail faded from popularity remains a mystery.
The southside cocktail has a gangster past
The Southside cocktail has one of the coolest backstories of any drink. Legend says it originated during Prohibition in Chicago’s South Side, where gangsters like Al Capone ruled the area. Because their smuggled gin was rough and poor quality, they added mint, lime, and sugar to make it drinkable. Meanwhile, the North Side gang had access to better quality spirits and drank their gin with just lime (basically a gimlet). Whether this story is completely true or not, it gives the Southside an edge that few other cocktails can claim.
The drink itself is refreshing and approachable – think of it as a gin mojito. The recipe typically includes gin, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and mint leaves, all shaken with ice and strained into a glass. Some versions add club soda for a fizzy finish. The mint and lime make it incredibly refreshing, perfect for summer drinking. While the Southside nearly vanished after Prohibition ended, it maintained popularity at country clubs and upscale establishments. Today, it deserves wider recognition not just for its tasty balance of sweet, sour, and herbal notes, but also as a delicious piece of American history.
The twelve mile limit mocked prohibition laws
Some drinks do more than taste good – they make a statement. The Twelve Mile Limit cocktail is named after a Prohibition-era law that extended U.S. territorial waters from three to twelve miles to make it harder for rumrunners to smuggle alcohol. Bartenders created this cocktail as a joke, basically saying “your laws can’t stop us.” The rebellious spirit behind it makes drinking it today feel like you’re part of a secret club that knows some forgotten history. It’s a cocktail with attitude and a wink to rule-breakers everywhere.
The recipe includes white rum, rye whiskey, brandy, grenadine, and lemon juice – essentially combining three different spirits prohibited during that era. It’s a strong drink that doesn’t try to hide its alcoholic punch, yet the grenadine and lemon juice balance it surprisingly well. The Twelve Mile Limit has a beautiful pinkish-amber color and a complex taste that evolves as you sip it. The combination of different spirits provides layers of flavor you don’t find in simpler modern drinks. If you’re looking for a conversation starter with historical significance, this cocktail delivers both great taste and a great story.
The pink lady isn’t the girly drink people thought
Don’t let the name fool you – the Pink Lady has been unfairly dismissed as a “girly” cocktail for decades, which is why it fell out of popularity. This pretty pink drink was actually a sophisticated cocktail enjoyed by everyone in the pre-Prohibition era. Its reputation suffered when sweeter, less alcoholic versions became popular in the 1950s. The true Pink Lady combines gin, applejack (apple brandy), lemon juice, grenadine, and an egg white for froth. The result is a beautiful layered drink with a silky texture and a perfect balance of tart, sweet, and strong.
What makes the Pink Lady special is how the applejack adds depth and backbone to what would otherwise be a simple gin sour. The egg white creates a luxurious foam on top and softens the drink’s edges. The Pink Lady exemplifies how appearance can be deceiving – beneath its pretty color lies a serious, well-crafted cocktail with enough alcohol to satisfy any drinker. If you want to impress friends with your cocktail knowledge, serve them a properly made Pink Lady and watch as they discover that pink doesn’t mean weak. This drink deserves a modern comeback free from gender stereotypes.
The white lady offers sophisticated simplicity
Sometimes the simplest recipes create the most elegant results. The White Lady, created in the 1920s by legendary bartender Harry Craddock at the American Bar in London, is a perfect example. This cocktail strips away everything unnecessary to focus on just gin, Cointreau (orange liqueur), fresh lemon juice, and sometimes egg white. Despite having only three or four ingredients, it delivers a perfectly balanced drinking experience. The White Lady was once as popular as the Martini or Manhattan but gradually disappeared from bar menus as sweeter, more colorful drinks took over.
The beauty of the White Lady lies in its clarity – both visually and in taste. Without added sugar, the natural sweetness of the Cointreau balances the tart lemon and botanical gin beautifully. The optional egg white gives it a silky texture and creates a pristine white appearance that’s elegant in a cocktail glass. It’s a forgotten cocktail that proves you don’t need complicated ingredients or techniques to create something special. If you’re tired of overly sweet or complicated modern cocktails, the White Lady offers a refined alternative that has stood the test of time – even if most people have forgotten about it.
These forgotten drinks tell stories of creativity, rebellion, and skilled craftsmanship from a different era. Each sip connects you to a time when making drinks was an art form and each cocktail had character. The next time you’re looking for something different, skip the usual options and try mixing up one of these forgotten classics. Not only will you impress your friends, but you’ll also experience flavors and combinations that have stood the test of time – even if they’ve been temporarily forgotten.
