4 Vintage-Inspired Cocktails

Cocktails can be the perfect touch for any wedding theme. For vintage-themed weddings, a classic drink (or two) can be a great way to get your guests dancing. We’ve put together a list of four of our favorite vintage cocktails for parties and weddings.

Bee’s Knees

Named for a Prohibition Era-phrase meaning “the best,” the Bee’s Knees cocktail is both simple and delicious. Some historians claim that this drink was formulated to mask the flavor and odor of bathtub gin, but the herbal qualities of the gin still shine through.

1 oz honey simple syrup (1:1 honey to hot water)
1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 oz London dry gin

Combine all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake for 20-25 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Daiquiri

Don’t judge a daiquiri by its slushy New Orleans counterpart. The classic daiquiri was most likely created out of British navy men mixing their rum, citrus and sugar rations together a few hundred years ago. However it came about, this simple tipple is amazingly refreshing for summer weddings.

1 oz simple syrup (1:1 white sugar to hot water)
1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
2 oz rum

Combine all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake for 20-25 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Moscow Mule

If vodka’s your jam, the Moscow Mule was the first cocktail to popularize the spirit. Since it’s almost clear, you can add a tiny bit of food coloring to match your wedding colors.

1 oz simple syrup (1:1 white sugar to hot water)
1 oz lime juice
2 oz vodka

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake for 20-25 seconds. Strain into a chilled tall glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer.

Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is arguably the oldest cocktail. As such, it’s become more of a general name for a class of whiskey-based libations. Customize as needed to fit your tastes.

1 dash Angostura or aromatic bitters
2 dashes orange bitters
1 tsp demerara syrup (2 parts brown sugar to one part hot water)
2 oz rye whiskey

Let Them Eat Cake … Or Not

Batching instructions for cocktails: Keep the ratios as listed. To make into a punch, add slightly less than 1/6 cup of water (or herbal tea) for every person who will be drinking. So, if you’re batching six Bee’s Knees at once, your recipe would be 6 oz honey syrup, 6 oz lemon juice, 12 oz dry gin, 1 cup water or tea. Mix and serve over ice.

By Clair McLafferty | Photography by Jessica Jack Wyrick

Clair McLafferty is a freelance writer, craft bartender and general nerd operating out of Birmingham, Ala. If she’s not mixing up vintage drinks or editing a story, she can usually be found reading cocktail history or science fiction. See more of her work at clairmclafferty.com.