The Lost Cocktails of NYC: Reviving Forgotten Drinks from Legendary Bars
New York City has always been at the forefront of cocktail culture, with its historic bars and legendary bartenders shaping the way we drink today. But for every timeless Manhattan or Martini, there are dozens of once-beloved cocktails that have faded into obscurity, lost along with the bars that made them famous.
From Prohibition-era speakeasies to defunct hotel lounges, NYC has been home to iconic drinks that deserve a comeback. Here, we revisit five forgotten cocktails from old-school NYC institutions—so you can sip your way through history and bring these classics back to life.
1. The Zazarac – A New York Twist on a New Orleans Classic
Original Bar: Baracca’s, NYC (1910)
The Zazarac is a forgotten relative of the Sazerac, first recorded in Jack’s Manual by NYC bartender Jacob “Jack” Grohusko in 1910. Inspired by its New Orleans predecessor, this cocktail adds a New York spin to a bold, whiskey-forward classic.
Recipe:
2 oz bourbon
1 dash absinthe
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 sugar cube
How to Make It:
Muddle the sugar cube with bitters in a mixing glass, then add bourbon and absinthe. Stir well with ice and strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass.
Why It Deserves a Comeback: If you love a Sazerac but want a softer, slightly sweeter version, the Zazarac is a must-try.
2. The Pegu Club – A Legacy of Two Eras
Original Bar: Pegu Club, Burma (1920s), Revived by NYC’s Pegu Club (2005-2020)
The Pegu Club Cocktail was originally created at the British colonial club in Rangoon, Burma, but NYC played a major role in bringing it back into the spotlight. In 2005, mixology pioneer Audrey Saunders opened Pegu Club in SoHo, making this forgotten gin cocktail a modern classic—until the bar closed in 2020.
Recipe:
1.5 oz gin
0.75 oz orange curaçao
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash orange bitters
How to Make It:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lime twist.
Why It Deserves a Comeback: It’s a bright, citrusy alternative to a Martini, with a layered depth that showcases gin beautifully.
3. The Brooklyn – The Borough’s Answer to the Manhattan
Original Bar: Various NYC Bars (Early 1900s)
While the Manhattan is world-famous, its Brooklyn counterpart has been overshadowed for over a century. First appearing in cocktail books in the early 1900s, the Brooklyn cocktail adds a bittersweet twist to the whiskey-and-vermouth combination.
Recipe:
2 oz rye whiskey
1 oz dry vermouth
0.25 oz maraschino liqueur
0.25 oz Amer Picon (or Angostura bitters)
How to Make It:
Stir all ingredients with ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Why It Deserves a Comeback: This drink is a bolder, more complex cousin of the Manhattan, with a nutty, herbal edge that whiskey lovers will appreciate.
4. The Bronx Cocktail – A Gin Classic That Faded Away
Original Bar: Waldorf-Astoria (1906)
The Bronx Cocktail was once a household name, even ranking as one of the most popular drinks in America before Prohibition. Created at the original Waldorf-Astoria bar, it’s essentially a Perfect Martini with a splash of fresh orange juice—light, citrusy, and dangerously easy to drink.
Recipe:
1.5 oz gin
0.75 oz sweet vermouth
0.75 oz dry vermouth
1.5 oz fresh orange juice
How to Make It:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Why It Deserves a Comeback: If you like a Negroni or a citrusy Martini, the Bronx is the refreshing, low-proof cocktail you didn’t know you needed.
5. The Creole – A Whiskey Cocktail Worth Rediscovering
Original Bar: Unknown (Early 1900s, NYC Cocktail Books)
The Creole Cocktail is a lost classic from early 20th-century cocktail books, featuring a rich blend of rye whiskey, herbal Bénédictine, and bitters. Its deep, layered flavor makes it perfect for a fall or winter night.
Recipe:
1.5 oz rye whiskey
0.75 oz sweet vermouth
0.25 oz Bénédictine
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
How to Make It:
Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Why It Deserves a Comeback: It’s a smoother, slightly herbal take on a Manhattan, perfect for those who enjoy a complex, well-balanced whiskey cocktail.
Bringing Lost Cocktails to Your Next Event
At Art of the Cocktail, we specialize in reviving forgotten classics, historic recipes, and timeless techniques—turning your event into a bespoke cocktail experience.
✔ Private Mixology Classes: Learn how to craft these lost NYC cocktails with expert guidance.
✔ Custom Cocktail Menus: Host an event featuring a historic cocktail revival tailored to your theme.
✔ Tasting Experiences: Explore the forgotten drinks of NYC with a guided tasting and storytelling session.
Whether you're planning a speakeasy-themed party, an elegant corporate event, or a historic cocktail dinner, our expert mixologists will bring New York’s lost cocktails back to life—one expertly crafted drink at a time.
Because great cocktails, like great stories, deserve to be shared.
Reviving NYC’s Forgotten Cocktails
New York’s bar scene is always evolving, but some drinks deserve a second chance. From the Brooklyn cocktail’s complex depth to the zesty Bronx cocktail, these forgotten recipes tell the story of NYC’s bartending legacy, innovation, and craft.
By bringing them back to life—whether at a historic bar or your own home bar—you’re not just enjoying a drink. You’re sipping on a piece of New York history.
