The Ward 8 cocktail is a mix of whiskey, brandy, raw sugar, and fruit juice. It is the oldest known bourbon cocktail in print. The origins of this drink are disputed but it is generally accepted that it was created by Robert Brown in 1872 at the Occidental Hotel in New Orleans. He was a bartender from Montreal who moved to New Orleans in 1872 to work at the Occidental Hotel for owner Louis J. Blanco. In 1878, he became head bartender and stayed until 1880 when he returned to Montreal for a brief period before moving back to New Orleans where he remained until his death in 1909.
This drink has some similarities to the Whiskey sour, but it's not quite that straightforward. There are two variations on this drink - one uses bourbon and the other uses rye whiskey.
Spirit Used
Whiskey
Ingredients
Ice
2 ounces rye whiskey
3/4 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
3/4 ounce fresh squeezed orange juice
3/4 teaspoon grenadine
Seltzer
Recipe
1. In a shaker, combine the whiskey, lemon juice, orange juice, and grenadine with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled Collins glass half full of ice.
3. Fill the glass with seltzer.
