Paul Kushner
This cocktail comes from the northeast and has had several variations over the past century. If you want to know more, this post will tell you all you need to know about the ward eight cocktail.
How to Make a Ward Eight
Making a ward eight cocktail is not all that hard to do. Here’s our quick and easy recipe for this delicious cocktail.
Ward Eight
It is no surprise that this cocktail became popular and remains popular when you understand that it is incredibly similar to a whiskey sour.
For those who wish that classic cocktail had a bit more sweetness, ward eight is an ideal order.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of rye whiskey
- ½ ounce of lemon juice
- ½ ounce of orange juice
- A dash of grenadine
- Speared cherries
Instructions
- Add rye, lemon juice, orange juice, and grenadine to a shaker with ice
- Shake until the drink is chilled
- Strain into a cocktail glass
- Add speared cherries as a garnish
What is a Ward Eight Cocktail?
As we mentioned in the introduction, there have been many variations of this drink over the years. Part of that relates to the fact that the method for making a ward eight was not written down originally. Instead, it was passed down from bartender to bartender over several generations.
Now, the ingredients and directions for making a ward eight cocktail are a bit more widespread. In later sections, we will cover both of those topics in greater depth. But for now, you should know that the ward eight is a rye-based cocktail.
Along with that rye, a ward eight often includes multiple citrus juices and some grenadine. In essence, this drink is a variation of a whisky sour. The main difference is the addition of sweet grenadine. Now that you have a basic understanding of what to expect from this cocktail let’s explore how it came into existence.
History of the Ward Eight Cocktail
Compared to some other cocktails, the ward eight has a well-known history. Most cocktail experts agree that the ward eight emerged in Boston’s eighth ward in 1898.
At the time, a bartender named Tom Hussion was working at a café in that Boston district. The story goes that he created the ward eight to honor a local politician.
That politician’s name was Martin Lomasney, and he had considerable power over local politics at the time. When he ran a successful campaign to become a representative in the state legislature, the ward eight cocktail served as a symbol of his victory.
Some claim that the ward eight cocktail was around before this election. However, even if that is the case, the election of Lomasney played a significant role in making this drink much more popular than it already was.
Cheers!
Check out this amazing cocktail the next time you’re in the mood for a delicious whiskey drink!
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