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On these pages, pictures of some of the most classic and well-known
cocktails. On page 111, a Gibson with a Tropea onion prepared by Giovanno
Badolato at the Metropolita (Rome). On page 112, a Cocciuto Mule by Mattia
Patori at the Cocciuto (Milan). On page 113, a Riviera by Giovanno Badolato
at the Metropolita (Rome)

Who wouldn’t want to be immortal? According to Drinks Inter- deprived of the gift of immortality (like the Cardinale, which
national’s 2021 report, it would seem that some cocktails could was surpassed by the Negroni in the past, but now seems to be
aspire to immortality, and with good reason. The Old Fashio- experiencing a small comeback).
ned, the Negroni, and the Daiquiri take the podium of the Top Barring a few exceptions, most of the cocktails mixed by bar-
50 best-selling cocktails in the world, and of course the Martini, tenders around the world have ‘ancient’ origins.
the Margarita, the Whiskey Sour, the Manhattan, and the Mojito “The oldest cocktail book is How to Mix Drinks or The Bon-Vi-
can also be found in the top ten. They are all cocktails that made vant’s Companion, written by Jerry Thomas in 1862. It’s considered
the history of mixology, which have been rediscovered by the the old testament for bartenders,” says Nicola Piazza, bartender
new generations, are cherished by those who were young in the and now brand ambassador of Bacardi Martini. In that book, you
Eighties and Nineties, and are now experiencing a second youth will find the recipe for the Whiskey Sour, which still has many ad-
like many others. They all appear among the ninety cocktails li- mirers. And we also owe Jerry Thomas for the creation of the Mar-
sted in three categories (Unforgettables, Contemporary Classics, tinez, “served in a coupe and made with Old Tom Gin (an ancient
and New Era Drinks) by the International Bartenders Association version of modern gin), sweet red vermouth, a few drops of bitter,
(IBA), which has been officially ranking mixed drinks since 1965. and a lemon twist. In the early Twentieth century, it became extre-
Because the culture of mixology is older than you would think. mely popular with dry instead of sweet vermouth as the Martini
Quite a few people are paying attention to the origins of cocktails Cocktail, an iconic drink that has made the fortune of Italian ver-
these days and to their less “fortunate” ancestors, which were mouth since 1912.”

112 Mixology Protagonist