The Ward 8 Cocktail has a little something for everyone. It’s a little fruity, a little sweet, a little sour, and it has a bit of rye whiskey that adds a bit of a bite to it. It’s traditionally made from rye whiskey, lemon juice, orange juice and grenadine, with cherries for garnish. So, it’s a bit like a fruity Whiskey Sour or an Old Fashioned.
While we know what a Ward 8 Cocktail is, we don’t really know where it came from. The easiest answer is that it was created way back in 1898 in Boston, Massachusetts. A Democratic politician named Martin M. Lomasney was running for election that year, trying to obtain a seat in the General Court of Massachusetts. The city’s Ward 8 provided him with just enough votes to win the election, and so the drink was created to honor the election win, and the district credited for it
Then, in 1915, the Santa Clara Company registered “Ward 8” as a trademark, stating that they’d been using it since 1912. They even went so far as to put out a notice in the newspapers warning bartenders against using the trademarked name. But, what about before the election and the trademark? That’s where things get blurry. There are several stories about how and why the drink was created. Some people say that it originated in a New York district that was well-known for its political corruption. Others say that it was originally the drink of choice for the Scots Guards.
But, since Lomasney used the drink to celebrate his victory, it makes sense to think of the drink as celebratory, don’t you think? Here’s a list of the best Ward 8 Cocktails to celebrate your next achievement, the end of the week, or even the end of the night!
Classic Ward 8 Cocktail
This drink is brilliant in its simplicity. Even though it’s easy to make, the flavors all blend together very well, making it as easy to drink as it is to make. It’s not only refreshing, but classic and sophisticated, so you could serve this at parties, or sip one alone at the end of the day.
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Rye whiskey
- 1/2 oz. Fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 oz. Fresh orange juice
- 1/4 oz. Grenadine
- Splash of sparkling water
- Speared cherries (garnish)
Directions
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add all ingredients except sparkling water and garnish
- Shake until chilled (15-20 seconds)
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
- Add ice cube and a splash of sparkling water
- Add cherries for garnish
- Serve
New York Sour
As stated above, a Ward 8 and a Whiskey Sour are pretty similar, but this particular sour is different. It’s got all of the fruity, sweet and sour flavors of a sour or a Ward 8, but with an unexpected addition of fruity red wine. It gives it a fun, layered look that’s as nice to look at as it is to sip on.
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Rye whiskey
- 1 oz. Fresh lemon juice
- 1 oz. Simple syrup
- 1/2 oz. Fruity red wine
Directions
- Add the first 3 ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice
- Shake until chilled and the outside of the shaker is frosty (Around 30 seconds)
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice
- Pour the wine over the back of a spoon so that it floats on the top
- Serve
Cherry Whiskey Smash
The Cherry Whiskey Smash made this list because it takes the ingredients typically seen in a Ward 8 or Whiskey Sour, and then takes them to the next level by adding ingredients that you wouldn’t ordinarily think to put in one of these cocktails. It combines cherry, mint, lemon, and whiskey, which creates a drink with complexity that’s delicious and easy to drink. It’s a perfect drink for ladies night, or just some simple solo indulgence!
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz. Simple syrup
- 1/2 oz. Fresh cherry juice
- 3 fresh, pitted cherries
- 6 fresh mint leaves (plus a few more for garnish)
- 1 lemon wedge
- 2 oz. Whiskey
Directions
- Add mint leaves, lemon wedge, cherry juice and cherries to the bottom of a cocktail shaker
- Muddle until the lemon wedge is broken down
- Add the whiskey and fill with ice
- Stir until well combined
- Strain into rocks glass filled with ice
- Garnish with mint leaves
- Serve
Whiskey Daisy
Want to try a Ward 8, but for some reason don’t like orange juice or grenadine? Well, this is the drink for you! It calls for Grand Marnier instead of orange juice, and simple syrup instead of grenadine, but is pretty much the same concept as the Ward 8. The only real difference is that it has a slightly higher alcohol content!
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Whiskey
- 1 oz. Lemon juice
- 1/4 oz. Simple syrup
- 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
- Sparkling water or club soda
Directions
- Add all ingredients except the sparkling water/club soda into a cocktail shaker with ice
- Shake until chilled (around 20 seconds)
- Strain into cocktail glass
- Top with a splash of sparkling water or club soda
- Serve
Southern Baptist Cocktail
This is an interesting twist on a Ward 8 or a Whiskey Sour. There’s a lot of ginger flavors, with fresh ginger and ginger syrup, and lime juice instead of lemon and orange. It’s a little spicy, a little sweet, and very refreshing!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz. Fresh ginger, peeled
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 2 oz. Rye whiskey
- 3/4 oz. Fresh ginger syrup
- 1-2 oz. Fresh lime juice
- Lime twist or wheel (garnish)
Directions
- Slice the ginger into chunks and place into the bottom of a mixing glass. Muddle until it gets broken up. Strain both the juice and the solids through a fine-mesh tea strainer, pressing on it to extract as much juice as possible. Measure out 1/2 oz. of the juice and put it into a small glass. Add sugar and mix until dissolved.
- Pour whiskey, ginger syrup and lime juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice
- Shake until chilled (around 15 seconds)
- Strain into coupe
- Garnish
- Serve
The origins of the Ward 8 cocktail can be described as mysterious, (at best) but it’s flavor is no mystery. All of the drinks on this list include whiskey, citrus fruit juice and some sort of sweetener. The whiskey has a bite to it, the citrus cuts down on the bite, and the sweetener adds a little something sweet to the citrus. It’s a winning combination. Even if you’re not particularly fond of drinking straight whiskey, you’re sure to find something on this list that you’ll enjoy. So, don’t be afraid to get your whiskey drink on!