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Top 10
Top 10 drinks of the 20th century
From absinthe to Bourbon, martinis to slippery nipples, our favoured spirits and cocktails changed dramatically over the 20th century.
Naval officers stop for a cheeky rum break during the Second World War
While spirits such as gin, whisky and rum have been popular in the western world for centuries, the 20th century saw a massive swell in both the quantity and diversity of spirits consumed.
As more and more people across the world cultivated a taste for different spirits, these drinks became an astute indicator of the contemporary zeitgeist.
Although our preferred poisons changed throughout the prohibitions, liberations, invasions and depressions of the 20th century, spirits remained a fixed presence in the lives of people all over the world.
This list takes a look at everything from the risky spirits enjoyed by debauched Victorians at the turn of the century, to the choice cocktail of busy city dwellers at its close.
If you have any other ideas which haven’t made the cut, leave a comment below.
1900s – Absinthe
An era of industrial innovation and colonial conquest as well as hedonism and widespread public disorder, the Victorians burst into the 20th century with high hopes, and a slightly drunken stumble.
Absinthe, originally a Swiss product, soon spread across the continent to the British Isles and quickly became the choice poison for those who liked to live dangerously. Down by the seedy London dockyards, in amongst the brothels and opium dens, Victorian gentlemen would indulge in this beverage purported to have psychoactive properties.
Trendy artistes of the era including Oscar Wilde, Erik Satie, Toulouse Lautrec and Pablo Picasso added to the spirit’s allure. Its popularity was so great that by 1914 when it was banned in France, sales in the country reached 36m litres a year.
1910s – Cream Gin
While the gin palaces of the 19th century were becoming a thing of the past, cream gin remained a firm favourite among Brits and Americans in the 1910s.
A widely available and affordable drink, all social classes had acquired a taste for this Victorian recipe of gin mixed with cream and sugar which was then stored in a barrel.
The drink was brought into the 21st century last year by Fluid Movement and online retailer Master of Malt. Their version of the Victorian cream gin was the staple ingredient in the Worship Street Whistling Shop’s signature cocktail, the Black Cat’s Martini.
1920s – Moonshine
Prohibition became national law in 20s America and a violent war between the ‘wets’ and the ‘drys’ swiftly ensued. The banning of the manufacturing and sale of alcohol was widely flouted resulting in the growth of the American Mafia and corruption within the police force.
Moonshine, otherwise known as white whiskey, is a clear high-proof home-distilled spirit made from corn, sugar, yeast and water which was illicitly sold in secret juke joints and speakeasies during the glamorous jazz decade.
Due to its high alcohol content, bootleggers were said to have used moonshine as engine fuel in order to flee from law enforcement at high speed.
1930s – Whisky Sour
The post-prohibition depression era was somewhat of a golden decade for the cocktail. As saloons became less commonplace and it was increasingly socially acceptable for women to booze in public, the macho image of drinking lessened.
Drinking became an almost de rigueur activity in the US and everyone was keen to avoid the bleak image of the depression by enjoying more sophisticated drinks.
The Whisky Sour was a steadfast favourite made of Bourbon, lemon juice, sugar and an optional dash of egg white garnished with an orange slice and maraschino cherry. Other popular cocktails around this time included the Pink Lady, Tom Collins and Gin Rickey.
1940s – Rum
By the time the 1940s rolled around, most of the world was in need of a stiff drink. Soldiers fighting in Europe where subject to strict rations but were permitted a few swigs of rum for the purposes of Dutch courage.
With European spirits scarcely available in the US during to the Second World War, rum also became increasingly popular in the US since it was easily obtainable from Latin America.
Both sides of the Atlantic therefore also experienced a surge in demand for rum-based cocktails such as the daiquiri, cugat congo and Mary Pickford.
1950s – Mai Tai
Bright, kitsch and commercial, the Mai Tai perfectly embodies the consumerist suburbia of 1950s America. As middle-class families embraced the tiki-party trend, Mai Tais were widely enjoyed by those seeking good clean fun across the country.
Outrageously sweet, Mai Tais are made of rum, curaçao and lime juice. Other staple cocktails of the decade include the Sea Breeze and Singapore Sling.
1960s – Martini
The immortal words ‘shaken, not stirred’ will be forever entwined with the swinging 60s. Mr Bond’s choice cocktail, a vodka martini, became almost as famous as the man himself after a series of prolific ad campaigns throughout the decade.
Enjoyed largely by sophisticated and wealthy crowds, the vodka martini, made of vodka and vermouth and garnished with olives, became synonymous with ‘the good life.’
Martini purists, however, continued to champion the classic martini made of gin as opposed to vodka.
1970s – Harvey Wallbanger
Funky, fresh and fun, the Harvey Wallbanger captures the 70s vibe. Featured in many a 70s house party, most likely alongside fondue of some description, the easy-to-make cocktail was popular among those who wanted a more fruity, less hard-core, drinking experience.
It is made up of ingredients found in most 70s drinks cabinets: vodka, Galliano and a generous amount of orange juice.
Other popular 70s cocktails include the pina colada and snowball.
1980s – Shots
The 1980s was the decade that the novelty shot firmly situated itself in Western drinking culture. Fraternal college mentalities meant that young people everywhere were looking for a good time and, in particular, they delighted in ordering outrageously named shots.
The Kamikaze, which consists of vodka, lime and triple sec, was a hugely popular shot during the decade and is one of the more subtly named choices.
Other more ludicrously named favourites include the fuzzy navel and slippery nipple.
1990s – Cosmopolitan
As the close of the century neared, four fictional women swayed more influence over cocktail preferences across the globe since James Bond. The choice cocktail of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte in Sex and the City provided an appropriate antidote to 90s grunge culture.
Forever associated with high-flying city women, the cosmo, made of vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and freshly squeezed lime shaken together with plenty of ice, is unashamedly feminine yet also packs a punch.
Other cocktails enjoyed by the Sex and the City girls include the Manhattan and the Flirtini.