Best Manly Drinks Based on Pop Culture

Vodka Martini

It would be sacrilegious to talk about the best manly drinks and not mention James
Bond, the epitome of “manly,” and his favorite drink, the Vodka Martini.

In the original Ian Fleming novel, Bond orders the drink like this: "Three measures of
Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-
cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel." No man can take a sip of a Vodka
Martini without feeling like Sean Connery

The Old Fashioned

If you’re a suit-wearing, office-dwelling, decanter-loving man, chances are you’re a fan
of the 60s-based drama Mad Men. The fictional high-profile Madison Avenue characters
in that show sure love their drink, especially Don Draper, the lead character.

His cocktail of choice is the Old Fashioned, which went from a relatively unknown to a
cocktail superstar thanks to the hit show. The drink has several variations, but the OG
version used rye whiskey, bourbon, or Irish whiskey. Later on, it included brandy and
citrus, and cherry to enhance its appearance and flavor.

The Manhattan

We know, we know. It just doesn’t look manly at all. And the cherry garnish doesn’t
really add to the macho appeal. But don’t let the Manhattan fool you — it is made
entirely of alcoholic ingredients, which means no diluting of fruit juices or even seltzer
water.

The base alcohol presence is strong as it uses whiskey, sweet red vermouth, and
bitters. It also requires slight modification; no ice, no water, and no sugar. Just because
it looks pretty doesn’t mean it’s not manly. Plus, it has “man” in the name!

The Little Italy

The Little Italy is a mixture of rye whiskey and sweet vermouth along with cherries.
People call it “New York in a glass,” and the drink was the brainchild of Audrey
Saunders of the Pegu Club bar in New York City.

It’s a variation on the classic Manhattan but a bit more bitter due to the Italian liqueur,
Cynar. It’s reasonably easy to make as it only involves mixing all of the ingredients with
ice and then straining into the coupe glass.

Whiskey Sour

Whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar. The Whiskey Sour is a pretty basic, shaken drink that
can be served either on the rocks or straight up. You will need syrup for the sweetener,
just like most cocktails.

How is this a manly drink? It may not look badass, but it’s very refreshing, especially in
the summer, making it more of a home drink for men.

It’s still whiskey. The taste is a little bit like lemonade, and the lemon makes the whiskey
taste a bit more interesting. Sure, it’s bright and colorful, but you’re a sophisticated
drinker who values taste more than aesthetics. So go ahead, order one, and flex your
muscles on your first sip.
Rob Roy

Another iconic New York City cocktail, the Rob Roy, was first concocted in 1894 by the barkeep
at the world-renowned Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. The moniker comes from the
operetta Rob Roy, based on the Scottish folk hero, Rob Roy MacGregor, their version of Robin
Hood.
Just like the manly Manhattan cocktail, the Rob Roy is made of Scotch whiskey, sweet
vermouth (or dry vermouth), a dash of bitters, and cherry on top.

Rusty Nail

The Rusty Nail is a super easy cocktail that they used to call in D&S back in the day for
its two ingredients: Drambuie and Scotch whiskey. Drambuie is a gold-colored scotch-
based liqueur that contains honey, herbs, and spices.
If you think of all the manly whiskey drinks, Rusty Nail would be pretty high on the list
and is considered the ultimate Scotch cocktail. Best served on the rocks in a Scotch
glass; it is meant to be a sophisticated, slow-sipping drink that's also an excellent after-
dinner companion.

The Godfather

Another easy-to-mix manly drink is the Godfather, containing equal parts of amaretto, a
sweet Italian liqueur, and Scotch whiskey. It is served on the rocks in — and this is
important — an old-fashioned glass. Best suited for slow sipping, this drink has a
smoky flavor that blends perfectly with the sweet and somewhat bitter almond taste of
amaretto.

It’s not clear whether the name has anything to do with the Godfather movies. However,
some claim that the cocktail was a favorite of Marlon Brando, who brilliantly portrayed
Don Vito Corleone, and that’s good enough for us.

White or Black Russian

The Black Russian is a mix of two parts vodka and one part coffee liqueur. The
traditional practice is to pour the vodka over ice cubes or cracked ice in an old-
fashioned glass, followed by the coffee liqueur.

The addition of cream makes it a White Russian and has spawned several iterations.
The fact that vodka is its base alcohol is why it’s called “Russian,” even though its origin
has zero connection to Russia.

Greyhound

A Greyhound is a combination of grapefruit juice and vodka (or gin) mixed and served
over ice. The recipe first appeared in The Savoy Cocktail Book, a 1930 cookbook by
Harry Craddock.

It wasn't until 1945 that the drink was affectionately dubbed a “Greyhound” in print by
Harper's Magazine (the rumored reason for the name is because it was a famous
cocktail at Greyhound bus terminals). It has then become one of the best manly drinks
around the world. If the glass’s rim has been salted, the drink becomes a Salty Dog

Gibson
The Gibson is a popular manly mixed drink made with gin and dry vermouth. It is
typically garnished with pickled onion and is considered a cousin of the ubiquitous
Martini, which is the same thing only garnished with an olive.

Both are often served in a Martini glass. Once the onion is added, it takes the drink to a
new flavor profile than the Martini. The first recorded creation of a Gibson is from the
1908 book “The World's Drinks And How To Mix Them” by William Boothby.

Negroni

A popular Italian cocktail, the Negroni is made of one part gin, one part Vermouth
Rosso, and one part Campari, an Italian alcoholic liqueur. It is considered an apéritif,
which means it is intended to be served before a meal to stimulate the appetite.

The Negroni is stirred, not shaken, and made with ice in an old-fashioned or rocks
glass and garnished with a slice of orange. This classic manly drink became popular
with US soldiers in Italy during WWII, and they liked it so much that they brought it back
home.

Mojito
Another favorite of Ernest Hemingway, the Mojito, is believed to have originated in
Havana, Cuba.

Several iterations have emerged, from virgin Nojito to the Korean Sojito, but
traditionally, the cocktail consists of five ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda
water, and mint. The sweetness combined with the citrus and herbaceous mint flavors
complement the rum and has made the mojito a classic summer cocktail.

Hurricane

The Hurricane is one of the best manly drinks because it is both delicious and potent
due to the abundance of rum. One might consider this cocktail an introduction
to tiki cocktails such as the Mai Tai, which also have complex and often contradicting
flavors.

The Hurricane is made of light and dark rums, passion fruit, orange, and lime juices,
simple syrup, and grenadine. Created at the famous Pat O'Brien's bar in the 1940s, this
iconic rum cocktail is New Orleans’s pride and remains the go-to drink for residents and
tourists alike.

Piña Colada
Only a handful of drinks say "summer" like a Piña Colada. This legendary tropical
cocktail is made of light rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream.

It’s so popular you can buy pre-made Piña Coladas anywhere, but it is so much more
delicious when you mix yours at home and create your personal summer paradise.
There are multiple versions of the drink, but most of them come from Puerto Rico.

Jungle Bird

The Jungle Bird is another rum tiki cocktail, but the garnish makes it different. It is
typically decorated with a pineapple wedge and a cherry to create a "jungle bird"
appearance. It also has the addition of Campari to give it just the right touch of
bitterness, mixed with the traditional rum, pineapple, and lime.

The Jungle Bird was crafted by Jeffrey Ong inside the Kuala Lumpur Hilton’s Aviary Bar,
hence the drink's name. It was said to have been initially served inside a porcelain bird-
shaped vessel. Its first book appearance was in “The New American Bartender's Guide”
by John J. Poister.

Mimosa - Champagne
A Mimosa cocktail is made of champagne and chilled citrus juice (orange juice is the
default). It’s often served in a tall champagne flute at brunch, weddings, or first-class
plane seats.

The bubbly and vitamin-packed orange juice increases the delivery of alcohol, and that's
what speeds up the process of getting drunk (be warned), so while it looks like a
bridesmaid drink, it’s more suited for men. Mimosa is named after the yellow-flowered
mimosa plant, Acacia dealbata.

Sidecar - Brandy

The Sidecar is made with cognac (a type of brandy), orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
Ingredients-wise, this cocktail is most closely related to the older Brandy Crusta, the
only difference being the presentation and proportions.
The Sidecar is credited to the world-class Ritz Hotel in Paris and Buck’s Club in London.
Regardless of who thought of it first, it’s one of the best manly drinks as early as post-
World War I. Make sure to serve it in a big Brandy glass.

Sazerac - Absinthe

The Sazerac uses absinthe, cognac, along with a sugar cube and some bitters. This
drink’s most notable feature is its preparation, which traditionally involves using two old-
fashioned glasses that have been chilled.

Crushed ice is also used as part of the preparation, but the final drink is often served
straight up while leftover ice is strained. The Sazerac is originally from New Orleans,
named for the Sazerac de Forge et Fils brand of cognac brandy widely used as its
earliest main ingredient.

The Adonis - Vermouth

The Adonis is a cocktail based on sherry and vermouth. It was named after the 1884
Broadway show called “Adonis” by William Gill, often cited as the first Broadway
musical.

While the show was in production, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel created this cocktail in its
honor. It uses a base of sherry mixed with sweet vermouth and orange bitters. This
manly drink is the most popular sherry-based aperitif cocktails in the world.

Margarita - Tequila

Ending the list is a classic date-night drink: the Margarita. It’s perfect for guys who want
to show a bit of their wild side. The trick is to make sure it’s made classic-style.

Most bars and restaurants have the sweetened, extra-flavor Margarita, a waste of
opportunity to drink a good cocktail. Here’s the classic version: tequila, orange liqueur,
and lime juice served with salt on the rim of the glass. Serve it shaken with ice, blended
with ice, or without ice. It’s that simple.