Mojito

This Cuban drink was born in Havana, in a small family restaurant that still exists today. The name mojito, according to legend, comes from “mojadito,” which means “slightly moist.

The composition of the mojito is rum, sugar syrup, soda (Sprite), mint and lime.

Cosmopolitan

According to one version, the cocktail was created as part of an advertising campaign for Absolut Citron lemon-flavored vodka. According to the second version, the author of the cocktail is Cheryl Cook, a bartender from Florida, and Toby Cizzini from Manhattan perfected and “replicated” it in the now familiar recipe. For a while, Cosmopolitan was popular among visitors to gay clubs, but after the TV series “Sex and the City” the cocktail became fashionable everywhere.

The composition of the cocktail is orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lemon juice, vodka, and orange peel essential oil.

Pina Colada

Pina colada – “filtered pineapple” – was originally the name given to freshly squeezed pineapple juice. Then it was mixed with rum and later in the twentieth century a cocktail based on these ingredients was born in Puerto Rico.

The composition of the Pina Colada is white rum, coconut syrup, and pineapple juice.

Margarita

This Latin American cocktail was born in 1936-1948 and in one way or another is associated with the name of a girl – Margarita. The first version dedicates the cocktail to the American actress Marjorie King, who could not drink any alcoholic beverages. The proportions of the modern cocktail were chosen for her. The second legend insists that a certain bartender from Juarez mixed up the order of the cocktail and made it on his own. He named the drink, which immediately became a hit, after the flowers of the daisies. These are not all the versions of the cocktail’s origin, but since none of the authors patented the recipe, there is still controversy surrounding it.

The composition of the Margarita is tequila, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

Screwdriver

According to the version of origin, the screwdriver got its name from American petroleum engineers working in Iraq, who mixed vodka and juice with the screwdriver tool.

The composition of the cocktail is vodka and orange juice.

Bloody Mary

Again, there is no consensus on who the author of this iconic cocktail is. One source says that it was invented by George Jessel in 1939 as a hangover cure. And others link the cocktail with the name of the English Queen Mary I Tudor, who was called the Bloody Mary behind her back for her cruel treatment of Protestants.

The cocktail contains vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, fresh celery, Worcester sauce, Tabasco, salt, and ground pepper.

Tequila Sunrise

This cocktail was invented in the 1930s and 1940s at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel and had a very different recipe. It got its name for its appearance – the components of the cocktail settled to the bottom, mixing with the juice, a game of color, similar to a sunrise was obtained.

The composition of Tequila Sunrise is tequila, orange juice and pomegranate syrup.

Daiquiri

The story of the cocktail’s creation takes us back to Cuba, where a certain engineer named Jennings Coxe went to the Daiquiri area on an expedition. To quench his workers’ thirst, he used rum he had and lime juice and sugar he borrowed from the locals, diluting the simple cocktails with ice.

The composition of the cocktail is white rum, lemon juice and sugar syrup.

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The most notable of these phenomena are the secret bars, which used to be the only way to get around the law and get into a real bar with alcohol, now they have turned into entertainment for tourists and just places “for their own”, where there is always a special atmosphere.

The principle of these bars is very simple: on the outside they are an ordinary cafe, a barbershop or just any store. This exterior space is usually small and not particularly popular. Everyone who walks in here in the evening heads straight for the completely unremarkable back door, behind which is a spacious bar room with the lively ambience of 1920s America. Rarely do you see small signs or mentions of bars on the buildings.

Despite the veil of mystery, finding a secret bar is not that difficult, the main thing is knowing where to look. Many of these bars are particularly popular because they offer guests not only a specific atmosphere, but also regularly hold performances, live jazz concerts and other entertainment events. In some venues it is not so easy to get a seat in the evening. Below is a list of seven secret bars in New York City that even tourists can get into if they want to.

PDT – Please, do not tell

“Please Don’t Tell” is how the name of one of the most famous secret bars (as strange as it may sound) translates. This place is located in the East Village neighborhood and is incredibly popular. You can get in here only by making an appointment by phone, listed on the website. Make sure to call after 3 p.m., before that time there is simply no one at the bar. The bar is in the back of the Crif Dogs diner (you can get there by going through a vintage phone booth), so look for this sign.

The menu will welcome you with classic cocktails that are prepared according to the original recipe and using the highest quality ingredients. The choice of wine and beer will please you. Also at the bar there is a kitchen where the guests are offered hot dishes and snacks.

Facility’s interior can be described in two words – simplicity and style. Wooden planks, brick walls, animal heads, leather upholstery of chairs and sofas – all this creates the right atmosphere and allows you to feel most comfortable.

Bathtub Gin

Another popular bar is The Gin Bath, located in the Chelsea neighborhood. This establishment hides behind one of the interior doors of an ordinary, unremarkable coffee shop where you can buy pastries and have a cup of coffee. However, if you head to the white door at the back, they will open it for you and take you to a noisy and crowded bar. No reservations are required here. The bar is famous for its performances, live music concerts, and a bathtub that stands right in the middle of the room.

During Prohibition, gin was one of the most popular and affordable drinks, but due to the prohibition of alcohol sales, its quality often left much to be desired. To make it more or less palatable, barmen added other ingredients to the gin, and the first cocktails were born out of it. Now the bar offers cocktails based on high quality gin, as well as a number of other alcoholic drinks and a small menu of appetizers.

Employees Only

A red neon Tarot card fortune-telling sign will serve as a landmark for the entrance to the bar called “Employees Only. On lively evenings you can meet a security guard at the entrance, who will lead you inside the place. Just this fact alone sets the atmosphere of mystery, and the interior of the bar only complements it.

Besides tasty and high quality cocktails, the bar offers a full menu for all tastes. Here you will find dishes from fried chicken to dried clams. The bar offers options for both dinner and appetizers for cocktails and other drinks. The place is popular on weekends, so it’s advisable to arrive early to grab a seat at a table or bar.

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