https://forgottendrink.com/What people actually drank: historic drinks with and without alcohol, their stories and recipes you can make today.en-ushttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/alcohol-free-ale-cup-with-white-grape-juice-over-toast/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/alcohol-free-ale-cup-with-white-grape-juice-over-toast/An alcohol-free ale cup: 0.0% ale and white grape juice over hot toast with lemon, nutmeg and balm, after Edward Spencer's 1903 recipe in The Flowing Bowl.Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/ale-cup-cold-ale-sherry-and-brandy-over-toast-1903/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/ale-cup-cold-ale-sherry-and-brandy-over-toast-1903/Make the 1903 Ale Cup from The Flowing Bowl: cold mild ale, sherry and brandy over hot toast with lemon, nutmeg and balm. About 6% ABV, for ten glasses.Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/how-victorians-imagined-ancient-beer/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/how-victorians-imagined-ancient-beer/Victorian and Edwardian drink books got the ancients charmingly wrong: a Babylonian sauce listed as a drink, and Cleopatra pulling a pint of bitter.Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/nelsons-body-and-the-brandy-cask/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/nelsons-body-and-the-brandy-cask/Yes, in brandy, then brandy and spirit of wine, by the surgeon's own account of 1807. The sailors who drank the cask dry belong to a later tale.Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-babylonian-beer-taste-like/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-babylonian-beer-taste-like/Nobody knows how Babylonian beer tasted, or even how strong it was. A hymn, a brewery ledger, a cooking tablet and a test brew tell what we do know.Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/camp-coffee-the-union-army-way-of-1862/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/camp-coffee-the-union-army-way-of-1862/Make Union Army camp coffee from Sanderson's 1862 directions: grounds boiled two minutes, settled with cold water, rested and strained. Alcohol-free.Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/camp-tea-the-union-army-way-of-1862/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/camp-tea-the-union-army-way-of-1862/Make Union Army camp tea from Sanderson's 1862 directions: leaves pre-steeped a minute, boiled a minute under a vented lid, then rested. Alcohol-free.Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-medieval-children-drink/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-medieval-children-drink/Milk from a mother or a nurse first, then beer, milk and water, depending on age and household. What the medieval and Tudor sources say, and what they don't.Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/bishop-a-la-prusse-roasted-bitter-oranges-in-claret-1862/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/bishop-a-la-prusse-roasted-bitter-oranges-in-claret-1862/Make Jerry Thomas's 1862 Bishop à la Prusse: roasted Seville oranges steeped overnight in claret and sugar, pressed and served warm. About 9% ABV.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/currant-shrub-an-1845-syrup-for-iced-water/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/currant-shrub-an-1845-syrup-for-iced-water/Make an 1845 currant shrub from a 1920 book: red currant juice and its weight in sugar boiled 5 minutes, then a spoonful in iced water. Alcohol-free.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/klondike-cocktail-tom-gin-and-benedictine-from-1903/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/klondike-cocktail-tom-gin-and-benedictine-from-1903/Make the Klondike Cocktail from Daly's 1903 bar book: Old Tom gin, orange bitters, Bénédictine and brandy, stirred, with lemon. About 30% ABV.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/persian-sherbet-strawberry-lemon-and-orange-flower-water-from-1924/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/persian-sherbet-strawberry-lemon-and-orange-flower-water-from-1924/Make Persian Sherbet, a 1920s mocktail: ripe strawberries steeped cold with lemon, sugar and orange-flower water for four hours, then strained.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/soyers-cheap-crimean-lemonade-from-1857/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/soyers-cheap-crimean-lemonade-from-1857/Make Soyer's Cheap Crimean Lemonade of 1857: sugar and lime juice stirred to a syrup, then a pint of cold water. Alcohol-free, ready in three minutes.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/soyers-rice-water-from-1857/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/soyers-rice-water-from-1857/Make Soyer's 1857 rice water: rice, sugar and lemon peel simmered for 45 minutes and strained, the Scutari hospital drink. Alcohol-free, warm or cold.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/soyers-hospital-drinks-at-scutari-1855/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/soyers-hospital-drinks-at-scutari-1855/In the Scutari hospitals of 1855, sick soldiers drank tea, rice water, barley water and lemonade, many made to recipes by the chef Alexis Soyer.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/the-kings-dinner-of-1902-ale-or-temperance-cordials/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/the-kings-dinner-of-1902-ale-or-temperance-cordials/At the King's Dinner of 1902, half a million Londoners drank ale or temperance cordials, and lemonade and soft drinks outpoured the ale over two to one.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-the-klondike-gold-rushers-drink/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-the-klondike-gold-rushers-drink/Klondike gold rushers drank coffee, tea and cocoa at gold-rush prices, watered whiskey, and hootch from a still made of coal-oil cans.Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/alcohol-free-shandy-gaff-ginger-beer-and-alcohol-free-ale/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/alcohol-free-shandy-gaff-ginger-beer-and-alcohol-free-ale/An alcohol-free shandy gaff: 0.0% ale and ginger beer in equal parts, after William Terrington's 1869 recipe of a pint of ale and a bottle of ginger beer.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/aranciata-torinese-orange-soda-with-anisette-1936/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/aranciata-torinese-orange-soda-with-anisette-1936/Make aranciata torinese, a 1930s Italian orange soda: orange juice, sugar and soda water with a splash of anisette, in a balloon glass. About 2.5% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/bianco-e-nero-orgeat-and-tamarind-soda-from-1936/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/bianco-e-nero-orgeat-and-tamarind-soda-from-1936/Make Bianco e Nero, a 1930s Italian mocktail: orgeat and tamarind syrups topped with soda water over ice, from a 1936 bar book. Alcohol-free.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/black-bottom-cooler-champagne-cola-and-stout-from-1927/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/black-bottom-cooler-champagne-cola-and-stout-from-1927/Make the Black Bottom Cooler from Barflies and Cocktails (Paris, 1927): champagne, cola and stout in equal parts over ice. About 5% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/boston-cooler-sarsaparilla-and-ginger-ale-from-1922/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/boston-cooler-sarsaparilla-and-ginger-ale-from-1922/Make the 1922 Boston Cooler: sarsaparilla and ginger ale in equal parts over ice and a whole lemon peel in a large tumbler. Alcohol-free.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/brown-derby-cocktail-whisky-grapefruit-and-honey-from-1933/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/brown-derby-cocktail-whisky-grapefruit-and-honey-from-1933/Make the Brown Derby from Hollywood Cocktails (1933): bourbon, grapefruit juice and honey, shaken and strained. About 15% ABV, with the history of its name.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/daiquiri-no-4-floriditas-frozen-daiquiri-with-maraschino-1939/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/daiquiri-no-4-floriditas-frozen-daiquiri-with-maraschino-1939/Make the Floridita's 1930s frozen daiquiri: gold rum, lime, sugar and maraschino blended with snow-fine ice and served frappé. About 23% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/duca-di-bergamo-cocktail-campari-and-cognac-from-1935/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/duca-di-bergamo-cocktail-campari-and-cognac-from-1935/Make the Duca di Bergamo, a 1930s Italian cocktail: lemon, Campari, a sweet liqueur and old cognac, shaken, with a candied cherry. About 24% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/florida-cocktail-lemon-orange-and-bitters-mocktail-from-1922/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/florida-cocktail-lemon-orange-and-bitters-mocktail-from-1922/Make the 1922 Florida mocktail: lemon and orange juice shaken with bitters, sweetened only if you like, from a London bar book. No spirits.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/ginebra-compuesta-havanas-mixed-gin-with-mint-and-curacao-1939/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/ginebra-compuesta-havanas-mixed-gin-with-mint-and-curacao-1939/Make ginebra compuesta, Havana's 1930s mixed gin: gin stirred with mint, Angostura, sugar and curaçao, served unstrained over ice. About 33% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/havana-special-rum-and-pineapple-juice-from-1939/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/havana-special-rum-and-pineapple-juice-from-1939/Make the Havana Special, a 1930s Cuban cocktail: rum and pineapple juice in equal parts with a little sugar, shaken and strained. About 16% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/hpw-cocktail-harry-payne-whitneys-gin-and-vermouth/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/hpw-cocktail-harry-payne-whitneys-gin-and-vermouth/Make the H.P.W., a 1920s cocktail: two parts sweet vermouth to one of gin, shaken with a slice of orange, as a 1922 bar book printed it. About 19% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/jersey-cocktail-non-alcoholic-cider-and-bitters-from-1922/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/jersey-cocktail-non-alcoholic-cider-and-bitters-from-1922/Make the 1922 Jersey mocktail: sparkling apple juice stirred with syrup and bitters, served with a cherry and a lemon twist. No spirits.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/josephine-baker-cocktail-cognac-port-apricot-and-egg-yolk-1939/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/josephine-baker-cocktail-cognac-port-apricot-and-egg-yolk-1939/Make the Josephine Baker, a 1930s Havana cocktail: cognac, port and apricot liqueur shaken with egg yolk, topped with cinnamon. About 23% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/la-vida-en-rosa-cognac-grenadine-and-lime-frappe-1939/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/la-vida-en-rosa-cognac-grenadine-and-lime-frappe-1939/Make La Vida en Rosa, a 1930s Havana cocktail: cognac, grenadine and lime over snowy crushed ice in a saucer, with a cherry. About 21% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/milano-torino-cocktail-grassis-shaken-campari-and-vermouth-1936/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/milano-torino-cocktail-grassis-shaken-campari-and-vermouth-1936/Make the Milano-Torino, a 1930s Italian cocktail: Turin vermouth, Campari and a splash of grappa, shaken, with lemon peel. About 18% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/murderers-cocktail-calvados-swedish-punch-and-rum-from-1927/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/murderers-cocktail-calvados-swedish-punch-and-rum-from-1927/Make the Murderer's Cocktail from Barflies and Cocktails (Paris, 1927): Calvados, Swedish punch and rum in equal parts with bitters and absinthe. About 29% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/presidente-cocktail-gold-rum-vermouth-and-curacao-havana-1939/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/presidente-cocktail-gold-rum-vermouth-and-curacao-havana-1939/Make the Presidente, a 1930s Havana cocktail: vermouth and gold rum stirred with a little curaçao, served with cherries and orange peel. About 22% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/pussyfoot-cocktail-the-1922-bartenders-mocktail/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/pussyfoot-cocktail-the-1922-bartenders-mocktail/Make the Pussyfoot mocktail from a 1922 London bar book: lemon, orange, a little syrup, mint and egg white, shaken and strained. Alcohol-free.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/rac-cocktail-the-royal-automobile-clubs-gin-and-two-vermouths/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/rac-cocktail-the-royal-automobile-clubs-gin-and-two-vermouths/Make the R.A.C., a 1920s London cocktail: gin with dry and sweet vermouth, grenadine and orange bitters, stirred, with a cherry. About 23% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/rose-cocktail-strawberry-pineapple-and-orange-flower-mocktail-from-1922/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/rose-cocktail-strawberry-pineapple-and-orange-flower-mocktail-from-1922/Make the 1922 Rose mocktail: strawberries, pineapple, orange and lemon shaken with orange-flower water, strained, with rose petals. Alcohol-free.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/shandy-gaff-the-1869-ale-and-ginger-beer/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/shandy-gaff-the-1869-ale-and-ginger-beer/How to make a Shandy Gaff the 1869 way: a pint of good ale and a bottle of ginger beer, poured cold. About 2.5% ABV, with an alcohol-free version.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/summer-cocktail-shaken-red-berry-juice-from-1922/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/summer-cocktail-shaken-red-berry-juice-from-1922/Make the 1922 Summer mocktail: currants, raspberries and strawberries mashed with sugar, shaken with lemon and water and strained. Alcohol-free.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/vendome-cocktail-dubonnet-gin-and-vermouth-from-1933/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/vendome-cocktail-dubonnet-gin-and-vermouth-from-1933/Make the Vendome Cocktail from Hollywood Cocktails (1933): Dubonnet, gin and dry vermouth, heavier on the Dubonnet, stirred. About 20% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/ward-eight-rye-orange-and-lemon-from-1922/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/ward-eight-rye-orange-and-lemon-from-1922/Make the Ward Eight, a 1920s cocktail: rye whisky shaken hard with orange, lemon and a teaspoon of grenadine, from a 1922 bar book. About 17% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/yellow-rattler-the-1922-martini-shaken-with-an-onion/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/yellow-rattler-the-1922-martini-shaken-with-an-onion/Make the Yellow Rattler, a 1920s cocktail: a sweet Martini of gin and Italian vermouth shaken with a small bruised onion, then strained. About 27% ABV.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/hollywood-cocktails-1933-old-recipes-at-star-addresses/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/hollywood-cocktails-1933-old-recipes-at-star-addresses/The Brown Derby of whisky, grapefruit and honey was printed in Hollywood Cocktails as repeal came in 1933. The Savoy had printed it in 1930 as the De Rigueur.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/how-was-beer-doctored/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/how-was-beer-doctored/Regency brewers swapped hops for bitter wood and bought poisonous berries, publicans faked a head with green vitriol, and Dutch books put blue vitriol in beer.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/the-international-bar-flies-of-harrys-new-york-bar/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/the-international-bar-flies-of-harrys-new-york-bar/The International Bar Flies was a mock drinking club founded at Harry's New York Bar in Paris about Christmas 1924. A 1927 book printed its rules and drinks.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-bartenders-mix-for-non-drinkers-in-the-1920s/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-bartenders-mix-for-non-drinkers-in-the-1920s/In 1922 a London bartender gave a chapter of his cocktail book to non-alcoholic cocktails, and named one for the most famous dry campaigner of the day.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-havanas-cocktail-king-pour-in-the-1930s/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/what-did-havanas-cocktail-king-pour-in-the-1930s/Frozen daiquiris made on a milkshake mixer, a rum and vermouth Presidente and drinks named for people: what Havana's Bar La Florida printed in 1939.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/stories/why-was-there-lead-shot-in-the-wine-bottle/https://forgottendrink.com/stories/why-was-there-lead-shot-in-the-wine-bottle/Wine bottles were scoured with lead shot. In 1819 a magazine warned that pellets stuck in the base could taint the next wine, and told of a bottle of Madeira.Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://forgottendrink.com/recipes/albany-breakfast-tea-with-sugar-in-the-mouth-1749/https://forgottendrink.com/recipes/albany-breakfast-tea-with-sugar-in-the-mouth-1749/Drink tea as the Dutch of Albany did in 1749: black tea without milk, with a small lump of sugar held in the mouth instead of stirred into the cup.Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT