Ladies United For the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails
The cocktail world is currently experiencing a renaissance, with innovative and delicious drinks being crafted daily by both seasoned professionals and passionate home mixologists. This explosion of creativity has led to an abundance of new and exciting flavors. However, amidst this wave of innovation, it's crucial to remember the importance of revisiting the classics. These timeless cocktails provide a foundation and historical context for understanding the evolution of modern mixology. By exploring the classics, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship behind the cocktails we enjoy today.
My time as a graduate student in Bloomington, Indiana, where I was a member of the local chapter of Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails (LUPEC), was instrumental in developing my skills as a home mixologist. LUPEC provided a haven for women who appreciated the art of the cocktail during a time when craft beer was dominant, and many cocktails were overly sweet or unnecessarily gendered.
Our monthly meetings were a gathering of bad-ass nerdy women who came together to celebrate and preserve the heritage of fine drinking. Each meeting featured two classic cocktails and one modern creation, along with the history of each drink or its ingredients. Through LUPEC, I discovered a deep and abiding dislike for green chartreuse, learned the delicate balance of a well-crafted sour, and developed my infatuation with the use of sugar cubes in an old fashioned.
LUPEC also provided me with a foundational understanding of cocktail categories. While some argue that there are only four basic categories (cocktails, sours, highballs, and flips), others expand this to six (adding cobblers and "spirited forward") or even more. Regardless of how they are counted, understanding these basics has given me the confidence to explore my own cocktail creations and experiment with different flavors.
While the cocktail may no longer be endangered, there is still space for coming together with friends and family to explore and learn about the rich history of cocktails. Which is why this month, we’ll be featuring several classic cocktails - with their history when we can find it - to put you on the right track to developing your own signature drinks. As always, if you come up with something tasty featuring New Dawn please share the love!
