Ward Eight Cocktail Recipe
Looking for the best ward eight cocktail recipe? We've got it, but first, we want to share a little history.
There are multiple stories of creation surround the Ward Eight cocktail, but one thing is sure: it’s connected to politics. So, if you’re looking for a refreshing cocktail that tastes great, isn’t too strong, and is easy to make, the Ward Eight may earn your vote.
If you want to know more about its connection to the political world and learn how to make a Ward Eight cocktail, look no further. In this article, we’ll discuss its creation and the ingredients and steps to make the best Ward Eight cocktail recipe.
The Birth of the Ward Eight
The younger, sweeter brother to whiskey sour takes us back to Boston and the 1890s. The most famous story reveals the Ward Eight was created at a bar in Boston’s Eighth Ward (a political district), hence the name.
At the time, the ward was notorious for political corruption. A political legend and “boss” of the ward was Martin M. Lomasney. To honor his election to the state legislature in 1898, a bartender named Tom Hussion created the Ward Eight cocktail at the Locke-Ober Café. Although this is the most popular version of the cocktail’s origin story, some claim it doesn’t add up. Apparently, Hussion wasn’t working at the Locke-Uber Café in 1898; he was hired in 1900.
In a different version of the story, the cocktail was created even before Lomasney was elected because everyone was sure he would win. In fact, stories about him handing out pre-filled ballots at the polls exist to this day.
The Boston Sun received a letter in the 1930s claiming a bartender named Charlie Carter invented the cocktail at the Puritan Club, which was owned by Lomasney in 1903. Then, in 1940, the story of Ward Eight returned to the Locke-Ober Café. A book published at the time claims the Café’s Billy Kane designed the cocktail but didn’t specify when it happened.
No matter the origin, the birth of this cocktail was Boston’s response to the signature city cocktail trend that gained popularity in many major cities across the continent: New York had the Manhattan, New Orleans had the Sazerac, Washington had the Rickey, etc.
The Best Ward Eight Cocktail Recipe
Like many other cocktails of the time, the original Ward Eight recipe wasn’t written down, so there are variations in crafting it.
Most popular recipes involve a combination of rye whiskey, orange and lemon juice, and grenadine. Learning how to make a Ward Eight cocktail is easy, with the focus on the measurements that ensure the perfect combo of sweet and sour.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of rye whiskey
- ½ ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce of freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 teaspoons of grenadine
- 2-3 cherries for garnish
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients except cherries to a shaker and fill it with ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a Collins or cocktail glass with ice.
- Add cherries.
Enjoy Boston’s Signature Cocktail
Ward Eight is Boston’s best-known cocktail created at the turn of the 20th century. Essentially a sweeter version of the whiskey sour, this cocktail is a favorite to many. With just a few ingredients, you can enjoy the perfect blend of sweet and sour.
We hope our best Ward Eight cocktail recipe has helped you craft and enjoy this cocktail with an exciting history and excellent taste.
