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Embark on a regional cocktail tour from the Chesapeake Bay, through the coastal tri-state area and up to the northern shores of New England. The following drinks crafted by mixologists date back centuries and represent the East Coast’s unique culture, making for perfect summertime socials or relaxing on the water. Cheers!
This iconic drink’s claim to fame originated in Ocean City, MD’s beach town, where the first crush was served at Harborside Bar & Grill in the ’90s. The crush began as a vodka-based cocktail made with fresh- squeezed orange juice and has grown into a popular summertime drink that comes in just about any flavor. Substitute orange vodka and juice for whatever suits your palette from grapefruit, lemon and watermelon to creative mixes like the orange creamsicle crush.
Recipe: 2 oz. orange-flavored vodka, 1 oz. triple sec, fresh-squeezed orange juice, top with lemon-lime soda
Soaking in the morning air with a tasty Bloody Mary on the boat is the perfect way to start the day. Refined tastebuds love a zesty flavor to their Bloodys and a pinch of hot sauce, Worcestershire and Chesapeake- famous Old Bay is sure to spice things up. Local dock bars along the bay get extra creative with Old Bay rims and garnishes, topping drinks off with anything from olives and celery to lump crab meat and juicy claws.
Recipe: 2 oz. vodka (Old Bay Vodka for the true Chesapeake experience), tomato juice, 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp. Old Bay or J.O. Spice, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, a few dashes of hot sauce
Introduced in 1973 by a catering company at the Triple Crown event, this cocktail was inspired by the bright flowers that decorate the winning horses, thus becoming the official drink of Black-Eyed Susan Day and the Preakness held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD.
Recipe: 1 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. vodka, 1⁄2 oz. triple sec, 2 oz. sour mix, 2 oz. orange juice
Many are often shocked to learn that the Long Island Iced Tea doesn’t actually contain any iced tea. It does, however, contain nearly every main liquor on the shelf mixed with a sour and cola mix to give it the tea color, making it a strong yet refreshing summertime cocktail.
Recipe: 1⁄2 oz. vodka, 1⁄2 oz. rum, 1⁄2 oz. gin, 1⁄2 oz. tequila, 1⁄2 oz. triple sec, 1 oz. sour mix, splash of cola
Some say this cocktail was inspired by famous New York mobster from the 1900s “Bald Jack Rose,” others say it’s named after a Jersey City bartender and champion mixologist, Frank J. May, and many simply attribute the name to its early use of New Jersey’s Laird’s Applejack brandy. We don’t know for sure the true story behind this drink, but we do know that it came from the tri-state area and has remained a beloved cocktail ever since.
Recipe: 1 1⁄2 oz. apple brandy, 3⁄4 oz. lemon juice, 1⁄2 oz. grenadine
Celebrate island beauty — Staten Island that is — with this fruity cocktail perfect for transforming your city cruise into a taste of the tropics. This simple variation of the beloved piña colada over ice instead of frozen is the perfect boat drink.
Recipe: 2 oz. coconut rum, 2 oz. pineapple juice
New Englanders proudly claim this drink otherwise known as a basic Vodka Cranberry as it accidentally became famous from an Ocean Spray ad campaign for a cocktail originally called the Red Devil. That name didn’t stick, but the delicious flavor did — and by the ’50s, the drink gained popularity in the north as the “Cape Cod” or “Codder,” making for a refreshing waterside beverage.
Recipe: 1 1⁄2 oz. vodka, 4 oz. cranberry juice (sweetened)
This cocktail is credited to the Heublein Company, which began bottling premixed cocktails in Hartford, CT, in the 1800s. Though a common variation of just three simple ingredients, this mixture became wildly popular in New England and serves as a simple treat for any occasion.
Recipe: 1 oz. dark or spiced rum, 1 oz. vodka, fill with orange juice
You may be familiar with gin and tonic or gin and juice, but this tasty twist on gin pays homage to Maine’s favorite soda: Moxie. This bubbly gin and cola mix with a kick is easy to make for any occasion.
Recipe: 1 1⁄2 oz. gin, 2 oz. Moxie soda, lime, dash of Worcestershire sauce
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