After the global hardship of the 1940s and World War Two (1939–1945), the 1950’s were for the most part a period of economic boom as well as social and technological change.
Following WWII, the 1950’s saw significant de-colonization, especially in Africa and Asia as they shed their pre-war colonial European parents in droves. The new tension was ideological, between communism and capitalism, and the military superpowers the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R., all under the terrible new threat of nuclear war. Wars such as the Korean War (1950–1953) and Vietnam War (1955–1975) exposed these tensions, along with the ‘space race’ that started toward the end of the 1950’s.
The 1950’s can also claim the beginning of ‘Rock & Roll’, significant progression in semi-conductor and computer technology, widespread TV ownership, the Polio vaccine, the first commercial jet-engined aircraft, the discovery of DNA and an explosion in film, TV and music entertainment. Car and household appliances such as refrigerators and washing-machines ownership was on the rise and the world coined the term ‘teenagers’. With a rapid growth in disposable wealth, consumerism and free time.
In the Cocktail-World, things had changed dramatically as well, and not in a great way. Despite more available refrigeration, ice, distribution and products, the ‘Golden-Age of Cocktails’ came to a close, replaced by attempts to turn cocktails into adult milkshakes, colour over taste, sweetness over complexity and a progressive loss of cocktails as sophisticated into cocktails as a carnival. The 1950’s started a decline in cocktail quality, invention and pedigree that would last half-a-century.
Welcome to the start of the ‘Dark-Ages of Cocktails’, let’s hope we can find some shining lights amongst the carnage. The powerhouse Cuba would disappear from western-cocktails following the Cuban Revolution beginning in 1953. Vodka, marketed as the ‘White Whiskey’ in the USA replaced spirits that added flavour to their cocktails. Tiki, as great as the best examples are, introduced hundreds of awful flamboyant fruit disasters on the world. The ‘Atomic’ is a great example of cocktails jumping-the-shark, making something potent to drink while watching atomic-bomb tests in Las Vegas.
It’s hard to find something positive to say collectively about what the 1950’s offered to the world in terms of cocktails … not a great deal, despite some wonderful bartenders and drink-makers during the era.
COCKTAILS FROM THE 1950’s – THE 10 REMIXES (LOCKTAILS #061 TO #070)
FULL INGREDIENT LIST (from the 1951 to 1960 Cocktail Remixes)
* items asterisked below have been used in previous decade by decade reviews (links at base of page).
SPIRITS
– from cocktail 061 –
Rum (white)*
Coconut Tequila (1800 Silver)
– from cocktail 062 –
Gin*
Vodka*
– from cocktail 067 –
Cognac*
– from cocktail 070 –
Tequila (Blanco)*
LIQUEURS ETC.
– from cocktail 062 –
Lillet Blanc*
– from cocktail 063 –
Champagne*
Crème de Cassis*
– from cocktail 065 –
Blue Curaçao
– from cocktail 066 –
Apricot Brandy (Cartron)*
Kahlúa Liqueur
Mancino Kopi Vermouth
– from cocktail 067 –
Sherry
– from cocktail 068 –
Crème de Cacao*
Galliano (L’Autentico)
– from cocktail 069 –
Pernod*
OTHER INGREDIENTS
– from cocktail 061 –
Falernum Syrup*
Sugar*
Pineapple (fresh)*
Limes (fresh)*
Coconut Water
Maraschino Cherry*
Milk (full cream)
– from cocktail 062 –
Lemons*
– from cocktail 064 –
Worcestershire Sauce*
Bitter Truth Celery Bitters*
Bittermens’ Hellfire Bitters*
Tabasco Sauce*
Beef Bouillon
Salt*
Pepper*
– from cocktail 066 –
Espresso Coffee
Ice-cream
Vanilla Extract*
– from cocktail 068 –
Cream (heavy – fresh)
– from cocktail 070 –
Mexican Cola (Jarittos)
For the ingredients for the next 10 cocktails (1961-1970), see ingredients.
Previous groups include ‘Cocktails of the 1800’s’, ‘Cocktails 1900 to 1910’, ‘Cocktails 1911 to 1920’, ‘Cocktails 1921 to 1930’, ‘Cocktails 1931 to 1940’, and ‘Cocktails 1941 to 1950’.
For the full index of future (and past) cocktail mixes, see index, or the alphabetical listing.
Lockdown Cocktails 