While Veterans Day cocktails don’t need to have a military origin, it’s always a bonus when they do. Many American favorites, including the Margarita and Old Fashioned, may be popular but there are several great cocktails that have military ties making them perfect for the occasion. Here are five Veterans Day cocktail recipes influenced by the military to help you celebrate in style.

French 75

If you’re going to celebrate or mark an occasion, you might as well pour up some champagne. This is what makes the French 75 arguably the best of the Veterans Day cocktails you’ll find.

Tart, refreshing, and with just enough bubbles, you can choose the newer recipe common among Americans today or enjoy its original recipe:

• Today’s French 75 combines gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup for a refreshing libation.
• However, the classic French 75 recipe doesn’t use gin but relies on cognac as its base spirit.

Named after the infamous French 75 mm field gun in World War I, the cocktail has its own long-lasting legacy that continues today.

Army-Navy

While you might be able to find drinks with stronger ties to the actual military, it’s hard to find one with a more directly connected name.

The origins, like many classic cocktails, are up for debate; however, this Veterans Day drink is thought to be named after the famous venue, Washington's Army & Navy Club.

It’s kind of like a Tom Collins that went on vacation to the beach. Be sure to keep the Army-Navy cocktail recipe available for Veterans Day as well as the Army-Navy game in December.

Cuba Libre

Sure, you can put fifteen different ingredients in a glass, and use impressive techniques, and exotic garnishes to make an amazing cocktail.

Or you can just keep it simple—all you need is Coke, lime, and rum for this iconic libation.

It all came together following the Spanish-American War when a Captain in the U.S. Army Signal Corps ordered a Coke and some Bacardi and decided to squeeze his lime into the glass.

A mix of Cuban and American patrons liked the idea and the Captain raised his glass for a toast declaring, “Por Cuba libre!” or “For a free Cuba!”

The rest is history and for well over a century the Cuba Libre cocktail recipe has been a mainstay at bars and celebrations around the world.

Sidecar

Some attribute New Orleans as the birthplace of this iconic cocktail; however, seeing as the sidecars on motorcycles weren’t invented yet, it’s more likely that there may have been some inspiration from the city’s iconic Brandy Crusta recipe.

After World War I, Prohibition had taken its grip on America and Royal Navy Air Service Veteran Harry MacElhone, also a bartender, headed to Paris and created the Sidecar.

It was named after his captain who was known for traveling in sidecars and now, we have a smooth yet boozy concoction that is delicious and effective. Get the Sidecar recipe here.

Three Dots and a Dash

The name is a direct tribute to the Morse code meaning “V” for victory, which was created by Donn Beach in celebration of winning World War II.

However, the drink’s history is a bit complicated:

• A delicious representative of tiki drink culture, it doesn’t get as much recognition as its other tiki libations, such as the Zombie or Mai Tai.
• However, this is because the recipe had been lost for quite some time before being rediscovered by noted mixologist and historian, Jeff Berry.

The timing of airlines becoming more affordable with many Veterans coming home after serving in the Pacific would heavily influence a wave of tiki drinks and culture in America.

This includes the godfather of tiki drinks, U.S. Army Air Forces Veteran Lt Col Donn Beach.

You may need to make a run to the store to ensure you have all the ingredients but the Three Dots and a Dash recipe is the perfect Veterans Day cocktail to enjoy.

Please imbibe with these Veterans Day cocktails responsibly.

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