This Veterans Day, we celebrate six classic cocktails whose histories are intertwined with the courage and service of soldiers, sailors, and resistance heroes.
Every November 11, Americans observe Veterans Day, honoring the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It's an occasion to recognize their service and sacrifices, and reflect on the conflicts that have shaped history. Some of that history survives in unexpected places, including the cocktail glass. From the Spanish-American War to World War II, familiar drinks have connections to soldiers, sailors, military campaigns, and resistance movements.
Behind these cocktails are stories of soldiers far from home, sailors crossing dangerous seas, and civilians who risked their lives resisting occupation. They offer a glimpse into the everyday experiences and extraordinary circumstances of people living through war. This Veterans Day, we celebrate their courage and service through six classic cocktails with remarkable wartime histories, along with links to make them yourself.
The Cuba Libre — Spanish-American War (1898)
The Cuba Libre was born in the aftermath of Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain. Its name, meaning "Free Cuba," was a rallying cry for Cuban revolutionaries and American soldiers who fought in the Spanish-American War.
Legend has it that in 1900, an American Army Signal Corps captain stationed in Havana ordered Cuban rum mixed with Coca-Cola and lime at the American Bar. Other soldiers followed his lead, and the captain reportedly raised his glass with the toast, "¡Por Cuba Libre!" The name stuck, and the drink eventually became one of the world's most popular rum cocktails.
More than a century later, the combination of rum, cola, and fresh lime remains virtually unchanged.
Key Ingredients: Rum, Coca-Cola, and fresh lime juice.
Make It: See Our Full Cuba Libre Recipe.
The French 75 — World War I (1914–1918)
The French 75 takes its name from the Canon de 75 modèle 1897, a French field artillery gun famous for its rapid rate of fire during World War I. The weapon became a symbol of French military strength and was also used by American forces fighting alongside the French.
The cocktail appeared during the war under the name Soixante-Quinze, French for Seventy-Five. Early versions differed considerably from today's recipe, but the drink's reputation for delivering a powerful kick was already established.
By the late 1920s, the French 75 had evolved into the familiar combination of gin, lemon juice, sugar, and Champagne. Its bright, sparkling character conceals a surprisingly potent cocktail, much like the artillery piece that inspired its name.
Key Ingredients: Gin, Champagne, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup.
Make It: See Our Full French 75 Recipe.
The Sidecar — World War I (1914–1918)
According to cocktail legend, the Sidecar was invented for an American Army officer stationed in Paris during World War I. The officer supposedly arrived at his favorite bar in the sidecar of a motorcycle, inspiring the bartender to name the drink after his unusual mode of transportation.
Other accounts credit bartenders in London and Paris during the years immediately following the war. The earliest published recipes appeared in 1922, when the cocktail was already gaining popularity on both sides of the English Channel.
Made with Cognac, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice, the Sidecar became one of the defining cocktails of the postwar era, when Parisian bars attracted American veterans, expatriates, and travelers.
Key Ingredients: Cognac, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice.
Make It: See Our Full Sidecar Recipe.
The Gimlet — British Royal Navy (19th Century–World War I)
The Gimlet's military roots trace back to the British Royal Navy and its centuries-long battle against scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. British sailors were issued citrus juice to prevent the illness, and preserved lime juice eventually became a staple aboard naval vessels.
One popular origin story credits Royal Navy surgeon Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette with encouraging sailors to mix gin with lime cordial, making their daily citrus ration more palatable. The development of Rose's Lime Juice Cordial in the 19th century helped establish the combination.
By the early 20th century, the Gimlet was firmly associated with British naval drinking traditions. Today, the cocktail remains a refreshing combination of gin and lime, often prepared with fresh juice rather than the original cordial.
Key Ingredients: Gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup or lime cordial.
Make It: See Our Full Gimlet Recipe.
The Suffering Bastard — World War II (1942)
In 1942, as Allied forces battled German and Italian troops across North Africa, Cairo's famous Shepheard's Hotel became a popular gathering place for military officers and war correspondents. Behind the hotel's Long Bar was Joe Scialom, an Egyptian-born bartender who created one of World War II's most enduring cocktails.
Scialom invented the Suffering Bastard as a purported hangover remedy for British soldiers and officers enjoying Cairo's nightlife. His combination of gin, brandy, lime, bitters, and ginger beer quickly became popular with military personnel.
Legend has it that British troops preparing for the Second Battle of El Alamein requested the cocktail at the front, prompting Scialom to send several gallons by taxi. The Allied victory in November 1942 became a turning point in the North African campaign, while Scialom's creation went on to become a cocktail classic.
Key Ingredients: Gin, brandy, fresh lime juice, aromatic bitters, and ginger beer.
Make It: See Our Full Suffering Bastard Recipe.
The Kir — World War I and World War II (1914–1944)
The Kir takes its name from Félix Kir, a French Catholic priest, decorated World War I veteran, and hero of the French Resistance during World War II.
During the German occupation of France, Kir helped French prisoners of war escape captivity and repeatedly defied Nazi authorities. He was arrested more than once and survived an assassination attempt by French collaborators in 1944. Following the liberation of Dijon, he became the city's mayor, serving until his death in 1968.
Legend has it that during the occupation, when Burgundy's red wine supplies were confiscated, Kir promoted a mixture of white wine and blackcurrant liqueur as a patriotic alternative. The drink, originally known as Blanc-Cassis, became a fixture at his official receptions after the war and eventually took his name.
Today, the Kir remains a classic French aperitif with an extraordinary wartime history.
Key Ingredients: Dry white wine and crème de cassis.
Make It: See Our Full Kir Recipe.
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