The Ward 8 Cocktail (An Upgrade on a Classic)

The Ward 8 is the classic whiskey cocktail you need! A riff on the whiskey sour, it features rye, orange, and grenadine.

Here’s a classic whiskey cocktail that flies under the radar: the Ward 8! Where the whiskey sour can be on the sweet side, the Ward 8 is perfectly balanced and tart. It features rye whiskey, but it’s not overpowering. There’s just a hint of spice on the finish.

Add sweet orange juice and bright red grenadine for sweetness and color, and it’s a super balanced and intriguing drink. It’s one of my favorite underrated whiskey drinks! Here’s how to make it.

A little history about the Ward 8

The Ward 8 cocktail is a rye whiskey cocktail invented in 1898 in Boston, Massachusetts, as a spin on the whiskey sour. The cocktail was created to celebrate a man named Martin Lomasney’s election to the state legislature, and the city’s Ward 8 district helped clinch the win. Today, Martin is all but forgotten, but the drink made in his honor remains!

The Ward 8 is not a popular classic whiskey drink, but I think it deserves a revival. It’s more intriguing than a whiskey sour, with a tart flavor from two citrus juices and the pomegranate zing of grenadine. In fact, I’m not a huge rye whiskey fan, but I love this drink!

Here’s what you need to make it:

• Rye whiskey
• Lemon juice
• Orange juice
• Grenadine

Choosing a rye whiskey

Rye whiskey is a type of whiskey made with a majority of the grain rye. This can be either American rye whiskey, made of at least 51% rye mash, or Canadian whisky, which may or may not contain rye. Rye whiskey is known for its strong, spicy flavor, versus bourbon whiskey, which is much sweeter. Here are a few tips before you hit the shops:

• I recommend Bulleit, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek, and High West. Crown Royal is a Canadian Rye Whisky.
• You can make the Ward 8 with bourbon. It doesn’t have the spicy finish of rye whiskey, but a bourbon Ward 8 is delicious, too. It’s like a whole new drink!

More about grenadine

Grenadine is a key component of the Ward 8. This bright red syrup brings a hint of rosy color to the drink, though it’s not so much that it becomes a pink drink. Here’s what to know about this popular syrup:

• Grenadine is a sweet tart syrup used in cocktails that’s bright red in color. It’s made of pomegranate juice.
• It’s easy to find at most liquor stores or online.
• If you can find it, all-natural grenadine is made without artificial sweeteners and colors, but some of the all-natural versions have a muddy color. The best option is to make grenadine at home! Homemade grenadine with fresh pomegranate seeds has a great, bright color and fresh, beautiful flavor.
• Grenadine is used in all kinds of cocktails. It’s most famous in the non-alcoholic Shirley Temple, the vibrant Tequila Sunrise, and the Singapore Sling.

Making a Ward 8 cocktail

The Ward 8 is easy to make once you’ve compiled the rye whiskey, grenadine, orange, and lemon juice! All you’ll need is a cocktail shaker.

• Shake: Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and then shake until very cold. (If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a mason jar with a cover instead.)
• Strain: Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. (If you don’t have a cocktail strainer, use a fine mesh strainer instead.)
• Garnish: If you’d like, an orange slice and a cocktail cherry look festive!

That’s all you need for a tart, refreshing, impressive cocktail.

More rye whiskey cocktails

Love rye? Here are a few more rye whiskey cocktails you’ll love after you make the Ward 8:

• Try a classic Manhattan.
• Go boozy with a Sazerac or La Louisiane.
• Opt for the unique Brooklyn with rye and Maraschino.
• Grab the cousin of the Negroni, an Old Pal.
• Try a sophisticated Toronto with Fernet-Branca.
• Make up a bubbly Whiskey Ginger.

When to serve a Ward 8

The Ward 8 is a classy cocktail that works for any time! It’s great for sipping as a:

• Happy hour drink
• Dinner party drink
• Summer patio drink
• Late night drinks drink
• Guys’ or girls’ night drink
• Cocktail hour drink

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