HIstory of Cocktails

The cocktail is one of America’s great original inventions. The word first appeared in print in 1806, defined as a simple mix of spirit, sugar, water, and bitters, and within a few decades American bartenders had turned that formula into a craft. Jerry Thomas published the first bartender’s guide in 1862, and from the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan to the tiki craze and the modern craft revival, American bars have set the standard for how the rest of the world drinks. Rye whiskey was at the center of it from the start, and many of the earliest classics were built on the same style of Pennsylvania rye we distill today.

This March, we’re celebrating National Cocktail Day, March 24, with a guided trip through that history, one glass at a time. We’ll mix our way through the drinks that defined each era, share the stories behind them, and explore how a uniquely American tradition went global. Our March 24 class falls on National Cocktail Day itself, so there’s no better excuse to raise a glass to the craft.

Your exclusive ticket to our cocktail class includes:

☄️ Guidance and education on the art of crafting three Wigle Cocktails

🌌 Small bites from the Wigle Kitchen

✨15% off all Wigle Bottles