1

Long Island iced tea

Image: yeoul Shin

There are two theories about the origin of this cocktail, both rooted in Long Island , though not the sameLong Island!

One story claims it was born during the Prohibition era in a community named Long Island in Kingsport, Tennessee . Another, more recent, credits Robert "Rosebud" Butt with inventing the recipe in a 1972 contest held on Long Island, New York .

A daring choice for some, the iconic Long Island Iced Tea has a recipe with a long list of ingredients . To prepare it, you'll need tequila, light rum, vodka, triple sec, gin, and a splash of cola. Only the bravest dare to try it!

2

Martini

Image: Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández

If you are one of those who loves a drink that's both strong and stylish , then the classic Martini is probably among your favorites. It is the choice of the sophisticated James Bond, who famously prefers his Martini "shaken, not stirred."

Traditionally made with gin and vermouth , and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist, the Martini has several variants, including the vodka Martini, which -as its name suggests- swaps gin for vodka.

While the origin of this classic is not entirely clear, most sources argue it comes from a drink called the Martinez , which had the same basic ingredients and was already being served in the mid-19th century at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, California.

3

Old Fashioned

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Let's step back in time with the classic Old Fashioned ! This drink traces its roots back to the early 19th century right here in the United States.

Initially called "the whiskey cocktail," it was prepared much like it is today: mixing sugar with bitters and water, then adding whiskey or brandy. However, as the 19th century progressed, new ingredients like fruit juices, soda, or other liquors became part of many drinks. To stick to the original recipe and avoid these modern twists, people began ordering it as an "Old Fashioned."

The invention of this liquid delicacy is sometimes linked to The Pendennis, a gentlemen's club that opened in 1881 in Louisville, Kentucky . However, mentions of this delicious drink across the country long predate the club.

4

Mint julep

Image: Abby Boggier

Originally from the south of the United States and very popular, especially in Kentucky , there are mentions of this fresh cocktail as early as the 1770s!

It truly stood the test of time, and we understand why. With a base of bourbon , a hint of sugar, water, the classic crushed ice, and the essential fresh mint , it is a mix that's hard to resist.

Served traditionally in silver or pewter cups , this classic American drink is perfect for summer. However, the touch of bourbon can also be good for a cool winter day.

5

Manhattan

Image: OurWhisky Foundation

Remember the original Old Fashioned recipe? Well, let's spice it up. Take the whiskey cocktail and add a splash of sweet vermouth . That's it! Now you have a chic drink: the popular Manhattan .

The Manhattan cocktail has a fascinating origin myth , situated -of course- in NYC . Legend has it that this recipe was created in the 1870s , at the Manhattan Club for a banquet hosted by Winston Churchill's mother! However, historical records show that Lady Randolph Churchill was actually in Paris and pregnant with Winston at the time.

According to more reliable sources, the Manhattan cocktail was actually invented in the 1860s by a bartender named Black , who ran a bar near Houston Street in Manhattan.

6

Sazerac

Image: Bon Vivant

The classic Sazerac cocktail embodies the spirit of The Big Easy , where it was born in the mid-19th century.

The Sazerac we savor today is named after the Sazerac de Forge et Fils brand of Cognac brandy, from which this cocktail was first created. To make a Sazerac, absinthe, bitters, and sugar were combined with the brandy. Over time, rye whiskey replaced brandy in the modern recipe.

What sets the Sazerac apart, besides its Frenchy name, is its distinctive serving style . The ritual begins by rimming an old-fashioned glass with absinthe. Next, the drink is mixed with ice and strained into the prepared glass. Finally, a classic touch: a twist of lemon.

7

Mai Tai

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While it might sound like the name of an ancient martial art, the Mai Tai is actually a delightful cocktail born in the United States of America.

More modern and with a tropical touch, the Mai Tai is a vibrant blend of rum , Curaçao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice. The year was 1944 when this balanced recipe was created by Victor J. Bergeron at his Trader Vic's restaurant in Oakland, California .

Apparently, the Mai Tai's name comes from the Thai expression "maitaʻi," which translates as "good," "excellent," or even "the best." So, if you haven't tried it yet, consider this your signal!

8

Tequila Sunrise

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Named for its unmixed colors that mirror the beautiful moment when the sun rises, the Tequila Sunrise carries an intense blend: tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup .

The original recipe was a bit different. Between the 1930s and '40s , bartender Gene Sulit stirred up tequila with crème de cassis, lime juice, and soda water at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. Some three decades later in Sausalito, California , Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice made a change to the original recipe. They traded out the original last three ingredients for orange juice and grenadine, creating the present version.

In case you're wondering, yes, The Eagles' song was inspired by this drink!

9

The Ramos Gin Fizz

Image: The Humble Co.

And New Orleans is here again! With its festive spirit, this city also gave birth to another American cocktail: The Ramos Gin Fizz . This delightful recipe was born in 1888 , courtesy of Henry Charles "Carl" Ramos, owner of the Imperial Cabinet Saloon .

Originally called the " New Orleans Fizz ," it was an instant hit. But if you want to try making it at home, be prepared for a trip to the grocery store, as the recipe is a bit long . The mix for a perfect Ramos Gin Fizz includes gin, lemon juice, lime juice, egg whites, sugar, heavy cream, orange flower water, and soda water.

10

Cosmopolitan

Image: Laure Noverraz

Who hasn't heard of the iconic " Cosmo "? This delightful, sweet drink is a blend of vodka , Cointreau (a type of triple sec), cranberry juice, and a splash of sweetened lime juice. It is served in a chic martini glass and often garnished with a lemon twist.

The origin of this drink is a subject of debate, with various reports suggesting its creation in different places across the country . Some stories trace it back to the 1970s in Provincetown, Massachusetts ; San Francisco, California ; or Minneapolis, Minnesota . Others claim it was born a bit later, in the mid-1980s , in the sunny state of Florida . The current recipe, however, has traces in the bustling city of New York.

Regardless of its birth city, this drink originated in our country and is part of American culture. Let's enjoy it!

1

Ronald Reagan: The Jelly Bean Fanatic

Ronald Reagan kept a jar of jelly beans on his desk in the Oval Office and on Air Force One . Blueberry was his favorite flavor, and 3.5 tons of jelly beans were shipped to Washington for his 1981 inauguration.

The Jelly Belly company even created a special blueberry flavor just for Reagan's presidential inauguration. Cabinet meetings apparently featured bowls of the colorful candies, and Reagan would munch on them during crucial policy discussions.

2

John Quincy Adams: The Naked Swimmer

John Quincy Adams had a rather unusual morning routine that would absolutely not fly today. The sixth president would wake up early, walk down to the Potomac River, strip off all his clothes, and go for a refreshing swim .

Legend has it that a female reporter once caught wind of this habit and sat on his clothes until he agreed to give her an interview. Adams apparently took it in stride, though one imagines the Secret Service would have a collective heart attack if any modern president tried this stunt.

3

Teddy Roosevelt: The One-Man Zoo

Theodore Roosevelt ran a wildlife sanctuary at the White House . His kids had a veritable menagerie that included a badger, guinea pigs, snakes, and even a one-legged rooster. There are also claims that he kept a bear and a hyena in the House. Oh, and let's not forget about the pony that his son Quentin once took up in the White House elevator.

When President Roosevelt's son Archie fell ill and was confined to bed, his brothers Kermit and Quentin decided to cheer him up by bringing their pony, Algonquin, up to his room via the White House elevator. The plan nearly backfired, though: Algonquin became so captivated by his own reflection in the elevator mirror that getting him out proved to be quite the ordeal.

4

Thomas Jefferson: Ice Cream Pioneer

After his time in France, Jefferson returned with a fancy ice cream recipe and became one of the first Americans to popularize it . He reportedly had an 18-step process for making the stuff.

The Founding Father loved ice cream so much that he designed a special ice house at Monticello, though its purpose went beyond just frozen treats. The structure stored ice and snow harvested from the Rivanna River to refrigerate fresh dairy and meats throughout the year, with ice cream being just one of the delicacies it made possible.

5

Andrew Jackson: Profanity Parrot Owner

Andrew Jackson's pet parrot, Poll, learned a colorful vocabulary from Old Hickory himself. When Jackson died in 1845, the parrot attended his funeral. Unfortunately, as some witnesses declared, Poll had to be removed from the service because the bird wouldn't stop cursing loudly at the mourners.

You have to wonder what that scene was like—somber grieving interrupted by a parrot dropping f-bombs left and right. It's both mortifying and hilarious to imagine the reverend trying to continue the eulogy while this feathered menace squawks profanities from the corner.

6

Gerald Ford: The Model President

Before Gerald Ford became president, he was a legitimate male model . In the 1940s, the future president appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine.

Ford had been a star football player at the University of Michigan, and his athletic build and fame caught the attention of photographers. He modeled to make extra money, appearing in fashion spreads and looking quite dashing, we might add.

7

LBJ: The Presidential Prankster

Lyndon B. Johnson owned an amphibious car that could drive on both land and water. His favorite party trick was to drive guests around his Texas ranch and then pretend the brakes had failed as they headed straight toward a lake . People would scream in terror as the car splashed into the water.

Then, to everyone's shock and relief, the car would simply start floating. Johnson would burst into laughter while his passengers tried to recover from their near-death experience.

8

William Howard Taft: Bathtub Troubles

William Howard Taft was America's heaviest president, weighing in at around 340 pounds. The most famous anecdote about him involves getting stuck in the White House bathtub , though historians debate whether this actually happened. What's definitely true is that he had a custom bathtub installed that could fit four normal-sized men.

9

Calvin Coolidge: The Prankster President

There are claims that Calvin Coolidge would sometimes press all the buttons on his desk to summon his staff, then hide to watch them run around confused, looking for him . Very mature, Mr. President.

Coolidge also had a pet raccoon named Rebecca, who walked on a leash around the White House grounds. Silent Cal might not have talked much, but his actions —and his choice in pets— spoke volumes about his quirky sense of humor.

10

Jimmy Carter: UFO Witness

Jimmy Carter once filed an official report claiming he saw a UFO . In 1969, before becoming president, Carter and a group of people in Georgia witnessed a strange, bright light in the sky that changed colors and moved in unusual ways. He was so convinced of what he saw that he filed paperwork with the International UFO Bureau.

Carter promised during his campaign that if elected, he would release all government information about UFOs. Once in office, though, he was reportedly told some things were too classified even for the president.

1

St. Augustine Lighthouse — St. Augustine, Florida

Located on Anastasia Island in Florida, overlooking Matanzas Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, this historic 165-foot beacon, completed in 1874, has a long history of reported paranormal activity .

Visitors and staff often report hearing children giggling and footsteps on the stairs, as well as seeing unexplained shadows and other apparitions. The lighthouse museum even offers ghost tours centered on these stories.

2

Montauk Point Lighthouse — Montauk, New York

The Montauk Point Lighthouse was commissioned and authorized by President George Washington in 1792 , making it one of the oldest lighthouses in the nation.

Long before it was built, the waters and cliffs of Montauk were a haven for pirates. Local lore says that the infamous privateer Captain William Kidd buried a massive chest of treasure in the nearby dunes of Money Pond in 1699, just before his capture. The legend has helped keep the idea of buried pirate treasure alive for generations, including interactive pirate treasure shows that invite families and visitors to help solve storylines like "The Curse of Abigail the Ghost of the Lighthouse" while hunting for hidden pirate loot.

3

Eastern Point Lighthouse — Gloucester, Massachusetts

If you want to visit the haunting coastal beacon featured in the film The Perfect Storm , look no further. Strolling down the rocky eastern tip of Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts, you’ll come across Eastern Point Lighthouse, which has been guiding mariners since its original construction in 1832.

Renowned American landscape painter Winslow Homer spent time at Eastern Point and painted the surrounding coastline, highlighting its strong connections to American art and maritime history.

4

Heceta Head Lighthouse — Florence, Oregon

Do you believe in ghosts? The Heceta Head Lighthouse, which stands on a dramatic headland above the Pacific Ocean near Florence, Oregon, is in famous for its "friendly" ghost resident, "Rue," tied to a tragic loss that happened close by.

Named after Spanish Basque explorer Don Bruno de Heceta, who charted the Pacific Northwest waters in 1775, it features a rare first-order rotating Fresnel lens, made by Chance Brothers in Birmingham, England, which once produced one of the most powerful lighthouse beams on the Oregon Coast.

5

Pigeon Point Lighthouse — Pescadero, California

The dramatic coastal setting and towering white structure of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero, California, served as a filming location for several Hollywood productions, including the 1992 thriller Final Analysis starring Richard Gere and Kim Basinger .

Alongside its dramatic Pacific cliffs, one of the tallest lighthouses on the West Coast is connected to many historic shipwrecks. In fact, the point earned its name from the clipper ship Carrier Pigeon , which tragically ran aground 500 feet offshore in 1853, after being caught in heavy fog during the Gold Rush era.

6

Point Bonita Lighthouse — Sausalito, California

Point Bonita Lighthouse is a wild, cliff-clinging sentinel located at the northern entrance of the San Francisco Bay in the Marin Headlands. This is the only lighthouse in the United States approached by a suspension bridge , giving it an almost fairy-tale-like quality. Visitors reach the bridge through a short tunnel.

Originally, keepers walked across a natural rock land bridge to reach the islet. However, a massive landslide in the 1940s destroyed the natural connection. A wooden walkway followed, and the suspension bridge we know today was later built in 1954.

7

Whitefish Point Lighthouse — Paradise, Michigan

Over 200 major shipwrecks lie in the waters surrounding Whitefish Point Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior, standing as a vital guardian along Michigan's notorious "Shipwreck Coast", where severe weather and hazardous waters have claimed hundreds of vessels.

The lighthouse has illuminated these dangerous waters since 1861. Nearby, the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald lies about 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, where the ship sank with all 29 crew members aboard in 1975.

8

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — Buxton, North Carolina

Picture riding your bicycle around the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. That would be the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton, North Carolina, rising nearly 200 feet above the ground with its distinctive black-and-white spiral daymark.

Built to warn mariners of the shifting underwater sandbars known as the Diamond Shoals, the beacon protects a treacherous stretch of the Outer Banks where the warm Gulf Stream collides with the Virginia Drift, a branch of the Labrador Current. This volatile maritime intersection, known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," has been the site of hundreds of shipwrecks.

9

Split Rock Lighthouse — Two Harbors, Minnesota

For its first 15 years, until the local highway arrived in 1924, the Split Rock Lighthouse was entirely cut off from land traffic and could only be reached by water —leaving the structure perched on a 130-foot sheer cliff overlooking the vast, rugged waters of Lake Superior in Two Harbors, Minnesota.

By 1938, thanks to improved roadways, it had become so popular that the U.S. Lighthouse Service described it as "probably the most visited lighthouse in the United States." Nearly 100,000 visitors came that year.

10

Bodie Island Lighthouse — Nags Head, North Carolina

The true magic of the Bodie Island Lighthouse in Nags Head, North Carolina, lies at its crown. It features a rare first-order Fresnel lens, a remarkable glass-and-brass masterpiece designed to focus light into a powerful beam. Today, the light’s distinctive pattern can be seen for roughly 19 miles out to sea.

For nearly a century, keepers and their families lived in isolation on the grounds, tending to the oil lamps and winding the clockwork mechanisms by hand. Legend has it that the spirits of these dedicated keepers still linger , watching over the grounds to ensure the light never goes out.