Manhattan, Mai Tai, Bloody Mary, Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Black Russian…these are some of the most well known cocktails in the world, served at thousands of bars across the globe every night. We watch our favorite characters drink these drinks in movies, we hear them sung about in songs; they are part of our global culture. But who created these drinks? Where did they come from? The Manhattan firstly appeared in 1874 at a party hosted by the mother of Winston Churchill. It was created by an anonymous barman! Oh, if only his kids could collect the royalties!

The Mai Tai, contrary to its name, doesn’t have an exotic origin. It’s a tropically inspired cocktail created by Victor Bergeron at his restaurant in California.

The Boody Mary was created by Fernand Petiot in 1921 at “Harry’s New York Bar” in Paris. Some say the name refers to the bloodthirsty Queen of England, Mary I, and others say it’s a reference to a waitress named Mary at the “Bucket of Blood” bar.

Down in Tijuana, Mexico, the Margarita was made, almost by accident, by a local barman. Others say it got its name from Margarita Sames of Acapulco.

As for the ever-fashionable Cosmo, it’s not for sure which enlightened barkeep thought it up, but one thing is for certain: it has been on the scene since 1970 and remains a steady favorite.

The Mojito was Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Nerouda’s alcoholic muse, while the Black Russian was first served during the Cold War by a Belgian bartender, Gustave Tops. If you add 2 spoonfuls of heavy cream to a Black Russian (Kahlua & vodka), then you get the famous White Russian.