When people ask “What is the oldest cocktail in the world?”, the usual answers are the Old Fashioned or the Sazerac. But long before the term “cocktail” even existed, sailors in the Caribbean were already enjoying a remarkably similar drink. In the late 1500s, Sir Francis Drake’s crew consumed a simple but effective remedy called El Draque — the first historical mixed drink that would go on to inspire the modern Mojito.

El Draque is named after English privateer Sir Francis Drake, who anchored in Havana, Cuba, during his expeditions. To help his crew combat scurvy and dysentery, locals created a mixture of:

• Aguardiente (a raw cane spirit)
• Fresh mint
• Lime juice
• Raw sugar
• Water or Chuchuhuasi bark (a medicinal bark from the Amazon)

Though it wasn’t called a “cocktail” at the time, El Draque checks all the boxes: a spirit, citrus, sweetener, and herbs. That’s why many consider it the oldest cocktail in history, even if the word hadn’t been invented yet.

✅ Why it matters: El Draque is the oldest known combination of alcohol and flavorings used for both enjoyment and health.

In 1806, a New York publication defined the term cocktail for the first time as:

“A stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters.”

That description fits the Old Fashioned perfectly. With its mix of whiskey, sugar, water, and bitters, the Old Fashioned became the first drink to meet the official definition of a cocktail.

It remains a favorite today and is widely respected for its elegant simplicity.

See the full recipe of the Old Fashioned here.

✅ Why it matters: It’s the first drink historically recognized as a cocktail under the modern definition.

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The Sazerac originated in New Orleans and is considered the first branded cocktail in the United States. It originally featured:

• Cognac (later replaced with rye whiskey)
• Peychaud’s bitters
• Sugar
• A rinse of absinthe

The Sazerac not only solidified New Orleans’ place in cocktail history but also remains a timeless favorite around the world.

✅ Why it matters: The Sazerac is the oldest named cocktail still served today.