About the Suffering Bastard cocktail
The Suffering Bastard is a refreshing classic cocktail made with brandy, gin, fresh lime juice, Angostura bitters, and ginger beer. It has the spicy, citrusy snap of a mule-style drink, but the split base of brandy and gin makes it more complex, adding dark fruit, botanicals, and a lightly bitter finish.
The drink was created at Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo by bartender Joe Scialom and is often described as a World War II hangover cure for Allied troops. According to cocktail lore, it became so popular that a request was sent for gallons of the drink to be delivered to the front lines. Whether you come for the story or the ginger beer kick, the Suffering Bastard is one of the most memorable classic cocktails on the IBA list.
