Classic Cocktails Everyone Should Know How to Make

Mastering a few classic cocktails can elevate your hosting skills and impress your guests. Whether you’re throwing a party or just enjoying a quiet evening, these timeless drinks are essential to have in your repertoire. Here’s a list of classic cocktails everyone should know how to make, along with tips for perfecting each one.

1. Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ oz gin or vodka
• ½ oz dry vermouth
• Lemon twist or olive for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Pour in the gin (or vodka) and dry vermouth.
3. Stir until well-chilled.
4. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist or olive.

Tips:

• For a drier martini, reduce the amount of vermouth.
• Stirring (instead of shaking) gives the martini a smoother texture.

2. Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1 sugar cube
• 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Orange twist for garnish
• Ice cubes

Instructions:

1. Place the sugar cube in an old-fashioned glass.
2. Saturate the sugar with bitters and add a splash of water.
3. Muddle until the sugar is dissolved.
4. Fill the glass with ice cubes and add the whiskey.
5. Stir gently and garnish with an orange twist.

Tips:

• Use a large ice cube to keep the drink chilled without diluting it too quickly.
• Try adding a cherry for an extra touch of sweetness.

3. Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 1 oz lime juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 oz Cointreau or triple sec
• Salt for rimming the glass
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions:

1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and dip it in salt.
2. Fill a shaker with ice and add tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau.
3. Shake well and strain into the prepared glass.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Tips:

• For a smoother drink, opt for high-quality tequila.
• Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less Cointreau.

4. Negroni

Ingredients:

• 1 oz gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• Orange peel for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Add gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
3. Stir until well-chilled.
4. Strain into a glass filled with ice.
5. Garnish with an orange peel.

Tips:

• Stirring ensures a balanced, well-mixed drink.
• Try substituting the gin with bourbon to make a Boulevardier.

5. Manhattan

Ingredients:

• 2 oz rye whiskey or bourbon
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Add whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
3. Stir until chilled.
4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
5. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Tips:

• Use a quality sweet vermouth for the best flavor.
• Adjust the ratio of whiskey to vermouth based on your taste preference.

6. Mojito

Ingredients:

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz lime juice (freshly squeezed)
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 6-8 fresh mint leaves
• Soda water
• Mint sprig and lime wedge for garnish

Instructions:

1. Muddle the mint leaves and sugar in a glass.
2. Add lime juice and rum, and fill the glass with ice.
3. Top with soda water and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wedge.

Tips:

• Use fresh mint and lime for the best flavor.
• Gently muddle the mint to release its oils without tearing the leaves.

7. Daiquiri

Ingredients:

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz lime juice (freshly squeezed)
• ¾ oz simple syrup

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.
3. Shake well and strain into a chilled glass.

Tips:

• Fresh lime juice is key to a balanced, refreshing daiquiri.
• Experiment with flavored syrups for a twist on the classic.

8. Cosmopolitan

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz vodka
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• ½ oz Cointreau or triple sec
• ½ oz lime juice

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, and lime juice.
3. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel or twist.

Tips:

• Use cranberry juice cocktail for a slightly sweeter drink.
• Serve in a chilled glass to keep the cocktail crisp.

9. Whiskey Sour

Ingredients:

• 2 oz whiskey
• ¾ oz lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• ½ oz simple syrup
• Maraschino cherry and orange slice for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
3. Shake well and strain into a glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a cherry and orange slice.

Tips:

• Fresh lemon juice is essential for a tangy, refreshing flavor.
• For a richer drink, try adding a dash of egg white.

10. Bloody Mary

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 4 oz tomato juice
• ½ oz lemon juice
• 2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 dashes of hot sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Celery stick, lemon wedge, and olives for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, and pepper.
3. Shake well and strain into a glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a celery stick, lemon wedge, and olives.

Tips:

• Adjust the spice level to your taste by adding more or less hot sauce.
• Experiment with different garnishes like pickles, bacon, or shrimp.

Conclusion

These classic cocktails are the foundation of any good bartender’s repertoire. By mastering these drinks, you can confidently serve up a variety of delicious beverages for any occasion. Remember to use quality ingredients, practice your techniques, and most importantly, enjoy the process of creating these timeless cocktails.