Trendy cocktails come and go but, for better or worse, there are always a select few that manage to hold the attention of the drinking class. Summer might be over, but cocktail season lasts 365 days a year.
If you consider yourself a master mixologist or a bartender-in-training, there are some classic cocktails that everyone should know how to make! I put together a list of the 10 most popular and time-honored drinks that people have loved for centuries
1. Martini
The martini is one of the most popular and well-loved traditional drinks of all time! If you’ve ever wondered what exactly a martini is, you’re not alone. These old-school cocktails definitely have some mystery to them.
At its most basic, a martini is a gin or vodka and dry vermouth in certain proportions with an olive or lemon peel for garnish.
Make sure you use high-quality gin to make this elegant drink!
Read More2. Classic Manhattan Cocktail
This is one of the most eye-catching classic cocktails due to the deep color of the bourbon and the bright red cherry. Made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. However, using bourbon will make for a sweeter Manhattan, but that flavor can be tempered using dry vermouth and orange bitters instead of sweet vermouth and Angostura bitters.
The Manhattan is the perfect after-dinner tipple.
Read More3. Mint Julep
The Mint Julep is a bourbon cocktail best known for being the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby. Drinks that are this popular can sometimes seem difficult to make, but this recipe is actually incredibly easy and only requires a few ingredients. Beyond the bourbon, sugar, and mint, the only other requirement for this drink is crushed ice.
With a balance of sweet, smoky, and herbal flavors, the Mint Julep is delicious all year long.
Read More4. Margarita
As the most ordered cocktail in the world, the classic Margarita has been one of the most popular cocktails in America for years and still remains on top.
The simple mixture of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice is often blended with ice but is traditionally served on the rocks. Once you find an ideal balance of flavor, you’ll realize just how delicious a fresh margarita is and why it’s hard to justify buying a bottled margarita mix.
The cocktail is generally presented in a salt-rimmed glass.
Read More5. Mojito
The best fresh mint mojitos are made by steeping crushed mint in sugar and rum. The simple mojito is a classic summer drink, perfect for sipping poolside or to take the heat from a hot city night.
It may be a simple cocktail, but there’s a lot to know about this humble beverage.
The Mojito complimenting summer perfectly with a fresh minty taste.
Read More6. Old Fashioned
Traditional drinks like the Old Fashioned beautifully marry sweetness, a little sourness, and little bitterness. This drink really lives up to its name, which was said to be coined back in the late 1800s!
Even if you know nothing about cocktails, chances are you’ve at least heard of an Old Fashioned. Made with just four ingredients – whiskey, sugar, Angostura bitters, and an optional (but recommended) orange peel or Luxardo cherry garnish.
Read More7. Long Island Iced Tea
The Long Island Iced Tea is the type of drink perfect for college students or young adults to order at a bar – it’s strong (so you don’t need to feel the alcohol’s effects), but the flavor of the alcohol is almost indiscernible.
This classic cocktail contains five types of alcohol—gin, tequila, rum, vodka, and triple sec – alongside a splash of lemon juice, simple syrup, and Cola. Fresh lemon and lime juice bring sourness and bitterness, and a splash of cola and a bit of maple syrup round things out.
Read More8. White Russian
White Russians are classic cocktails that are like dessert in a glass! Creamy, dreamy, and sugary. You may know it from the 1990’s movie The Big Lebowski, but this drink has been around since the 1950s. It’s a total treat, and couldn’t be easier to make! The White Russian is made with vodka, heavy cream, and coffee liqueur.
Here’s a drink that takes just 2 minutes and hits the spot in any season.
Read More9. Negroni
Negroni is the most famous Italian cocktail. It is a most delicious bitter cocktail. In the past, it was one of the most chosen at aperitif time and after the decline of a few years ago, today it is back again.
The recipe is quick and easy to memorize, with equal parts of its three main ingredients – Red Vermouth, Campari, and Gin
Let’s make some negronis!
Read More10. Cosmopolitan
The cosmopolitan cocktail typically referred to as the “cosmo,” gained popularity during the 90s when it was frequently mentioned on the TV show Sex and the City. The combination of vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice, and cranberry juice has made it a timeless classic.
Plain and simple — it’s the original pink drink.
No matter the reason or season, a cosmopolitan is always a quick and delicious cocktail choice.
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