What Classic Cocktails Are?
It would be a shame for a bartender or someone who works in the hotel industry to not know what classic cocktails are. Is it one of the required job descriptions for those whom work in a bar or restaurant to have knowledge and know how to make at least the most popular classic cocktails. Before we discover which are the most popular classic cocktails, let’s have a better idea of what classic cocktails are.
As every bartender will tell you, cocktails are mixed drinks, usually made with a combination of spirits, mixers, and sometimes other ingredients like fruit or herbs. Among these, classic cocktails stand out. Classic cocktails are drinks that have been around for a long time, enjoyed by many people and different generations around the world. Classic cocktails are popular because they are simple, well-balanced, and have a rich history. Whether you’re at a fancy bar or making drinks at home, these timeless recipes are always a great choice.
10 Most Popular Classic Cocktails
Classic cocktails usually have a few simple ingredients. This makes them easy to make and easy to enjoy. You don’t need a lot of fancy tools or rare ingredients to whip up a great classic cocktail. Every bartender should be familiar with a core set of classic cocktails. These are essential because they represent the foundation of cocktail culture and are often requested by customers. There are many classic cocktails which not everyone can remember their recipe, but as we have interviews many hoteliers, bar managers and bartenders, we came up with the 10 most popular classic cocktails that are widely used everywhere in the world. Here is the list of the most popular classic cocktails every bartender must know:
Old Fashioned Cocktail
Old fashioned is one of the most popular classic cocktails in the world and you will find in every bar’s menu. Old Fashioned is a top seller when it comes to the popular cocktail list. Here’s the original recipe for making an Old Fashioned cocktail:
- 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 sugar cube
- 4 dashes Angostura bitters
- Dash of Soda water
- Ice cubes
- Orange twist, for garnish
Whiskey Sour Cocktail
Whiskey Sour is another popular classic cocktail made with whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup, typically shaken with ice and served either straight up or over ice. It is often garnished with a cherry and a slice of orange. Some variations include a frothy top, achieved by adding a small amount of egg white and shaking vigorously. The drink is known for its balanced combination of sweetness and tartness, making it a refreshing and popular choice.
Here is the original recipe to make a delicious Whiskey Sour:
- 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon or rye whiskey
- 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz (15 ml) simple syrup
- 1 Egg white
- Ice cubes
- 3 Dashes of Angostura Bitters for garnish
- Orange slice or cherry, for garnish
Martini Cocktail
A Martini is a classic cocktail made with gin and dry vermouth, typically garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. It is traditionally stirred with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass. Variations include the Vodka Martini, which substitutes vodka for gin, and the Dirty Martini, which adds a splash of olive brine. Let’s have a look into the recipe for making a Martini:
- 2 oz (60 ml) gin
- 1/2 oz (15 ml) dry vermouth
- Lemon twist or olive (for garnish)
Margarita Cocktail
Margarita is another one of the most popular classic cocktails in the world. This cocktail is made with tequila, fresh lime juice, and orange liqueur, usually served in a glass with a salted rim. It is typically shaken with ice and served either on the rocks, blended with ice, or straight up. This is the recipe to make a Margarita:
- 2 oz (60 ml) tequila
- 1 oz (30 ml) triple sec
- 1 oz (30 ml) fresh lime juice
- Salt (for rimming the glass)
- Lime slice (for garnish)
Mojito Cocktail
Mojito can’t miss the list of the most popular classic cocktails. A Mojito is a refreshing cocktail made with white rum, fresh lime juice, mint leaves, sugar, and soda water. The ingredients are muddled together to release the mint’s flavor, then mixed with ice and topped with soda water. The Mojito is known for its light, crisp, and invigorating taste, making it a perfect choice for a cooling summer drink. Making a mojito cocktail is very easy even though many bartenders might think is complicated.
The recipe for making a mojito is as below:
- 2 oz (60ml) white rum
- 1 sugar cube
- 1/5 oz (15nl) lime juice
- 1/5oz (15 ml) simple syrup
- 8-10 fresh mint leaves
- Soda water (club soda)
- Crushed ice
- 6 Lime wedges and mint leaves for muddling and garnish
Pina Colada Cocktail
A Piña Colada is a tropical cocktail made with rum, coconut cream or coconut milk, and pineapple juice, blended with ice to create a creamy, frothy drink. Often garnished with a pineapple slice and a cherry, it’s known for its sweet, smooth, and exotic flavor, making it a popular choice for a beachside or summer treat. Here’s the recipe to make a pina colada cocktail:
- 2 oz (60ml) white rum
- 3 oz (90ml) pineapple juice
- 1 oz (30) coconut cream
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Pineapple slice or maraschino cherry for garnish
Manhattan Cocktail
Manhattan is another popular classic cocktail made with whiskey (typically rye or bourbon), sweet vermouth, and a dash of bitters, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass. It’s traditionally garnished with a maraschino cherry. The Manhattan is known for its rich, robust flavor with a balance of sweetness and bitterness. Here is the recipe for making a Manhattan Cocktail:
- 2 oz (60 ml) rye whiskey or bourbon
- 1 oz (30 ml) sweet vermouth
- 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Maraschino cherry for garnish
- Ice cubes
Cosmopolitan Cocktail
A Cosmopolitan, or “Cosmo,” is a stylish cocktail made with vodka, triple sec (or another orange liqueur), cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice. It’s shaken with ice and strained into a chilled martini glass, often garnished with a lime twist or a cranberry. .
- 1 1/2 oz (45 ml) vodka
- 1 oz (30 ml) triple sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
- 1/2 oz (15 ml) cranberry juice
- 1/2 oz (15 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Orange or lemon twist, for garnish (optional)
Daiquiri Cocktail
A Daiquiri is a classic cocktail made with rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. It is typically shaken with ice and served straight up in a chilled coupe glass. Known for its crisp, refreshing flavor with a balance of sweet and tart, the Daiquiri is a timeless favorite in the world of cocktails.
- 2 oz (60 ml) white rum
- 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz (15 ml) simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime wheel or wedge (for garnish)
Negroni Cocktail
Negroni is another classic cocktail made with equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, stirred with ice and strained into a glass over ice. It’s garnished with an orange twist. Known for its bold, bittersweet flavor and vibrant red color, the Negroni is a classic choice for those who enjoy a robust and aromatic drink. Have a look into its cocktail recipe below:
- 1 oz (30ml) gin
- 1 oz (30nl) sweet vermouth
- 1 oz (30 ml)Campari
- Orange twist or slice for garnish
As you noticed in the above popular classic cocktails, their recipes are well-balanced. This means that the flavors of the ingredients complement each other perfectly. Whether it’s the bitter and sweet balance in a Negroni or the tart and salty mix in a Margarita, these drinks are crafted to taste just right. Many people enjoy the sense of history and tradition that comes with classic cocktails. Drinking an Old Fashioned or a Martini can feel like taking a sip of the past.
These drinks have stories behind them, and enjoying one can make you feel connected to a long line of cocktail lovers. Keep in mind that classic cocktails can be easily customized as well. Want your Martini a little dirtier? Just add olive brine. Prefer your Margarita frozen instead of on the rocks? Go ahead! These basic recipes are flexible and can be adjusted to suit personal tastes. Keep in mind that the list above, about the most popular classic cocktails have been made after many consolations and interviews by different hoteliers, bar managers and bartenders from different part of the world. In a short way, have been made by experts in the beverages industry.
