Top 20 Classic Cocktail Recipes
When you think “cocktail” you probably think of one of the classics: Martini, Whiskey Sour, maybe a Margarita, or even a Piña Colada! These classics have been around for a long time, often more than 100 years. And they’re classics for a reason. If a cocktail recipes has been around for so long and is still popular, you’ll be sure it tastes great.
You’ll likely notice some similar ingredients across some of these cocktail recipes, but you’ll also likely see some more interesting ingredients as well. With that, tastes change over time, so if any of these recipes are a little different from what you’re familiar with, don’t be surprised. These recipes are so old it’s hard to know what the “original is.” If you’re having fun with these, check out our other classic cocktail recipes. Otherwise, if you’re seeing some ingredients come up and you wonder what else you can make with them, try our cocktail builder where you can see what cocktails you can make with given ingredients.
These are what we drink when we want a classic:
Martinez
When people think of the classic cocktail, they often think of the Martini, but we’re going to start with the lesser known Martinez. This cocktail is made of Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, and Angostura Bitters and actually pre-dates the Martini. In fact, a lot of people think the Martinez is actually the inspiration behind the Martini and so many other cocktails, both modern and classic. No list of classic cocktail recipes would be complete without the Martinez!
Gin Martini
With the Martinez out of the way, the Martini is the obvious classic cocktail. With a simple recipe of just Gin and Dry Vermouth, it’s extremely easy to make but also very tasty. It’s also an extremely elegant drink. There’s just something about holding a simple Martini in its pointy glass.
Another great thing about a Gin Martini is that you can swap out different Gins to see what you like best. Gin has so many different flavours and botanicals, trying a Martini with a different Gin almost creates a new drink.
With that in mind, the Gin Martini has inspired a large number of other cocktails, both classics and otherwise. A lot of the time they just have the word “tini” at the end due to the style, but you can still tell how important this classic cocktail has become.
Have fun with what is probably the most popular cocktail in the world.
Manhattan
It’s not a Martini by any means, but a Manhattan has a very similar elegance to it. With Rye, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, and Orange Bitters, it’s also almost as easy to make. The Manhattan has been around since the late 1800’s, so you know it’s a classic if it’s lasted that long!
You’ll note above that we listed Orange Bitters as on of the key ingredients to this recipe. While it’s a pretty common type of Bitters, it’s not something everyone is guaranteed to have in their home. You’re welcome to make a Manhattan with just Angostura Bitters, but we highly recommend getting some Orange Bitters as well. Not only is it part of many of recipes (classic cocktails or otherwise), but it does so much for a Manhattan. You’ll be thanking us.
Old Fashioned
Staying simple, and of course, classic, and Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail with Bourbon, Simple Syrup, and Angostura Bitters. That’s it. That’s the cocktail.
The Old Fashioned is one of the best known cocktails out there and has inspired endless variations. You can make an Old Fashioned out of almost anything, but of course Bourbon is the classic base.
If you like Bourbon, this cocktail is a great way to enhance an already great spirit. Whip up some of these and relax.
Whiskey Sour
If you’re looking for a Whiskey based cocktail that’s almost more classic than the Old Fashioned, you’re looking for a Whiskey Sour. All it is is Bourbon, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Egg White, and Angostura Bitters. Making a Whiskey Sour is a little bit more involved than other classic cocktails, but not too much so. And of course if you like this recipe, there are plenty of other sour style cocktails with different base spirits for you to enjoy.
Piña Colada
While there’s a more modern feel to a Piña Colada, well, modern as in it feels like it was probably created later than a lot of the cocktails on this list, we’re still calling it a classic cocktail. This recipe includes White Rum, Pineapple Juice, and Cream of Cococut, so it’s actually pretty simple. And because of that, versions of the Piña Colada have likely been around since the early 1800’s, with sailors combining fruit juice, Coconut, and Rum.
Our recipe is for a shaken version of the drink. You may see versions that are blended but we feel it cheapens the drink. You can still get plenty of body just shaking everything, and it’s a better cocktail.
Singapore Sling
We’ll stay (somewhat) tropical with the classic Singapore Sling. The ingredients list here is a little longer than the other cocktail recipes on this list, but if you have Gin, Cherry Brandy, Benedictine, Angostura Bitters, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice, and Soda Water, it’s well worth making one of these!
The Singapore Sling comes from, unsurprisingly, the famous Raffles Hotel in Singapore in the early 1900’s. From there it traveled the world and has become a favourite concoction in cocktail bars.
Although it pre-dates the Tiki movement, you can probably lump it into the genre and wouldn’t be surprised to find it on the menu at your favourite Tiki bar.
Classic Daiquiri
The Classic Daiquiri is just White Rum, Lime Juice, and Simple Syrup, making it very easy to make and quite easy to enjoy as well. Play with the level of sugar you use to see what’s right for your taste. You can make this cocktail as sweet or as tart as you prefer.
Mojito
With some similarities to a Daiquiri, a Mojito is classic cocktail that has White Rum, Lime Juice, Sugar, Mint Leaves, and a bit of Club Soda to dilute things a little bit so the flavours don’t get too intense.
Like a few cocktails on this list, the Mojito’s origins were so long ago it’s hard to pinpoint how/when this cocktail was first created. As with plenty of Rum and citrus based cocktails though, it was likely originally a sailor’s drink. Sailors were given Rum rations and were also encouraged to drink Lime Juice to ward off scurvy. No wonder this cocktail has been around for so long!
So enjoy a Mojito!
Classic Margarita
A little less tropical, but another refreshing and classic cocktail for the warm the weather, a Margarita is a simple combination of Tequila, Triple Sec, and Lime Juice. You simply can’t make a classic cocktail list without it featuring the Margarita. It’s very well known.
Tom Collins
The Tom Collins cocktail is another refreshing cocktail. It’s nice and long which makes it great as a warm day refreshment. Although it’s made with 60 milliliters of Gin, it also has Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, and an ample amount of Club Soda in it. This means that you can relax with this drink and not worry about getting too drunk too quickly. Just take your time of course rather than just pouring it down your throat!
Gin Fizz
Equally refreshing in its own way, the Gin Fizz is Gin, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Egg White, and Club Soda. With a nice head of foam on top and a great taste, this cocktail is great both to look and and to drink.
Negroni
Staying with Gin, we have the Negroni which is made up of Gin, Sweet Vermouth, and Campari. So not only is it a classic cocktail, but a simple one at that!
As the Negroni recipe has been around since the early 1900’s, it’s exact origins are unknown. However, it’s likely the Negroni recipe is actually a variation of a popular cocktail from the time that was made with Campari, Vermouth, and Soda Water. The Negroni was an effort to strengthen up this drink. And it worked!
Regardless of how the world got the Negroni, all we know is that it’s a great drink that everyone should know.
Gimlet
While Bourbon and Rye are popular base spirits in a lot of classic cocktails, Gin is almost equally as popular. Take the Gimlet which has Gin, Lime Juice, and Simple Syrup. Pretty much a Daiquiri with Gin! And it’s just as easy to make.
While some of the previous entries on this list were more tropical and refreshing, the Gimlet, like so many other classics, is elegant and sophisticated. But that’s not the only reason we enjoy it. It tastes great!
French 75
Another highly sophisticated classic cocktail is the French 75. Not only is it often served in a Champagne flute, it actually contain Champagne! It also contains Gin, Lemon Juice, and Simple Syrup. It’s almost like a sweetened and strengthened glass of Champagne.
There’s not a huge amount of information on where this recipe came from. Some think it was inspired by the Tom Collins, and it’s clear there are some similar aspects to it. It’s also unclear where the name came from. Is it even French?
Either way, it’s quite a nice cocktail which has stood the test of time due to its great taste and appearance in many films over the years.
Last Word
Sticking with Gin elegance, a last word is a cocktail made with Gin, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino Liqueur, and Lime Juice. Some of these ingredients may seem unusual these days, but they’re actually quite common by classic standards.
The Last Word came to the world just before Prohibition at the Detroit Athletic Club. It somehow survived through the Prohibition era and is still with us today.
Sidecar
The Sidecar is an elegant classic made with Cognac, Cointreau, and Lemon Juice. It’s simple but it taste great! You don’t see a lot of cocktails with a Cognac base, but there are actually more than a few out there. Of course the classics often prefer Whiskey or Gin, but here we are!
People aren’t sure where the Sidecar came from. Some say England, some say France. Some say it was inspired when a bar patron pulled up to a bar in a motorcycle sidecar.
Who knows what the true story of the Sidecar is. We don’t. But we do know it’s a great cocktail recipe.
Mint Julep
A Mint Julep is an easy combination of Bourbon, Simple Syrup, and Mint. Being a mainstay of the Kentucky Derby makes this drink a classic cocktail! It’s refreshing, fun, and extremely enjoyable. Make a few today!
Improved Whiskey Cocktail
An Improved Whiskey cocktail is a variation on the Old Fashion, but, rather than just Bourbon, Simple Syrup, and Angostura Bitters, it also adds Maraschino Liqueur, Absinthe, and Peychaud’s Bitters. It’s obviously a few more ingredients than the easy Old Fashioned, but it’s well worth it!
After you make one of these, sit back and just enjoy it. You’ll quickly understand why it’s called improved…
Just make sure you use a good Bourbon here. It’s a great cocktail and deserves the best.
Sazerac
The Sazerac comes to us from New Orleans and not only is it a New Orleans classic, it’s a classic in general. To make a Sazerac combine Rye, Cognac, Simple Syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters, Angostura Bitters and a bit of Absinthe. Some recipes will call for just Rye or just Cognac, but we like a bit of each. That way you get the best of both world!
The Sazerac is a great Rye classic. Enjoy.