7 classic cocktails you need to know!
You can’t go wrong with a classic cocktail, so we’ve compiled a list of some timeless cocktail recipes for you to have on hand, whether you’re hosting a party, planning a romantic night in or having a family get together, these cocktails will go down a treat.
7 Classic Cocktail Recipes
Classic Dry Martini
Martini is the king of cocktails, whether it’s gin or vodka, shaken or stirred you can’t go wrong with this classic.
INGREDIENTS
- 70ml vodka or gin
- 1 tbsp dry vermouth
- 2 tbsp olive brine
- 1 wedge of lemon
- 1 green olive
Method
- Pour the vodka, dry vermouth and olive brine into a shaker with ice and shake well.
- Rim the martini glass with the wedge of lemon.
- Strain into the glass and add the olive.
Tom Collins
The Tom Collins is a timeless drink that remains a summer favourite! Twist it up by muddling a handful of raspberries in the bottom of an empty Collins glass.
INGREDIENTS
- 50ml gin
- 25ml lemon juice
- 25ml sugar syrup
- 125ml chilled soda water
Method
- Build the drink over plenty of ice in a Collins glass, stir gently and garnish with a slice of lemon.
Whisky Sour
The Whiskey Sour is a bourbon cocktail that is subtly sour and sweet. Show off your cocktail skills with this classic.
INGREDIENTS
- 50ml bourbon
- 35ml lemon juice
- 12½ ml 2:1 sugar syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- ½ fresh egg white
- ice
- 50p-sized piece of lemon zest
For the garnish
- slice of orange
Method
- Shake all of the ingredients (except for the lemon zest) hard with ice and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass.
- Squeeze the lemon zest, shiny side down over the drink
- Discard the zest, add the garnish and serve.
Old Fashioned
A true classic, the old-fashioned is the perfect way to dress up your favourite whisky, You can’t go wrong with this simple cocktail.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tsp sugar syrup or 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
- splash of water
- 60ml Scotch whisky or bourbon
- soda water (optional)
- orange
Methods
- Put the sugar, bitters and water in a small tumbler. Mix until the sugar dissolves if using granulated.
- Fill your glass with ice and stir in the whisky.
- Add a splash of soda water if you desired and mix
- Garnish with the orange
The Champagne Cocktail
The Champagne Cocktail dates all the way back to 1862 featuring in a book, How to Mix Drinks: Bon Vivant’s Companion, and it now remains one of the few “famous” Champagne cocktails.
INGREDIENTS
Method
- Place the sugar cube onto a spoon and add the bitters.
- Drop the soaked sugar cube into a champagne flute and add the cognac.
- Top up the glass with champagne and serve.
Negroni
The Negroni is an iconic Italian cocktail, made of one part gin, one part vermouth rosso and one part Campari, the perfect balance of sophistication and simplicity.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 x 25ml shot gin
- 1 x 25ml shot Campari
- 1 x 25ml shot Martini Rosso
- curl of orange peel, to decorate
Method
- Pour the gin, Campari and Martini Rosso into a tumbler filled with ice.
- Stir together with a long spoon and decorate with the orange peel.
Manhattan
Essential for any whiskey lover, the Manhattan will always be a favourite cocktail.
INGREDIENTS
- 50ml bourbon
- 25ml sweet red vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 tsp syrup from a jar of maraschino cherries
- twist orange zest, to garnish
- maraschino cherry, to garnish
Method
- Place the bourbon, vermouth, bitters and syrup into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir well.
- Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry.
