Bartending Cocktails

A comprehensive guide to classic cocktails organized by base spirit.

Published May 8, 2024 ET

Cocktail Recipes

Whiskey (Bourbon)

Old Fashioned

  • Grab a rocks glass and add: sugar cube, 4 dashes angostura bitters, dash of soda
  • Muddle, then add 2 oz bourbon and large ice cube
  • Stir with mixing spoon
  • Orange peel + lemon peel garnish

Manhattan

  • Chill a nick and nora glass
  • In mixing glass: 4 dashes angostura, 1 oz sweet vermouth, 2 oz rye whiskey
  • Add cracked ice rock, stir well
  • Strain into glass

Mint Julep

  • In julep chalice: mint leaves, sugar cube, 1/4 oz simple syrup, 2 oz bourbon
  • Lightly press/muddle, light stir
  • Add pebble ice to top
  • Garnish with mint

Whiskey (Rye)

Sazerac

  • Chill a Nick and Nora
  • In mixing glass: sugar cube, 4 dashes Peychaud's bitters, dash of soda
  • Muddle, add 2 oz rye whiskey and cracked ice
  • Coat glass with absinthe
  • Strain, twist with lemon

Gin

Negroni

  • Rocks glass with 1 oz each: Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Campari
  • Big ice rock, stir thoroughly
  • Garnish with orange peel

Martini

  • Chill Martini glass
  • Mixing glass: 4 dashes orange bitters, 1 oz dry vermouth, 2 oz gin
  • Stir well, strain
  • Garnish with curled orange

Tom Collins

  • Shaker: 3/4 oz lemon juice, 3/4 oz simple syrup, 2 oz London dry gin
  • Shake, strain over ice in highball
  • Top with soda

Tequila

Margarita

  • Shaker: 3/4 oz lime, 1/4 oz agave, 3/4 oz Cointreau, 1.5 oz tequila blanco
  • Shake, salt the rim of rocks glass
  • Strain over ice, garnish with lime wheel

Paloma

  • Shaker: 3/4 oz lime, 1/2 oz simple, 1.5 oz tequila blanco
  • Shake, strain into collins glass with ice
  • Top with grapefruit soda

Rum

Daiquiri

  • Shaker: 3/4 oz lime, 3/4 oz simple, 2 oz white rum
  • Shake well, double strain into nick and nora
  • Garnish with lime wheel

Mojito

  • In shaker: 10 mint leaves, 6 lime wedges, sugar cube, 1/2 oz simple
  • Muddle, add 2 oz rum and pebble ice
  • Whip shake, dump into collins glass
  • Garnish with mint

Mai Tai

  • Shaker: 1 oz lime, 1/2 oz orange curacao, 1/2 oz orgeat, 1 oz Jamaican rum, 1/2 oz dark rhum agricole
  • Shake with pebble ice until dissolved
  • Pour into rocks glass, add more pebble ice
  • Garnish with mint bouquet

Vodka

Moscow Mule

  • Copper mug: 3/4 oz lime, 2 oz vodka, ginger beer, ice
  • Garnish with lime wheel

Prosecco

Aperol Spritz

  • Wine glass: 2 oz Aperol, 3 oz Prosecco, ice, club soda
  • Garnish with half orange moon