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