If you’ve been to an upscale bar or cocktail lounge, you might have tried a few classic cocktails that you’d like to recreate at home. After all, buying a single cocktail in a bar can cost more than making a round at home. Whether you’re looking for a quick cocktail to sip after dinner or a signature drink for a holiday party, the following classic cocktails are easy to make crowd pleasers:
1. The dry martini
This drink is made with vodka, dry vermouth, and club soda. The key to a great martini is the quality of your ingredients. Make sure you use high-quality vodka and vermouth. If you’re looking for a little more flavor, add orange juice or cranberry juice to the mix. Mix vodka, dry vermouth, and cold club soda in a shaker filled with ice to make a martini. Shake well and strain into a chilled glass.
2. The gin and tonic
This classic cocktail can be made at home with just a few ingredients. The basic recipe is gin, lemon juice, sugar, and ice. You can adjust the sweetness and tartness of the drink to your liking by adding more or less sugar and lemon juice, respectively. You’ll need quality tonic water to make the perfect gin and tonic. Make sure to choose a brand that uses botanical spirits—not just carbonated water—to give the drink its flavor. Once you have all of the ingredients ready, it’s time to mix up your drink! Fill a shaker with crushed ice and shake well before pouring it into a glass.
3. The manhattan
This classic cocktail has been around for decades and was popularized in the early 1900s by bartender Harry Craddock in, you guessed it, New York City. It is now one of the most popular cocktails in the world. The cocktail is classic, and it’s easy to make. All you need is whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. You can customize this drink by adding different types of spirits (such as bourbon or rye) or using different flavors of sweet vermouth (such as cherry or orange).
4. The moscow mule
This cocktail is a great way to enjoy a cold drink on a hot day. They’re simple to make and require only a few ingredients. You can customize them to your taste by adding different liquors or spices. To make the cocktail, you will need vodka, iced tea, lime wedge, dry martini, and ginger beer. In an old-fashioned glass, mix the vodka and iced tea. It combines vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice and is decorated with a slice or wedge of lime. The cocktail is traditionally served in a copper mug that absorbs the cold temperature of the liquid.
5. The mojito
This classic cocktail is a refreshing drink that can be enjoyed any time of year. It is made with mint, lime juice, and rum. The ingredients are combined in a shaker and shaken vigorously. If desired, sugar may be added to sweeten the drink. The cocktail can be made with any rum, light or dark. For a classic cocktail, use white rum. For an upgrade, try spiced rum or dark rum. This recipe will work with any mint, but jalapeño mint is incredibly delicious. If you’d like to make your mixers for this cocktail drink, consider using fresh lime juice and sparkling water instead of store-bought mixes. This creates a refreshing drink lighter than traditional cocktails made with heavy liquors such as vodka or bourbon.
