39 Classic Cocktails Everyone Should Know How To Make

While viral drinks are always coming and going on social media, there are certain cocktails that have stood the test of time to be considered classics. These are the drinks that every decent bartender should know, from standards like martinis and margaritas to elaborate summer sips and minty mojitos. Many of these drinks have gone on to shape the future of cocktail culture, inspiring dozens of variations and adaptations. Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or just beginning your cocktail-making journey, mastering these iconic cocktails is essential. They are perfect for elevating any occasion, from a pairing with appetizers at a sophisticated cocktail party to serving at an intimate dinner for two.

You can never go wrong with a juicy Mai Tai. It’s a rum-based cocktail that was invented in the tiki era of cocktail bars and has endured as a tropical favorite ever since. This version is true to the original, with fresh lime juice, orange curaçao and a hint of orgeat syrup, which give it just a touch of almond flavor.

Tart and refreshing, a gin gimlet is a shaken cocktail with a heavy emphasis on fresh citrus. The juice is balanced with a touch of simple syrup to keep the drink from tasting too tart. If you can, definitely opt for fresh limes as opposed to bottled juice for the best flavor.

Light and refreshing, a Paloma has some elements of a margarita but combined in a totally different way. Instead of a shaken cocktail, a Paloma is served on the rocks and lightened with grapefruit soda. The base is a combination of tequila blanco, grapefruit juice and orange juice to create a drink that’s not too boozy or sweet.

Big flavors compete in a whisky sour to create a drink that ends up tasting balanced. The combination of citrus juice and sugar goes toe-to-toe with the whisky so that no ingredient is overpowered. A bright red maraschino cherry finishes this tangy beverage.

Got a crop of mint in your garden? Time to make mojitos! The flavor combination of fresh mint and tart lime juice is what gives the drink its signature flavor. Make sure to shake well to muddle the mint and dissolve the sugar before pouring over ice.

This cocktail has been around for over a century, and whiskey fans know why. Stirred right in the glass, and old-fashioned is made with just rye whisky or bourbon, Angostura bitters, and a bit of sugar. Don’t skip the orange zest, which gives the drink an unmistakable hint of citrus flavor.

For those that don’t know, a Southside is a shaken cocktail that has flavor elements reminiscent of a cooling mojito, but the execution is different. Gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and a mint sprig are shaken vigorously with ice and served in a chilled martini glass, with a simple mint leaf to garnish. This summery cocktail won’t get watered down, no matter how hot the weather.

A Rob Roy is an all-booze cocktail that combines Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth and bitters. Garnished with a red maraschino cherry, it’s boozy but chilled from a brief jig in a cocktail shaker. The flavor is deep and rich, with plenty of smoky notes—perfect for an after-dinner sip.

The Moscow Mule is one of those classic cocktails that requires a special piece of barware to make just right. Plenty of bartenders and booze aficionados will tell you that the copper mug is absolutely essential to perfecting this drink. The drink is served on the rocks and made with vodka, lime juice, and spicy ginger beer.

A Corpse Reviver, so named because of its apparent ability to cure a hangover, is equal parts bracing and bright. Technically a family of cocktails, the Corpse Reviver No. 2 is one variation that contains gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc (or other aperitif), and fresh lemon juice. Shaken, strained and served chilled with an orange peel, it’s a drink that’s sure to perk you up.

This drink gets its name from a float of dark rum on the top of the drink, instead of mixed in, to look like dark storm clouds in the sky. The drink itself is simply ginger beer on the rocks with a squeeze of lime. If you prefer, you can mix the whole drink together, or use a spoon to get that signature layered look.

In the same family as the Old-Fashioned, a Manhattan adds a touch of sweet vermouth to a healthy pour of bourbon or rye whiskey. This version adds Italian bitters, such as Campari, to give the boozy drink an extra layer of flavor. To counteract the bitterness, add a few spoonfuls of sugar, if desired.

Notoriously boozy, a Long Island Iced Tea contains no actual tea. Instead, a mixture of vodka, gin, rum, tequila, Triple Sec, lemon juice and cola combine to taste a bit like tea but certainly not like any one of the ingredients in it. Serve it on ice in a highball glass with a lemon wedge to really give it the look of a glass of iced tea.

The Aperol spritz is an Italian beverage that many consider the official drink of summer. This bubbly, refreshing drink combines bitter Aperol with chilled Prosecco and a splash of soda water. The combination is light enough to drink away the afternoon without ruining your evening plans.

Three simple ingredients make this grown-up version of a milkshake: coffee liqueur, vodka and heavy cream. It’s a creamy and indulgent drink, meant to be consumed as a dessert cocktail or after-dinner treat. Leave out the cream to make the drink’s cousin, a Black Russian.

The Italian Negroni is a bold yet balanced cocktail that’s boozy but drinkable. It’s made from equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred and poured over ice. If you’re not a fan of sugary-sweet cocktails but can’t handle the intensity of a martini, this cocktail falls delightfully in the middle.

A sweet and elegant cocktail, the French 75 uses Champagne or sparkling wine and gin to create a beverage that’s bright and citrusy. The gin is shaken with lemon juice and simple syrup, then strained into a champagne flute and topped with your choice of sparkling wine. It’s a perfect choice for celebrations or special occasions where a lighter option is well-suited.

Cocktail purists will enjoy this textbook version of one of the most classic cocktails that exists. Possibly as old as the city itself, a Manhattan combines whiskey, sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters. Serve it with a fresh orange peel and a batch of homemade, real maraschino liqueur.

Sweet and easy, just like the region this cocktail was created in, a Mint Julep is a southern favorite made from bourbon mixed with a hint of sugar and plenty of ice. Muddle some mint in the bottom of an old-fashioned or rocks glass to activate the flavors, then build the rest of the drink right in the glass.

It’s hard to imagine a more classic cocktail than the martini. The preferred drink of James Bond (and millions of others), this simple drink is shaken—not stirred. It’s traditionally made with chilled gin (or vodka for an alternative option), a half ounce of dry vermouth and a simple garnish of an olive or lemon twist.

There aren’t many savory cocktails that grace the cocktail hall of fame, but the Bloody Mary goes down as one of the most universally liked. This drink uses tomato juice as a base and seasons it with lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, grated horseradish and plenty of salt and pepper. There are as many variations when it comes to garnishes as there are rumors of the drink’s origin, but a crisp stalk of celery is a great place to start.

If an old-fashioned is a bit too intense for you, consider the Southern Driver. It starts much the same way, with a sugar cube, whiskey and a dash of bitters, but a good splash of orange juice is mixed in as well. The juice helps cut the taste without overwhelming the whiskey completely.

This pink cocktail is considered the quintessential drink of the city girl, but that doesn’t mean those are the only people who would enjoy one. Combine vodka, Triple Sec, cranberry juice and a splash of fresh lime juice in a shaker and strain into a martini glass. Bonus points if you toast with your friends!

Shirley Temples might be for kids, but a Dirty Shirley takes the sweet cocktail in a decidedly adult direction. The core combo is lemon-lime soda and bright red grenadine, but in this version you add a pour of vodka. Finish it off with a maraschino cherry, of course.

It’s hard to say where the first bourbon lemonade was created, but it’s a distinctly American cocktail popular in the southern states. This version adds a sparkling twist by combining lemon and orange juice with club soda. The recipe makes enough for a crowd if you’re looking for a recipe to serve at your next summer party.

Refreshing and fruity, a Pimm’s cup is a drink made from Pimm’s No. 1 as the main ingredient, a dark gin-based fruit liqueur. The English cocktail is topped with lemon-flavored soda and garnished with a large amount of fresh fruits and sometimes vegetables, like cucumber. The result is a colorful, fruit-forward drink perfect for summer gatherings or garden parties.

While a “smash” has no technical definition, it often refers to a style of cocktail that’s refreshing and simple, often with some kind of seasonal fruit. This Ruby Smash combines bourbon whiskey with ruby red grapefruit juice, grapefruit schnapps and a topper of ginger beer. It’s shaken and served frothy and ice-cold.

Don’t be afraid to use an egg white in your cocktail-making. A Pisco sour is a South American drink that uses egg white to emulsify a few simple ingredients, giving the cocktail a foamy texture. This classic version uses lime juice, honey simple syrup and pisco, a brandy made in Peru and Chile.

The key to a classic margarita is fresh lime juice (forget about that sticky-sweet mix that comes in a jug). Add it to a shaker with tequila, simple syrup and orange liqueur, then shake. Pour the mix over ice in a rocks glass lined with salt, or as directed in this recipe, a homemade lime-salt-sugar blend.

The Little Italy is just like a traditional Manhattan, but with Aperol instead of the splash of bitters. It’s a boozy drink meant for sipping slowly while the ice melts, though the Aperol does help lighten the drink somewhat. Use crushed ice if you want to mellow the drink some, or an extra-large ice cube to keep it strong.

This timeless classic comes from New Orleans and is perfect for slow sipping on a warm summer night. It gets its signature fizz from a touch of light cream shaken into the citrusy gin base, along with a topping of club soda. Orange blossom water gives the drink a unique floral twist that’s unlike any other cocktail.

Forget about the daiquiris you have had that came out of a spinning frozen drink dispenser. Daiquiris traditionally are a boozy, tart blend of rum, fresh lime juice and a bit of simple syrup to take the edge off, served on the rocks. A Hemingway Daiquiri, named for the writer, blends the lime juice with grapefruit juice and adds a touch of Maraschino liqueur, which gives the drink subtle cherry and almond notes.

Two ingredients define a Sidecar: Cognac and Cointreau (or other orange-flavored liqueur). Ina Garten brings us a special twist by soaking dried cherries in cognac before mixing the liquid with more cognac, Grand Marnier and fresh lemon juice. The plump marinated cherries serve as the perfect garnish to this pink-tinged cocktail.

Sometimes, a warm afternoon is best spent lazily sipping a simple cocktail without unnecessary frills. This quick drink combines dark rum, lemonade, and fresh mint to make a refreshing beverage that’s ready in minutes. Make sure you have plenty of ice on hand to keep the cocktail ice cold.

Even classic drinks can stand to get a fiery twist. A small touch of chipotle juice from a can of chipotle peppers adds a touch of heat to a zesty margarita in this recipe. It’s not too sweet, not too spicy—just a touch of warmth with a hint of smoky flavor to combine with the tart lime.

Thought of as the whiskey-based cousin of the Negroni, the Boulevardier combines bourbon with Campari and sweet vermouth. This version adds grilled orange slices to add a smoky, citrusy note to pair with the bitter orange notes in Campari. Overall, it’s a fun twist on the original that doesn’t stray too far from the drink’s roots.

Crisp and refreshing, there’s nothing like a Tom Collins on a hot day. Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and club soda mixed and served with plenty of ice creates the effervescent drink. The traditional garnish is a maraschino cherry and an orange slice, but feel free to swap for a lemon wedge if you prefer.

One of the many cocktails with roots in New Orleans is the Sazerac, a whiskey cocktail. In a mixing glass, a sugar cube is muddled with bitters then mixed with rye whiskey. This mixture is poured over a chilled, absinthe-rinsed glass and garnished with a simple lemon peel.