10 Types of Classic Cocktails You Should Definitely Know How to Make

10 labeled photos of classic cocktails
Credit: Photo: Vicky Wasik ; Food Stylist: Brett Regot ; Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Vicky Wasik ; Food Stylist: Brett Regot ; Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Choosing a cocktail can be an overwhelming proposition. There are a huge amount of cocktails out there, and it can be tough to know what is what. My pro move when faced with a daunting list of specialty cocktails is to go with a classic, and I often do the same thing if I’m pouring a cocktail at home.

Whether you’re looking to create a cocktail-ready bar in your home, or order like an expert at your favorite bar, we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together a list of essential classic cocktails, including their ingredients, popular variations, and types of glassware they’re typically poured into so you never have to say “Wait, what’s in that?” again.

Table of Contents

  1. Manhattan

  2. Negroni

  3. Moscow Mule

  4. Bloody Mary

  5. Old-Fashioned

  6. Martini

  7. Mojito

  8. Whiskey Sour

  9. Aperol Spritz

  10. Margarita

angled shot of a single manhattan in a martini glass, on a marble surface.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Manhattan

The Manhattan is an iconic cocktail originally conceived in the late 1800s somewhere in Manhattan (some say the Manhattan Club, but we can’t be sure). It’s traditionally made with rye, although there are many, many variations on this three-ingredient classic. You can swap out the rye for bourbon or scotch (a Rob Roy), the vermouth for amaro, or change up the bitters for a different flavor profile.

  • Ingredients: Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, angostura bitters

  • Garnish: Maraschino cherry

  • Glass: Rocks glass or a cocktail glass

  • Shaken or stirred: Stirred

single negroni in a rocks glass, garnished with an orange peel inside of the glass.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Negroni

This cocktail is rumored to be a riff on another classic, the Americano, which is made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and seltzer. The story goes that sometime in the early 1900s in Florence, Italy, Count Camillo Negroni ordered an Americano with gin instead of seltzer, and the Negroni was born. Variations of this popular cocktail abound, from replacing the gin with mezcal to the viral Negroni sbagliato, which also swaps out the gin for sparkling wine.

  • Ingredients: Campari, gin, sweet vermouth

  • Garnish: Orange peel

  • Glass: Rocks glass

  • Shaken or stirred: Stirred

overhead shot of a moscow mule being poured into a copper mug, with a lime to the left of the mug.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Moscow Mule

Despite its name, the Moscow Mule did not originate in Russia (nor does it have anything to do with mules). In 1941, the Los Angeles bar Cock ‘n’ Bull found themselves with an overabundance of their house-made ginger beer. The owner’s friend happened to have just purchased the Smirnoff distillery, leaving him with a surplus of vodka that he was also trying to push out. One of the bartenders at Cock ‘n’ Bull created the cocktail to help clear out both. Variations on the original include swapping out the vodka for bourbon (a Kentucky Mule), gin (the Gin-Gin Mule), and dark rum (the Dark & Stormy).

  • Ingredients: Vodka, ginger beer, lime

  • Garnish: Lime wedge

  • Glass: Copper mug

  • Shaken or stirred: Stirred

Head on shot of a single bloody mary, garnished with lemon, olives and celery.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Stylist: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Stylist: Rachel Perlmutter

Bloody Mary

Tied with the mimosa for “cocktail most acceptable to drink before noon,” the Bloody Mary is a brunch MVP. This savory cocktail has more than a few ingredients, and the variations are endless. Everyone has a favorite Bloody, with the variables up for debate including everything from the base (tomato juice, Clamato, V8) to whether to include horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce (and how much). You can swap the traditional vodka for tequila to make a Bloody Maria, or gin for a Red Snapper, among countless other riffs on this classic.

  • Ingredients: Tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, hot sauce, lemon juice, black pepper

  • Garnish: Celery is traditional, but you can add anything from stuffed olives, to pickled vegetables, to a slice of bacon

  • Glass: Collins glass or pint glass

  • Shaken or stirred: Stirred

Angled view of an old fashioned in a rocks glass over ice with an orange peel in the glass.
Credit: Photo: Vicky Wasik ; Food Stylist: Brett Regot Credit: Photo: Vicky Wasik ; Food Stylist: Brett Regot

Old-Fashioned

The Old-Fashioned is a simple cocktail with a long history. Back in the mid- to late-1800s, a “whiskey cocktail” was a mixture of whiskey, sugar, bitters, and ice or water. Once newer liqueurs started appearing in bars from Europe, cocktails began incorporating new flavors, which led to some patrons ordering a whiskey cocktail “the old-fashioned way.” Despite the best efforts of the bar patrons of yore, there are many ways to experiment with the simple flavors of the Old-Fashioned, from trading the bourbon whiskey for different liquors to adding different flavor profiles via infused simple syrups.

  • Ingredients: Bourbon, simple syrup (or a sugar cube), Angostura bitters

  • Garnish: Orange peel

  • Glass: Rocks glass

  • Shaken or stirred: Stirred

Head on shot of a classic martini with a lemon twist resting on the rim of the glass.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Stylist: Brett Regot Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Stylist: Brett Regot

Martini

The classic martini is arguably the most quintessential of cocktails. The simple combination of gin, vermouth, and olives has spawned a surprising amount of variation. The ratios of liquor to vermouth can change from recipe to recipe as well as the inclusion of olive brine (making a dirty martini). However, the variables don’t stop there. Swap the olive for a cocktail onion to make a Gibson, or the gin for vodka for a vodka martini, and that’s without even getting into cocktails that retain the name “martini,” but stray further from the core recipe, like the lemon drop martini, or the ever-popular espresso martini.

  • Ingredients: Gin, dry vermouth

  • Garnish: Olives, although you can get fancy and go with an olive stuffed with anything from blue cheese, to lemon, to anchovies, to garlic

  • Glass: Martini glass

  • Shaken or stirred: Stirred, although James Bond might disagree

head on shot of a single mojito in a high ball glass, garnished with mint.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Mojito

Origin stories for the mojito are peppered with famous names. One story claims it was invented during the invasion of Cuba in 1586 by Sir Francis Drake, while another claims it was born in Havana at one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bars. However it was conceived, this combination of fresh, citrusy flavors and rum remains a staple for beating summer heat. Variations include the addition of fruits like watermelon, coconut, or even some blackberries and switching the white rum with other liquors like tequila or vodka.

  • Ingredients: White rum, fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup, club soda

  • Garnish: Fresh mint leaves, lime wedges

  • Glass: Collins glass or pint glass

  • Shaken or stirred: Shaken

angled shot of a single whiskey sour, garnished with a luxardo cherry.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Whiskey Sour

The whiskey sour is a cocktail that works in any season. The light flavor of lemon juice lifts the whiskey just enough for it to straddle the line between cold and warm weather. The addition of an egg white to this three-ingredient cocktail is traditional, but it’s up to you to choose your own adventure. The egg white adds a layer of foam and a richer texture to the drink, but is certainly not mandatory. If egg whites aren’t your thing, you might opt for an Amaretto Sour (Amaretto swapped for the whiskey) or a New York Sour, which adds a red wine float to the top.

  • Ingredients: Rye whiskey, simple syrup, lemon juice, egg white (optional)

  • Garnish: Maraschino cherry

  • Glass: Cocktail glass

  • Shaken or stirred: Shaken

angled shot of a single aperol spritz, with condensation on the glass.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Aperol Spritz

An Aperol spritz is like summer in a glass. It’s light and fizzy and fun, and just as appetizing at brunch as it is on vacation. This low-alcohol cocktail is actually an Italian aperitivo — a pre-dinner cocktail. Aperol itself is an Italian liqueur made with oranges that has a flavor that is both bitter and sweet. Twists on the classic include swapping the Aperol for other bitter liqueurs or amaros like Cynar or Campari.

  • Ingredients: Aperol, dry sparkling wine (like cava or prosecco), seltzer

  • Garnish: A slice of orange or lemon

  • Glass: Wine glass

  • Shaken or stirred: Stirred

<span> Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter</span> <span id=Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/99ek3Ld4doSUumB4WoVgUQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyMDA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_kitchn_605/e49cb6e80e81f354e9aaf92bd690f974>
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Margarita

An undisputed classic, the margarita is a cocktail that can be very simple or a bit more complicated, depending on who’s making it. The combination of tequila, lime juice, and some kind of sweetener can be riffed on endlessly. Some recipes call for orange liqueur, some for simple syrup, while others call for neither, opting instead for agave nectar. There are seemingly endless variations that swap in alternate fruits, or add spice, and of course there’s always the ubiquitous frozen margarita.

  • Ingredients: Tequila, lime juice, simple syrup or orange liqueur

  • Garnish: Lime wedges, kosher salt rim (optional)

  • Glass: Margarita glass or pint glass

  • Shaken or stirred: Shaken