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There's nothing like a good cocktail. And there's nothing better than learning how to make them yourself. These classic cocktails below are all easy to make with ingredients from your local liquor store.
From a Manhattan to a Cosmopolitan, these classic cocktail recipes are great for dinner, entertaining, or relaxing with friends. We’ve rounded up 10 classic cocktail recipes, how to make them, and all the ingredients you’ll need from the liquor shop. Let’s get cocktailing.
The Manhattan is an elegant drink that's perfect for after dinner. It has a deep, rich flavor and is surprisingly easy to make at home. The Manhattan recipe requires just three ingredients: whiskey (or bourbon), sweet vermouth, and bitters.
The proportions are up to you. You can use more or less of each ingredient depending on how strong you like your cocktails. For example, if you like your Manhattans less sweet and more bitter than average, try using 2 parts whiskey or bourbon to 1 part vermouth with one drop of bitters per glass. If you prefer yours sweeter and less bitter than average, try using 3 parts whiskey/bourbon with 1 part vermouth.
The best way to serve a Manhattan is straight up or over ice cubes in a chilled martini glass. If there aren't any martini glasses available a cocktail glass with ice works too.
The Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail that was invented in Louisville, Kentucky at the Pendennis Club in 1874. It's made with bourbon or rye whiskey, sugar cubes, and bitters.
The sugar cubes are placed in an Old Fashioned glass and muddled until they dissolve into the drink. You then pour the bourbon and bitters over the dissolved sugar cubes and add ice. These are best served in an Old Fashioned glass if you have one.
The Bellini is a classic Italian cocktail that's easy to make and so delicious. It's made with prosecco from your local wine shop and peach puree. You can also use ripe strawberries for a strawberry Bellini if you have them.
While the proportions are up to you, typically this recipe is a 1 to 1 ratio of prosecco and peach puree. To make the peach puree you can use fresh peaches or frozen that are already sliced and peeled. Serve the Bellini in a champagne glass.
The Gin Martini is a classic cocktail made with gin, dry vermouth, and an olive. For one drink, you’ll use gin, dry vermouth, and a green olive for garnish.
Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Keep shaking until the drink is very cold and diluted by melting ice cubes within it. Strain it into a chilled martini glass using a fine mesh strainer. Garnish the martini with a twist of lemon peel or olive if desired.
The Daiquiri is a classic cocktail made with rum, lime juice, and sugar. The classic daiquiri is made by shaking all the ingredients into a shaker with ice. You then strain it into a glass and add lime as a garnish.
Daiquiris are also popular in different fruit flavors. Popular recipes include strawberry, mango, pineapple, and peach daiquiris. You can also use a blender to serve them frozen.
The Margarita is one of the easiest cocktails to make and a classic in any bar. With the perfect mix of sweet and tart, it’s easy to see why a margarita is so popular.
The basic ingredients for this cocktail are tequila, lime juice, and triple sec. Add ice cubes, shake well, and strain into chilled glasses filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a slice of lime and salt on the rim.
Margaritas are also great frozen in a blender. Add jalapenos or additional fruit for a twist on the classic margarita.
The Negroni is a cocktail that's been around since 1919, when it was invented in Florence, Italy. The drink is traditionally made with equal parts of sweet vermouth, gin, and Campari.
Negroni is a great drink for a hot summer day. The combination of citrus and Campari makes it cool and refreshing. Garnish your negroni with a fresh orange peel.
A Cosmopolitan is a cocktail made with vodka, triple sec, and cranberry juice. It's also known as a Cosmo. If you’re feeling like channeling your inner Carrie Bradshaw, a Cosmopolitan is for you.
To make a Cosmo at home, you’ll pour vodka into a shaker with ice. Add triple sec and cranberry juice. Shake well and pour into a martini glass. Garnish the Cosmo with a lime.
The classic Moscow Mule is a popular cocktail served in an iconic copper mug. You’ll need vodka, ginger beer, and lime to make a Moscow Mule at home. To start, fill a copper mug with ice.
Next, add vodka and ginger beer to your liking. Garnish with a wedge of lime. You can also use a chilled glass if you don’t have copper mugs on hand at home.
Mojito is a Cuban cocktail made with rum, sugar, mint, and lime juice. Traditionally it's served in a tall glass over ice. This is a cool, sweet drink for hot summer days.
Muddle the mint leaves with the sugar and lime juice in a mixing glass. Fill with crushed ice, add rum, and stir well. Strain into a glass filled with fresh crushed ice. Garnish with additional mint leaves if desired and serve immediately.
The whiskey sour is a simple combination of whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar syrup. For this recipe, you’ll use rye whiskey freshly squeezed lemon juice, and one tablespoon of simple syrup.
Shake all ingredients together vigorously with ice, then strain into chilled glassware garnished with lemon or an orange slice.
The French 75 is a classic cocktail that dates back to World War II. To make a French 75 you’ll need gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and champagne. It's often served in a cocktail or champagne glass over ice with fruit garnishes such as orange slices or cherries on top.
The Spritz is a classic cocktail that originated in Italy and has since become popular around the world. It's made with prosecco, Aperol, club soda, and sparkling wine or Champagne. Aperol is an Italian bitter orange liqueur.
You can make it with any kind of bubbly beverage, such as sparkling water, but prosecco adds a light and elegant taste. Champagne is great for something bolder and sparkling wine adds sweetness.
To make a spritz, fill a glass halfway with ice cubes, pour in some Aperol, then top off the rest of your glass with sparkling water, champagne, or prosecco.
The mimosa is a classic brunch cocktail that's easy to make and can be enjoyed by everyone. It's just one part champagne and two parts orange juice, but there are many variations depending on your preferences. Some people prefer their mimosas sweeter than others, so feel free to add more orange juice or champagne.
If you're feeling adventurous, try using blood orange juice instead of regular orange juice. You can also mix in strawberry and pineapple orange juice for a fun twist on the classic mimosa. Garnish with an orange slice or fresh strawberry.
Vodka or gin, lime juice, and simple syrup are the ingredients you'll need to make this classic cocktail. The Gimlet is typically made with gin, but you can also use vodka if you prefer it over gin. Just keep in mind that the flavor will be different.
To make a Gimlet, add all the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain your drink into a cocktail glass and garnish. A garnish of fresh lime slices makes for a nice presentation when serving your guests their cocktails at home or at a party.
To make a Dirty Martini, you'll need vodka, vermouth, and olives. Using your vodka of choice, add vodka and dry vermouth to a cocktail shaker with a tablespoon of olive juice or brine from the jar. Shake well and pour into a martini glass.
To garnish, you can use additional olives on a toothpick or into the glass. The more olive juice you use, the more salty the martini. You can also use blue cheese, garlic, or jalapeno-stuffed olives.
We hope this list has inspired you to make some classic cocktails of your own. With a few simple ingredients from the liquor store, you can make one of these classic cocktails at home. These are great for entertaining, with dinner, and relaxing at home with family and friends.
If you’re looking for a one-stop liquor shop or liquor delivery near me, Mckinney Wine Merchant & Fine Spirits has it all. Head to the store or check out the website here to start an online delivery order.