37 Classic Cocktails Every Home Bartender Should Know
Get that cocktail shaker ready.
Going out to the bars is so last year (plus, it's so expensive!), so why not bring the party home? We think it's high time you get your cocktail shaker ready to mix up a batch of some of the most iconic, classic cocktails at Club Your House. Luckily for you, most of these cocktails only require 2 to 3 different ingredients total(!), which means you're never too far away from a batch of spritzes, vodka martinis, or Screwdrivers. So if you're ready to become the hottest spot in town, check out all 37 of these iconic cocktail recipes.
Mixology is thankfully not rocket science, and our simple, classic cocktail recipes are proof of that. Take a Dark 'N' Stormy for example; chances are, you've already got all the ingredients in your pantry! Ditto for our whiskey ginger, vodka tonic, and gimlet recipes. Club soda, tonic water, and ginger beer are your cocktail mixing besties (as well as fresh lemon, limes, and oranges), and keeping only the best ingredients on hand adds so much dimension to our margaritas, gin Rickeys, and Negronis. By all means, feel free to go wild with your mixers. But if you're like us and like alcohol with more alcohol, consider changing up your bitters in your next Manhattan. We love swapping in walnut, lavender, and black cherry bitters for a fun twist on an old favorite.
If your bar cart is in need of some love, we've got plenty of guides on how to restock your cart so you'll be mixing in no time. We taste-tested all the best tequilas, rums, whiskey, vodkas, and gins on the market (hard job, we know) to complete your home bar. And if you're doing a dry January, we even have some favorite non-alcoholic spirits for all those mocktails. Want to improve your skills across the board? Check out all of our top bartending kits.
Old Fashioned
Oaky and sweet, with a hint of citrus on the finish, the whiskey Old Fashioned is truly a bourbon lover's drink. You only need a few ingredients to make this classic cocktail—sugar, bitters, bourbon, and a large ice cube—so you’ve really got to make them count.
Get the Old Fashioned recipe.
Moscow Mule
Aside from tradition, the copper mugs offer a scientific benefit too: The copper gives chilled drinks an extra-cool sensation. And you just might feel pretty cool yourself.
Get the Moscow Mule recipe.
Campari Sprittz
The Campari spritz—bubbly, bitter, and very refreshing—is the perfect drink for a leisurely pre-dinner hang or happy hour with friends.
Get the Campari Spritz recipe.
Classic Mimosa
Nothing kicks off brunch quite like a mimosa. If you prefer your cocktails on the sweeter side, bump up the orange juice to 3 ounces per glass, or go for a sweeter bottle of bubbly.
Get the Classic Mimosa recipe.
Classic Manhattan
There are few cocktails more storied (or simple!) than the Manhattan. First stirred up in 1894 by a bartender at New York City's Waldorf Astoria, the defining characteristic is that it uses Scotch whiskey. Change up your bitters with a few dashes of walnut, lavender, or black cherry for a fun twist.
Get the Classic Manhattan recipe.
Dirty Martini
Sippable and snackable, the perfect dirty martini is a simple ratio of 5:1:1—chilled gin: dry vermouth: olive brine. This mixture is then poured over a few ice cubes and stirred until a little of the ice dilutes to tame this stiff drink, and served with a few olives.
Get the Dirty Martini recipe.
Frozen Piña Coladas
A classic summer drink, this tropical vibe in a glass is easy enough to order out, but when you want the perfect combination of sweetness, creaminess, and slush factor, making it at home is tops. We've landed on the ideal blend of pineapple, coconut, rum, and effort that will help you reach piña colada paradise.
Get the Frozen Piña Coladas recipe.
Gin Rickey
Crafted with ingredients you already have in your fridge, the gin rickey is as refreshing as it is simple to make and, not to mention, low-carb! So if you have limes, club soda, and gin, you’re well on your way.
Get the Gin Rickey recipe.
Perfect Cosmopolitan
And just like that, this amazing throwback cocktail brings us right back to Sex and the City. Perfect with a cheeseburger and fries.
Get the Perfect Cosmopolitan recipe.
Classic Mojito
For a mojito, you want to muddle mint just enough so that the leaves emit their natural oils, but not too much that they bruise or break into pieces. Mix the mint with lime, rum, and simple syrup, top with soda, and you’ll swear you’re on the beach.
Get the Classic Mojito recipe.
Best Bloody Mary
Ever the popular brunch cocktail, a good homemade Bloody Mary recipe is a must-have at a springtime celebration, whether you’re drinking them on Sunday mornings, as a hangover cure, or on airplanes (it’s a thing—check the study!).
Get the Best Bloody Mary recipe.
French 75
The French 75 is among the fanciest of cocktails. Sure, there’s the tried-and-true margarita and the timeless old fashioned, but the French 75 has got what those two don’t: Champagne! Champagne is what makes this drink distinctively French (and totally worth the splurge), but a more affordable sparkling wine such as Prosecco or Cava are both sound options. Make sure to squeeze the lemon twist into your drink to add some of those floral lemon oils.
Get the French 75 recipe.
Negroni
Something about the bittersweet, botanical flavors of the Negroni make us feel like we're on vacation. This classic Italian cocktail amps up the notes of juniper in gin with sweet vermouth and herbaceous Campari. The best part? No crazy ratios to memorize. Just stir equal parts of all three and that’s it!
Get the Negroni recipe.
Kir Royale
When it comes to sparkling wine-based cocktails, few beverages are as classy and sophisticated as a Kir Royale. The Kir Royale is a fixture at holiday celebrations, soirées hosted by the likes of Ina Garten and Martha Stewart, and even episodes of Emily in Paris, making it a great cocktail to enjoy when you want to feel a bit festive.
Get the Kir Royale recipe.
Aperol Spritz
The Aperol Spritz, also known as the Spritz Veneziano, is an Italian classic that has an iconic bittersweetness reminiscent of burnt orange and tart rhubarb. When paired with Prosecco and a bit of soda water, it makes an amazing cocktail to drink in the warmer months.
Get the Aperol Spritz recipe.
White Russian
We abide by this delicious cocktail every home bartender needs to know. Tastes like a chocolate boozy milkshake and requires only three easy ingredients you likely already have on hand.
Get the White Russian recipe.
Classic Margaritas
The margarita, now one of the most popular cocktails in the world, is thought to have started out as the variation on another Prohibition-era drink called the "Daisy." Spanish for "daisy," the marg swapped in tequila for the requisite brandy and lime juice for lemon juice, and a classic was born.
Get the Classic Margaritas recipe.
Red Sangria
Our classic version of sangria is light and bubbly with an addition of seltzer water and the perfect ratio of wine to brandy. It's also perfect all year round: Skip the summer berries and swap in fall fruits like pears and apples to keep enjoying this summer classic whenever the craving strikes.
Get the Red Sangria recipe.
Whiskey Ginger
Is there any whiskey cocktail more iconic and simple than a whiskey ginger? It’s just two ingredients, but it’s truly one of the best bubbly/spirit combinations out there. To go the extra mile, we wanted a homemade, showstopper garnish, and we couldn’t think of anything more fitting than fresh, spicy candied ginger. Not only does it look great atop a drink, but it's also great for snacking.
Get the Whiskey Ginger recipe.
Gimlet
This cocktail couldn't be simpler with only 3 ingredients, shaken and served. We love garnishing with a lime wheel and a bit of lime zest. It adds a flavorful intensity that comes from the oils that are released when a lime is zested and complements the herbaciousness of the gin.
Get the Gimlet recipe.
