30 Classic Cocktails Every Home Bartender Should Know

A little brown sugar makes this classic cocktail extra warm and cozy, adding a hint of caramel, which makes this drink feel anything but old fashioned. It's the only way we like to make it now!

Get the Brown Sugar Old Fashioned recipe.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Just three simple ingredients in this classic cocktail. Quality vodka and vermouth are key here—since they make up the drink, the cheap stuff just won't do. (You can save that for our Peanut Butter Cup Martini 😂)

Get the Classic Vodka Martini recipe.

The key to a good mojito is in the muddling, but if you don’t have a muddler, that’s okay! You can use a wooden spoon or any other kitchen tool that could be used to mash and grind in a glass. 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 Mint Mojito recipe.

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.

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.

We've got four words for you about our latest Bloody Mary hack: Dill. Pickle. Ice. Cubes. Your Bloody Marys will never be the same.

Get the Dill Pickle Bloody Mary recipe.

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.

Deceptively simple to mix up, the Dark 'N' Stormy delivers a refreshingly complex wave of spice and zing. Want it with a twist? Try our Frozen Dark 'N' Stormy!

Get the Dark 'N' Stormy recipe.

Smooth and slightly tart, the pisco sour is a unique and refreshing cocktail hailing from Peru and Chile. First time trying pisco? You’re in for a treat. This grape brandy ranges from clear to amber in color and has a distinctive wine-like aroma and flavor, ranging from smooth and herbal to funky and earthy depending on the age and quality.

Get the Pisco Sour recipe.

If you asked people what is the first “cocktail” they’ve ever had, they’d probably say it was a screwdriver. It’s a stalwart of college parties and boozy brunches for its simplicity and accessibility. Love two-ingredient cocktails? Why not try out another fruity classic, like the Cape Codder. Or get a little fancy with a vodka tonic.

Get the Screwdriver Cocktail recipe.

Similar vibe to a vodka soda, vodka tonic is a little bit sweeter. Adding citrus is a nonnegotiable for us. We love lemons and limes, but blood orange slices add a fun pop of color and zing too!

Get the Vodka Tonic recipe.

We crave cranberry cocktails all season long, and this is our go-to cocktail this holiday season. It's warm and spicy from the whiskey and ginger beer, but refreshing and tart from the cranberry and citrus.

Get the Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour recipe.

New Orleans made the Sazerac famous and is a classic cocktail for Mardi Gras. We added a little maraschino juice to this whiskey and cognac cocktail for a little fruity sweetness. It's bittersweet!

Get the Cherry Sazerac recipe.

Created in the 1970s at the Soggy Dollar Bar in British Virgin Islands, the Painkiller lives up to its name, delivering plenty of booze in a frothy, nutmeg-dusted package. Looking for a way to use up the rest of that pineapple juice? Our dole whip mimosas are a brunch staple.

Get the Painkiller Cocktail recipe.

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.