When you think classic cocktails, these 9 are the most iconic drinks that have stood the test of time. Going back over 100 years ago, some of these drinks were created during the 1860’s and Prohibition. Largely called “The Golden Age of Cocktails” this is when bartenders got pretty inventive. But these cocktails are more than just mixed drinks; they’re a blend of history, art, culture, each with it’s own story. These classic cocktails offer a journey through time, flavor, and tradition.
Recipes for 9 iconic classic cocktails
Margarita
The quintessential Mexican cocktail that’s beloved worldwide and is also my favorite. A blend of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, it’s typically served in a glass rimmed with salt. The margarita is such a versatile cocktail and can be enjoyed on the rocks or frozen-blended with ice. Subsequently, it is also one of the easiest cocktails to add an endless amount of different flavors and juices to.
Margarita
(serves 1)
1 1/2 ounce silver tequila
1 ounce triple sec or Cointreau
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
1/4 ounce simple syrup
salt for rim of glass
lime wheel for garnish
Rub lime wheel around edge of glass and dip in coarse/margarita salt. Set aside. In a shaker with ice, add tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup. Shake well. Pour into salt rimmed glass.
Martini
The Martini is probably the most iconic of all the 9 classic cocktails. Dating back to the 19th century, it’s considered a very sophisticated, simplistic drink. Traditionally it’s made with gin, dry vermouth, orange bitters, and a lemon twist. However, it can also be made with vodka and garnished with olives as popularized by James Bond.
GIn martini
(serves 1)
1 1/2 ounce dry gin
1 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
dash of orange bitters
strip of lemon peel
Add gin, vermouth, and bitters to a glass with ice. Stir gently. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Squeeze lemon peel oils into glass and discard.
Vodka martini (shaken not stirred)
The recipe for this martini can be found here.
Old fashioned
The old fashioned is considered one of the first true cocktails and dates back to the early 1800’s. It has a robust flavor and smooth finish making it the epitome of a well balanced drink.
Old fashioned
(serves 1)
2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
1 sugar cube (I used 1 teaspoon of sugar because I couldn’t find a sugar cube)
1 tsp water
3 dashes bitters
orange peel twist
In a glass, stir together sugar (cube) and water. Add bourbon or rye whiskey and ice. Stir. Strain into a rocks glass with a giant ice cube or with some regular ice and garnish with an orange twist.
The Daiquiri
The Daiquiri is a Cuban classic made even more popular by Ernest Hemmingway. This cocktail combines rum, lime juice, and sugar(or in most cases- simple syrup). This simple yet sublime cocktail is not to be confused with the Daiquiri’s of New Orleans or beach resorts that are brightly colored, frozen fruity concoctions.
The Daiquiri
(serves 1)
2 ounces rum
3/4 ounce lime juice, fresh squeezed
3/4 ounce simple syrup
In a shaker with ice, add all ingredients. Shake well. Strain into a pre-chilled coupe glass. Garnish with lime twist
The Manhattan
Said to have been invented in the 1870’s at New York’s famous Manhattan Club, this iconic cocktail has changed very little. Combining rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters it has a smooth slightly sweet flavor profile.
The Manhattan
(serves 1)
2 ounces rye whiskey
1 ounce sweet vermouth
dash of aromatic bitters
cherry, for garnish
Add rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters to a glass with ice and stir until well chilled. Strain into a martini or coupe glass and garnish with a cocktail/maraschino cherry.
The Mojito
The Mojito is another cocktail originating from Cuba. It’s a refreshing cocktail that captures the essence of the tropics by combining rum, lime juice, mint leaves, sugar, and soda water. The Mojito is a popular summertime cocktail.
The Mojito
(serves 1)
1/2 of a lime cut into wedges
2 tablespoons sugar
8 fresh mint leaves
2 ounces rum
2 ounces soda water
In a tall glass, muddle lime wedges, sugar and mint leaves. Add ice and rum. Stir. Top with soda water.
The Negroni
The Negroni is an Italian classic with a complex bitter taste. Combining gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari for a striking red color, it’s the perfect aperitif and has become very popular again in the past few years.
The Negroni
(serves 1)
One ounce gin
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce sweet vermouth
Orange peel, for garnish
Add gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth to a glass with ice. Stir until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel.
Tom Collins
I debated whether to add the Tom Collins to this list, but in the end decided to because it is a very iconic drink albeit not always a very popular one. It’s origins are rather vague but this drink has been around for quite sometime- as far back as the late 1800’s. Essentially, it’s a spiked sparkling lemonade or a gin sour with club soda. A very refreshing, light cocktail.
Tom Collins
(serves 1)
2 ounces gin
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1-2 ounces club soda
lemon wheel for garnish, optional
maraschino cherry for garnish, optional (I opted not to)
In a shaker with ice, add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stain into a tall glass with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with lemon wheel and cherry, optional.
Whiskey sour
Any classic sour recipe uses a base spirit, citrus, and sugar. One of the oldest and most popular sour recipes is the whiskey sour. It combines whiskey, lemon juice, sugar and egg white. It’s most common nowadays to not include the egg white. Subsequently, I did include it in the following recipe because I’m trying to make the original iconic recipes for these cocktails. If you do include the egg white, it’s best to give it a dry shake. This means shake the ingredients without ice first. It helps aerate the egg white to give it that nice foamy texture which contributes a smoothness to the drink.
Whiskey sour
(serves 1)
2 ounces whiskey or bourbon
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1 egg white, optional
Orange wheel and maraschino cherry for garnish
In a shaker, add bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white. shake for about 30 seconds. Next, add the ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange wheel and a maraschino cherry.
To health, wealth, and happiness! Cheers!
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