15 Classic co*cktail Recipes Everyone Should Know (2024)

Recipe Collections

Manhattan, Negroni, Sazerac, Vodka Martini, Old Fashioned — these classic co*cktails have been around for ages. Try them all to discover which one is your style.

Cambria Bold

Cambria has over 10 years of experience as a director, editor, and writer. She has held senior editorial roles at Apartment Therapy, Kitchn, and Simply Recipes.

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Robin Shreeves

Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.

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Updated November 17, 2023

Negroni co*cktail
Made with one part each of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, the Negroni is super simple to make at home and a fantastic combination of earthy, bitter, and sweet flavors.
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Classic Vodka Martini
A Vodka Martini is made with vodka, vermouth, and lemon peel, stirred not shaken. Super simple but quite potent, so watch out!
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Sazerac co*cktail
Considered to be America's oldest co*cktail, the Sazerac is similar to an Old Fashioned but calls for Peychaud’s bitters instead of Angostura. And, of course, it has a very important defining feature: a bit of absinthe!
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Manhattan co*cktail
Whiskey (usually rye), sweet vermouth, and bitters, a Manhattan is as classic as it gets! Anytime you find whiskey and sweet vermouth together, you know you're in for something great.
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Old Fashioned co*cktail
The granddaddy of them all: the Old Fashioned! If you're looking to highlight a particularly great bottle of whiskey, this is the drink for you.
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Gimlet co*cktail
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Gin. Lime. Simple syrup. In the right proportions, they create the classic gimlet—a little sweet, a little sour. The co*cktail works with vodka, too, but gin is the OG.
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Hemingway Daiquiri
While a daiquiri is a classic, a Hemingway daiquiri celebrates a classic author, Ernest Hemingway. Similar to the one he used to drink, the co*cktail's base is rum and lime, like a traditional daiquiri, but it includes grapefruit and maraschino liqueur. It's said the literary giant once drank 16 of them. We suggest two, tops.
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French 75 co*cktail
Fancy up brunch with the French 75, a perfect balance of gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne. Or, serve the co*cktail, named for a field gun popular during World War I, to guests as they walk through the door of a co*cktail party to start the night on a festive, bubbly note.
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Classic Margarita
With only three ingredients—tequila, lime, and orange liqueur—the tequila you use in a margarita matters. The best tequilas are distilled only from Mexican blue agave plants and labeled 100% de agave. This recipe works straight up or on the rocks.
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Whiskey Sour
Use your favorite whiskey in this classic co*cktail, bourbon, rye, Tennessee whiskey, or even scotch. The sour part comes from the combination of citrus and simple syrup. To get the froth, it's shaken with an egg white.
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Cosmopolitan co*cktail
A modern classic (classics have to start sometime, right?), this co*cktail became popular in the 1980s and became a standard when the women of Sex in the City made it their go-to. Shake citrus vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup with ice and pour, it's that simple.
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Coquito (Puerto Rican Coconut Eggnog)
This Puerto Rican classic co*cktail is traditionally served during the winter holiday season. A mixture of traditional and coconut milks, rum, and spices. It's a bit egg-noggy (without the egg), yet the co*cktail is its own special drink and deserves its own recognition.
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Classic Mimosa
This brunch classic is a classic for a reason. It's so simple—just sparkling wine and orange juice. Grapefruit juice or tangerine juice work, too. It's often served in a flute, but you can use a traditional wine glass, too.
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Sidecar co*cktail
What's in a sidecar? Cognac, orange liqueur, simple syrup, and lemon juice, putting it in the sour category. There are lots of variations on the drink, too, including the Chelsea sidecar that replaces the Cognac with gin.
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Classic Paloma co*cktail
Palomas are back in vogue, and our version is simple and classic: just blanco (silver) tequila, fresh lime, and a chilled bottle of grapefruit soda served over ice in a tall glass. Swap out the blanco for mezcal, and you'll get a little smoky vibe happening in the glass. Rim the glass with salt, or not—you're choice!
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