There’s nothing better than a great cocktail. It may be easier to grab a beer from the fridge or order a glass of wine, but the complexity and taste of a mixed craft cocktail is untouched. Whether it’s steamy or frigid outside, there’s a perfect cocktail for every mood. But when you’re just starting to appreciate cocktails, it can be difficult to know what to order at the bars or to buy at the liquor store. On the occasion of World Cocktail Day, to help you as you begin your cocktail journey, we’ve rounded up 10 great cocktails you definitely need to try.
Cosmopolitan
Made popular by “Sex and the City,” this alcoholic drink mixes vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice and serves it straight up. More commonly known in its short form – a cosmo – it’s sweet, pink, and frothy, making it one of the favorites!
Gin and Tonic
Perhaps one of the simplest cocktails, a gin and tonic is true to its name and is made with gin and tonic water, poured over ice and finished with a lemon or lime wedge. It’s fresh and low-calorie, making it a great cocktail to sip on any time of the year and an easy one to make at home with your favorite gin.
Manhattan
Made with whiskey (normally rye), vermouth, and Angostura bitters, and garnished with a maraschino cherry, a Manhattan is generally served in a martini glass or a lowball glass on the rocks (ice). It’s a fairly stiff drink, generally thought to have been born at the Manhattan Club in New York City in the 1870s.
Martini
There’s nothing that will lift your spirits quite as quickly as a martini. After all, it’s just gin and vermouth, commonly garnished with an olive or lemon twist. There are generally considered to be three types of martinis, including a dry martini (made with dry, white vermouth), a dirty martini (which contains a splash of olive juice), and a perfect martini (equal amounts of sweet and dry vermouth). It may be served as a “Bradford” martini, which is stirred (as opposed to shaken) or “on the rocks”, which is poured over ice. Substituting vodka for gin is another common variation for this great cocktail.
Margarita
Consistently the top tequila-based cocktail, the margarita comes in many different variations. No matter the flavor, it almost always consists of tequila, orange liquor (like Triple Sec), lime juice, simple syrup, and salt to rim the glass. It’s tart and tangy and the perfect summer drink. Just make sure you’re using a high-quality tequila since it’s a very prominent ingredient.
Mojito
Make a Mojito from scratch with white rum, lime juice, soda water, simple syrup, and lots of fresh mint. This tropical drink is the perfect rum cocktail and fittingly, almost all of the ingredients are indigenous to Cuba.
Negroni
This classic Italian cocktail consists of gin, Campari, and red vermouth, and garnished with an orange peel twist. It’s a very popular short cocktail that really packs a punch and is traditionally served before dinner as an apéritif.
Old Fashioned
This timeless cocktail is made with whiskey (rye or bourbon), a sugar cube or simple syrup, Angostura bitters, one large ice cube, and an orange peel twist. It’s the most popular cocktail in the world, according to a survey of the world’s best bartenders.
Pina Colada
This sweet summery cocktail combines white rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream, and is often topped with pineapple chunks.
Tom Collins
Originally made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water, this highball cocktail is essentially a spritzy adult lemonade. It’s a classic cocktail that has been on the list of great cocktails for years, rising in popularity after Robert De Niro’s 2000 film, Meet the Parents.
Courtesy: Mapquest