- Jul 3, 2020
- 4 min read

17 Easy Peasy Classic Cocktails You Should Know How to Make

You asked, so here it is. A reminder that I am not a mixologist or a bartender or an expert, but simply an avid appreciator of a yummy cocktail and the ones I've listed below are truly so so simple and delicious.

If you have not yet stocked your home bar with the essentials, then pause here and click here, here, and here to make sure you've got the right goodies to make the recipes below.

Before we begin, a list of every liquid listed in the 17 recipes below which are pretty standard easy to find ingredients, along with my suggested links to them:

I also *highly* recommend you download the app Highball, available on iOS, where you can save recipes and edit or build your own and include a custom mini graphic like the ones in this article. And it's freeeeeeeeee!

vodka based

My Friday evening go-to

espresso martini

1 oz vodka

1 oz Kahlua

1 oz brewed espresso (allow it to cool completely!)

garnish: espresso beans

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add all three liquids to cocktail shaker with a handful of ice and shake really well

2. Strain into chilled cocktail glass

3. Add 2-3 espresso beans to the foamy layer of the drink for added aroma

moscow mule

1.5 oz vodka

4 oz ginger beer

¼ oz lime juice

garnish: lime

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine vodka, ginger beer, and ice in chilled glass and stir

2. Top with lime juice and garnish with citrus

gin based

My usual order at Terroni (if it's not a bottle of Lambrusco)

negroni

1 oz gin

1 oz Campari

1 oz sweet vermouth

garnish: orange

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add all liquids to mixing glass with a handful of ice and stir well

2. Strain into a rocks glass with a few large ice cubes and garnish with citrus

french 75

1 ½ oz gin

¾ oz lemon juice

½ oz simple syrup

dry champagne (or sparkling wine)

garnish: lemon

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Shake all ingredients (except champagne and garnish) with ice

2. Strain into a flute glass

3. Top with champagne and garnish with citrus

A brunch bev that normalizes gin before noon!

greyhound

1 ½ oz gin or vodka

3 oz fresh grapefruit juice

¼ oz simple syrup

garnish: grapefruit wedge and rosemary

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fill glass with ice

2. Place all ingredients (except garnish) into shaker with handful of ice cubes and shake until cold

3. Strain into glass and add garnish if desired.

bee’s knees

2 oz gin

1 oz fresh lemon juice

¾ oz honey syrup

garnish: lemon twist

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add all ingredients (minus the garnish) to cocktail shaker with a handful of ice and shake until very cold

2. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist

rum based

NOT the bastardized blended version

daiquiri

1 ½ oz white rum

¾ oz fresh lime juice

½ oz simple syrup

garnish: lime

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Shake all liquids in shaker with a handful of ice

2. Strain and pour into chilled coupe glass and garnish with citrus

mojito

1 ½ oz white rum

1 oz fresh lime juice

6 mint sprigs

2 tsp white sugar

soda water

garnish: mint sprig + lime

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Muddle mint sprigs with sugar and lime juice in a glass and add splash of soda water

2. Pour rum and soda water in glass over ice and garnish with mint and lime

tequila based

margarita

1 ½ oz tequila

¾ oz cointreau

¾ oz fresh lime juice

½ oz simple syrup

garnish: salt + lime wedge

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Shake tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and syrup in a shaker with ice

2. Rim a rocks glass with salt and fill with ice

3. Strain cocktail into glass and garnish

paloma

2 oz tequila blanco

2 oz fresh grapefruit juice

½ oz fresh lime juice

½ oz simple syrup

1 oz soda water

garnish: flaky sea salt for rim and a grapefruit wedge

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut a notch in grapefruit wedge and run it around the rim of a glass. Dip the glass rim into a plate of flaky sea salt

Add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and syrup to glass and stir well.

Fill the rest of the glass with ice, top with soda water and serve

bourbon whiskey based

paper planes

¾ oz amaro

¾ oz Aperol

¾ oz bourbon whiskey

¾ oz fresh lemon juice

garnish: lemon

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Shake all liquids in shaker with a handful of ice until well chilled

2. Strain into chilled coupe glass and garnish with lemon

boulevardier

1 ½ oz bourbon whiskey

1 oz sweet or semi-sweet vermouth

1 oz Campari

Ice, for serving

garnish: orange peel

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine bourbon, sweet vermouth, and Campari in a mixing glass with a handful of ice and stir for 30 seconds

2. Add ice to lowball glass and strain the cocktail into the glass

Cut a 1” wide strip of orange peel and squeeze into the drink to release the oils. Run the peel around the rim of the glass, then place it in the drink and serve

new york sour

2 oz bourbon whiskey

1 oz lemon juice

½ oz simple syrup

1 oz dry red wine

garnish: lemon twist

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add the bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker and fill with a handful of ice -- shake well

2. Strain the drink into an ice-filled lowball glass

3. Pour red wine over the back of a spoon just above the drink, creating a layer on top. Option to top with a lemon twist

rye whiskey based

manhattan

2 ½ oz rye whiskey

¾ oz sweet vermouth

2 dashes Angostura bitters

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass

My fave! Though not for those who hate bitter flavours.

toronto

2 oz rye whiskey

½ oz Fernet-Branca

¼ oz simple syrup or maple syrup

2 dashes Angostura bitters

garnish: orange peel

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass

liqueur based

americano

1 oz Campari

1 oz sweet vermouth

4 oz soda water

garnish: lemon or orange

INSTRUCTIONS