Learn six classics and you can make almost any cocktail: the Daiquiri and Margarita (sours), the Old Fashioned, Martini and Negroni (spirit-forward drinks), and the Tom Collins (a highball). Drinks House 247 recommends measuring every ingredient with a jigger, using plenty of fresh ice, and squeezing citrus juice fresh on the day.
Most cocktails are variations on a handful of templates. Master one sour, a couple of stirred spirit-forward drinks and a highball, and you understand the logic behind hundreds of others. If you are hosting this weekend, these six cover every taste at the table.
| Cocktail | Template | Recipe | Method | Glass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daiquiri | Sour | 50ml white rum, 25ml lime juice, 15ml simple syrup | Shake hard, double strain | Chilled coupe |
| Margarita | Sour | 50ml blanco tequila, 25ml orange liqueur, 25ml lime juice | Shake hard, strain over fresh ice | Rocks glass, half salted rim |
| Old Fashioned | Spirit-forward | 50ml bourbon or rye, 5 to 10ml simple syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters | Stir over ice, serve on one large cube | Rocks glass, orange twist |
| Martini | Spirit-forward | 60ml gin or vodka, 10 to 15ml dry vermouth | Stir until very cold, strain | Chilled coupe or Martini glass, lemon twist or olive |
| Negroni | Spirit-forward | 25ml gin, 25ml sweet vermouth, 25ml Campari | Stir over ice, serve on one large cube | Rocks glass, orange slice or twist |
| Tom Collins | Highball | 50ml gin, 25ml lemon juice, 15ml simple syrup, topped with about 100ml soda | Shake the first three, strain over ice, top with soda | Tall glass, lemon wheel |
The classic Daiquiri is nothing like the frozen slush. It is three ingredients in balance, so the shake does the work: fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds until the tin is frosted. That chills, dilutes and aerates the drink. Double strain through a fine sieve to remove ice shards.
Limes vary, so taste. If the drink is too sharp, add a few millilitres of simple syrup; too sweet, a little more lime. Salt only half the rim so each sip can be taken with or without it.
A large, clear cube melts slowly, so the drink stays cold without becoming watery. Stir the ingredients with ice in a mixing glass first, then strain over the big cube. Express the oil from a strip of orange peel over the top by twisting it, skin side down.
Stir, do not shake, for about 30 seconds, until the outside of the mixing glass is ice cold. Shaking clouds the drink and adds ice chips. Keep your vermouth in the fridge and replace it within a month or two of opening; stale vermouth is the most common reason a home Martini tastes wrong.
Equal parts make it easy to remember, and easy to adjust. If it is too bitter for your taste, reduce the Campari slightly. Stir briefly over ice and serve over a large cube with an orange garnish.
Shake the gin, lemon and syrup, strain into a tall glass full of ice, then top with cold soda and stir once, gently. Adding the soda last keeps the drink lively. The same template works with vodka, whisky or tequila.
Batch stirred drinks such as Negronis ahead of time: mix the spirits in a bottle, add about 20% water for dilution, and chill in the fridge so they can be poured straight over ice. Shaken drinks are best made to order. Offer an alcohol-free option and plenty of water, and use measured pours so guests can keep track of what they are drinking.
The Daiquiri, Margarita, Old Fashioned, Martini, Negroni and Tom Collins. Together they cover the main templates: sours, spirit-forward drinks and highballs.
Stirred. Stirring chills and dilutes the drink while keeping it clear and silky. Shaking clouds it and adds ice chips.
Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, 25ml of each, stirred over ice and served on a large cube with an orange garnish.
Usually because of measuring, ice and freshness. Use a jigger, plenty of fresh ice and freshly squeezed citrus, and keep vermouth in the fridge.
Browse gin, rum, blanco tequila, bourbon and mixers, or read our home bar guide. For more, see our Negroni guide, why ice matters in cocktails and how to stock a drinks trolley.
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