Classic Cocktails
Explore classic cocktails that have become enduring favorites behind the bar and at home. From spirit-forward recipes to refreshing sours and long drinks, choose a cocktail below to see the ingredients, measurements and step-by-step preparation.
See what you can make
Add the ingredients you have at home to My Bar and Drinks On Hand will show you which of these cocktails you can make right now — and which ingredients you’re still missing for the others.
Add ingredients to My Bar →Classic cocktail recipes
Mai Tai
A complex tiki classic balancing rum, lime, orange and almond.
Manhattan
Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters served up.
Mint Julep
Bourbon, mint and sugar served over abundant crushed ice.
Old Fashioned
Spirit-forward whiskey classic sweetened and seasoned with bitters.
About classic cocktails
Classic cocktails are drinks that have remained influential and widely recognized over time. They include simple spirit-forward recipes, balanced sours, sparkling drinks and refreshing long cocktails. Rather than belonging to one single style, classic cocktails are connected by their lasting place in cocktail culture and their continued popularity behind the bar and at home.
What makes a cocktail a classic?
Many classic cocktails are built around clear, memorable structures. The Old Fashioned keeps the focus on whiskey with sugar and bitters, while the Dry Martini and Manhattan combine a base spirit with vermouth for a clean, spirit-forward style.
Other classics depend on the balance of spirit, citrus and sweetness. The Daiquiri, Margarita and Whiskey Sour show how the same basic sweet-and-sour idea can work with rum, tequila or whiskey, while the Negroni takes a bittersweet, spirit-forward approach with gin, Campari and sweet vermouth.
Classic cocktail styles to explore
For strong, spirit-forward classics, start with the Old Fashioned, Dry Martini, Manhattan or Sazerac. These recipes keep the base spirit at the center and use a relatively small number of modifiers to shape the final drink.
For brighter and more refreshing classics, explore the Mojito, Tom Collins, French 75 and Moscow Mule. Tropical classics such as the Mai Tai and Piña Colada show another side of the classic cocktail canon.