I love diving into concoctions for well-loved, flavorful cocktails that stand the test of time. With the eye-catching Margarita and the thirst-quenching Mojito, my drink repertoire can skew a little toward the unfussy, while the stylish Old Fashioned and the cocktail-lover’s cocktail, the Negroni, serve as good reminders that classic doesn’t always mean simple.

Each of the cocktails offered here in their most basic forms is a reminder, too, of my strong predisposition toward delightful drinks.

The 14 Best cocktail recipes

1. Margarita

A margarita is a classic cocktail that combines tequila, Cointreau or triple sec, and fresh lime juice. Its often salt-rimmed glass makes a fine presentation, and its balance of flavor and temperature makes it a fine drink for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 2 oz tequila
• 1 oz Cointreau or triple sec
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
• Salt (for rimming the glass)
• Ice
• Lime wedge (for garnish)
• Optional: 1/4 oz agave syrup (for sweetness)

Instructions

1. Coat the rim of the glass with salt by running a lime wedge around it and then dipping it in salt.

2. In a shaker, mix tequila, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice, and agave syrup (if you’re using it).

3. Pack the shaker with ice, place lid on shaker and shake with determination for approximately 15 seconds.

4. Pour the strained mixture into the glass over fresh ice and garnish with a wedge of lime.

2. Mojito

A classic Cuban cocktail, the mojito combines white rum, fresh lime juice, sugar, and fresh mint leaves, topped off with soda water. It’s typically served over ice cubes, making it wonderfully refreshing.

Rum is a spirit that is made from sugarcane and has its origins in the Caribbean.

Ingredients

White rum
Fresh lime juice
Sugar
Fresh mint leaves
Soda water
Ice cubes

Instructions

1. In a glass, with the sugar and lime juice, muddle the mint leaves to release the oils and dissolve the sugar.

2. Place ice cubes in the glass and then add white rum.

3. Complete the drink by adding soda water; then, using a gentle touch, stir the mixture so as to combine all of the drink’s elements without losing too much of the bubbles that you’re getting from the soda.

4. Add a fresh mint sprig and a lime wedge if you want to garnish.

3. Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail that consists of bourbon or rye whiskey, a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, and some water. It’s usually served on the rocks and garnished with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry.

Ingredients
2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
1 sugar cube
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
Few dashes plain water
Ice cubes
Orange twist, for garnish
Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Instructions

1. Put the sugar cube in an Old Fashioned glass and soak it with bitters. Add a few dashes of plain water and muddle until the sugar is dissolved.

2. Ice cubes go into the glass, and then bourbon or rye whiskey is poured over them.

3. For about 15-20 seconds, stir gently. An orange twist and a maraschino cherry serve as the garnishes.

4. Negroni

Negroni is a traditional Italian cocktail that contains equal volumes of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. It is served over ice and garnished with an orange slice or twist, allowing for a truly distinct, aromatic blend.

Ingredients:
Gin
Campari
Sweet vermouth
Ice cubes
Orange slice or twist

Instructions

1. A mixing glass should be filled with ice cubes.

2. Pour equal amounts of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth into the mixing glass.

3. Mix until well combined and the infusion is chilled.

4. Pour into a rocks glass chilled over fresh ice and garnish with an orange slice or twist.

5. Cosmopolitan

Here is an introduction to a classic cocktail, the Cosmopolitan:

A Cosmopolitan combines vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and cranberry juice, shaken with ice and served elegantly with a lime wedge or twist, and optionally, orange peel for garnish.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 1 oz Cointreau or triple sec
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/4 oz cranberry juice
• Ice
• Lime wedge or twist, for garnish
• Optional: Orange peel, for garnish

Instructions

1. Put ice in a cocktail shaker.

2. Include vodka, Cointreau, freshly squeezed lime juice, and cranberry juice in the shaker.

3. Well shake it all until it is chilled and even a little bit beyond.

4. Pour into a cold martini glass and garnish with a twist or wedge of lime. A strip of orange peel is also a nice optional garnish.

6. Moscow Mule

A Moscow Mule is a well-known cocktail that’s both basic and delicious. Its blend of vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice is delightful and refreshing.

But what makes the drink truly stand out is its presentation. The Mule is served over ice in a stunning copper mug, which not only looks great but also keeps the drink as cold as possible.

They’re garnished with a fresh mint sprig and a lime wedge, providing the perfect finish.

Ingredients

2 oz vodka
4 oz ginger beer
0.5 oz lime juice
Ice cubes
Lime wedge for garnish
Mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. Stuff a copper mug full of ice cubes.

2. Over the ice, pour the vodka and lime juice.

3. Ginger beer and gently combine, stir to top with.

4. Before serving, add a lime wedge and a sprig of mint as a garnish.

7. Whiskey Sour

I introduce to you the Whiskey Sour, a cocktail of uncertain origins that has existed in some form or another for well over a century. This drink was likely born when someone decided to mix whiskey with citrus juice.

In its most basic formulation, the Whiskey Sour requires only three ingredients, plus ice: whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. The drink then can be, and often is, topped with a bit of shaken egg white for a frothy finish.

But you might also see the drink fixed without the egg, in which case it looks and tastes like liquid sunshine.

Ingredients

• 2 oz whiskey (bourbon or rye)
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 1/2 to 3/4 oz egg white (optional)
• Ice cubes
• Lemon wheel or cherry (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Mix the whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) in a cocktail shaker.

2. Vigorously shake the ingredients, without ice, for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white, if it has been added.

3. Include ice cubes and shake once more until the mixture is effectively cold. This should take around 30 seconds.

4. Pour the mixture into a glass that is chilled, then garnish it with a lemon wheel or a cherry. Consume it then and there.

8. Piña Colada

The Piña Colada is a cool, tropical drink that combines white rum, coconut cream, and fresh pineapple juice. Ingredients are blended with ice and poured into a large goblet or hurricane glass, then garnished in traditional style with a pineapple slice and a maraschino cherry.

Ingredients

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz coconut cream
• 1 oz heavy cream (optional)
• 6 oz fresh pineapple juice
• ½ cup crushed ice
• Pineapple slice and maraschino cherry (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Mix the white rum, coconut cream, heavy cream (if using), fresh pineapple juice, and crushed ice in a blender.

2. Combine and process until smooth and creamy.

3. Transfer the blend into a glass that has been chilled.

4. Decorate with a slice of pineapple and a maraschino cherry just before serving.

9. Last Word

A classic cocktail from the Prohibition era, the Last Word is a blend of equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice. The result is a drink that’s balanced, herbal, and, if I may say so, quite refreshing, particularly when you serve it with a twist of lime.

Ingredients
3/4 oz gin
3/4 oz green Chartreuse
3/4 oz maraschino liqueur
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
Lime twist (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Combine the gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice in a cocktail shaker full of ice.

2. Vigorously shake until well chilled.

3. Pour the mixture into a cocktail glass that has been chilled.

4. Add a lime twist for garnish, and savor your Last Word cocktail.

10. Aviation

The Aviation cocktail is a classic drink that features gin, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette, complemented by freshly squeezed lemon juice. It is a delightful balance of floral and citrus notes, finished with an elegant garnish.

Like many pre-Prohibition cocktails, the Aviation was largely forgotten for decades. Its comeback in the past few years has led some to declare it a modern classic.

Ingredients

2 oz gin
1/2 oz maraschino liqueur
1/4 oz crème de violette
3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 oz simple syrup (optional, to taste)
Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
Lemon twist (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Pour gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and fresh lemon juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. If using, add simple syrup.

2. Thoroughly chill the mixture by shaking it well.

3. Pour the mixture into a glass that has been chilled, a coupe or martini glass.

4. Top with a maraschino cherry and a twist of lemon.

11. Paper Plane

The Paper Plane is a contemporary mixture of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice. The cocktail is served cold and is garnished with a twist of lemon peel.

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz bourbon
• 3/4 oz Aperol
• 3/4 oz Amaro Nonino
• 3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Ice
• Optional: lemon twist for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

2. Mix the combination thoroughly until it is nice and cold.

3. In a chilled coupe or cocktail glass, strain.

4. If desired, you may add a twist of lemon for garnish and serve right away.

12. Smoked Rosemary Gin and Tonic

The Smoked Rosemary Gin and Tonic is a step-up cocktail. You get the regular refreshingness of a gin and tonic, but with added smoky flavor.

Smoked salt gives it even more smoky punch, and let’s face it, salt is just good for enhancing drink flavor. You could use plain sea salt, but that would just be missing the point.

Ingredients
Gin (2 oz)
Tonic water (4 oz)
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Ice cubes
Lemon or lime slices
Smoked salt (optional)

Instructions

1. Start with a glass that is nice and cold. Fill it with ice and let it sit while you get everything else ready.

2. Using a culinary torch or a lighter, lightly char a sprig of rosemary to create smoke. While the smoke is still wafting off the rosemary, place it in the glass.

3. Put 2 ounces of gin over the smoked rosemary and ice, and then add 4 ounces of tonic water.

4. Add the desired lemon or lime slice to garnish and even a little smoked salt. Then take your cocktail spoon and give the mixture a gentle stir to combine.

13. Corpse Reviver #2

The cocktail known as the Corpse Reviver #2 is a classic from the category of “corpse reviver” drinks meant to reawaken the senses. It puts together gin, Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano, Cointreau, and fresh lemon juice—all with an absinthe rinse.

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz gin
• 3/4 oz Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano
• 3/4 oz Cointreau
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• Absinthe rinse
• Ice
• Optional: orange peel for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a coupe or cocktail glass, then rinse it with a small amount of absinthe, discarding any excess.

2. In a cocktail shaker, mix gin, Lillet Blanc (or Cocchi Americano), Cointreau, and fresh lemon juice with ice.

3. Shake with ice until very cold, and then pour into a prepared glass.

4. You may optionally add an orange peel garnish.

14. Jungle Bird

The Jungle Bird cocktail is a classic. It blends dark rum, Campari, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and pineapple juice.

It’s a tropical tipple—you could even classify it as a tiki drink, with the rum and pineapple juice—but it’s served in a rocks glass over ice, just like you might enjoy a Negroni or an Old Fashioned.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz dark rum
3/4 oz Campari
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
1 1/2 oz pineapple juice

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

2. Pour the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.

3. If desired, garnish with a cherry or pineapple wedge.