Watercolor painting of a classic Old Fashioned cocktail in a heavy crystal rocks glass

Cocktail Recipes

A variety of timeless classics and modern innovations

50 recipes

Adonis

classic Difficulty: 1/5 3 min

Low-ABV sherry cocktail with orange bitters

Glass: Nick & Nora

Garnish: Orange peel

Classic low-alcohol aperitif from the 1880s, named after Broadway musical

Americano

classic Difficulty: 1/5 2 min

Low-ABV aperitif with Campari

Glass: Highball

Garnish: Orange peel

Italian aperitif, Negroni predecessor

Amsterdam Flip

regional Difficulty: 3/5 4 min

Dutch genever flip with whole egg and nutmeg

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Nutmeg

Traditional Dutch genever-based flip cocktail

Aperol Spritz

classic Difficulty: 1/5 2 min

Venetian aperitif with Aperol

Glass: Wine Glass

Garnish: Orange slice

Venetian aperitif tradition

Autumn Leaves

seasonal Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Rye whiskey with apple brandy and bitters

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Apple slice

Modern original seasonal creation celebrating autumn harvest with apple brandy and warming spices

Aviation

classic Difficulty: 2/5 4 min

Gin cocktail with crème de violette and maraschino

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Maraschino cherry

Created by Hugo Ensslin in early 1900s, featured in 1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks

Bamboo

classic Difficulty: 1/5 3 min

Low-ABV sherry and vermouth cocktail

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Lemon twist

Created in Yokohama, Japan in 1890s, classic low-alcohol aperitif

Bitter End

modern Difficulty: 3/5 4 min

Cocktail showcasing multiple bitters

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Orange peel

Modern original creation highlighting complexity of layered bitters as featured ingredients

Black Forest Old Fashioned

regional Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Whiskey old fashioned with kirsch, chocolate and cherry bitters

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Fresh cherry and orange peel

German Black Forest-inspired old fashioned featuring kirsch cherry brandy and chocolate bitters in the drink itself

Bloody Mary

classic Difficulty: 2/5 5 min

Savory vodka cocktail with tomato and celery bitters

Glass: Highball

Garnish: Celery stalk, lemon wedge, elaborate

Created in 1920s Paris, popularized in 1930s New York

Boulevardier

classic Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Whiskey-based Negroni variation with bitters complexity

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Orange peel

Created in 1920s Paris by American writer

Brandy Crusta

classic Difficulty: 3/5 4 min

Brandy cocktail with sugar rim and bitters

Glass: Wine Glass

Garnish: Lemon peel ribbon

New Orleans creation, ornate presentation

Champagne Cocktail

classic Difficulty: 1/5 2 min

Sparkling wine cocktail with sugar and bitters

Glass: Champagne Flute

Garnish: Lemon peel

Classic celebration cocktail

Chocolate Manhattan

modern Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Manhattan with Fee Brothers Chocolate Bitters

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Orange peel

American craft bitters innovation

Dutch Courage

regional Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Genever cocktail with Bols Oranjebitter

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Orange peel

Modern original creation celebrating traditional Dutch spirits and regional orange bitters. Showcases genever and Bols Oranjebitter heritage

Earl Grey MarTEAni

regional Difficulty: 3/5 5 min

Gin martini with Earl Grey tea infusion

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Lemon peel

British tea culture meets cocktails

Gin Gin Mule

modern Difficulty: 2/5 4 min

Gin and ginger beer with fresh mint

Glass: Copper Mug

Garnish: Mint sprig, lime wheel

Created by Audrey Saunders at Pegu Club in early 2000s

Heidelberg Sour

regional Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

German apple brandy sour with herbal bitters

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Lemon wheel

German precision meets American sour tradition with authentic Obstler (apple brandy)

Hot Toddy

classic Difficulty: 1/5 5 min

Warming whiskey cocktail with honey and lemon

Glass: Irish Coffee Glass

Garnish: Lemon wheel, cinnamon stick

Traditional Scottish remedy dating back centuries, warming winter drink

Jungle Bird

modern Difficulty: 2/5 4 min

Rum cocktail with Campari and pineapple

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Pineapple wedge

Malaysian hotel cocktail, modern tiki

Jäger Mule

regional Difficulty: 1/5 2 min

German herbal mule with ginger beer

Glass: Copper Mug

Garnish: Lime wheel

Modern interpretation of German herbal liqueur

London Garden

regional Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Gin cocktail with British herbs

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Fresh herbs

Modern original creation inspired by British botanical garden traditions and English herbal heritage

Mai Tai

classic Difficulty: 3/5 5 min

Classic tiki cocktail with aged Jamaican rum and orgeat

Glass: Rocks

Garnish: Mint sprig and lime shell

Created by Trader Vic in 1944, Oakland California. Original recipe featured 17-year J. Wray & Nephew Jamaican rum, fresh lime, orange curaçao, orgeat almond syrup, and rock candy syrup

Manhattan

classic Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Classic whiskey and vermouth cocktail

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Maraschino cherry

New York classic from 1870s

Martinez

classic Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Gin and vermouth cocktail with orange bitters

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Orange peel

Precursor to the Martini, 1880s

Navy Grog

classic Difficulty: 3/5 5 min

Tiki cocktail with multiple rums and bitters

Glass: Tiki Mug

Garnish: Mint sprig

Donn Beach creation, tiki classic

Negroni

classic Difficulty: 1/5 2 min

Italian aperitif cocktail with Campari

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Orange peel

Created in Florence, 1919

Oaxaca Old Fashioned

modern Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Mezcal and tequila old fashioned

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Orange peel

Modern old fashioned variation

Old Fashioned

classic Difficulty: 1/5 3 min

Classic whiskey cocktail with Angostura bitters

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Orange peel and cherry

Original whiskey cocktail from 1880s

Paper Plane

modern Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Modern equal-parts cocktail with amaro and bitters

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: None

Created in 2008, modern classic status

Penicillin

modern Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Scotch cocktail with honey and ginger

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Candied ginger

Modern classic with healing theme

Pimm's Cup

regional Difficulty: 1/5 3 min

Traditional British summer cocktail

Glass: Collins

Garnish: Cucumber and mint

Quintessential British summer drink

Pink Lady

classic Difficulty: 3/5 4 min

Gin sour with grenadine and egg white

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: None

Popular in 1930s, elegant pink cocktail

Pisco Sour

classic Difficulty: 3/5 4 min

Peruvian/Chilean sour with pisco

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Angostura bitters dots

Created in Lima, Peru by Victor Vaughen Morris at Morris' Bar in the 1920s. Note: While both Peru and Chile produce pisco, this cocktail was created in Lima, Peru. The drink is considered a national treasure in both countries

Ramos Gin Fizz

classic Difficulty: 4/5 8 min

New Orleans gin fizz with orange flower water

Glass: Collins

Garnish: None

Created by Henry C. Ramos in 1888 at his New Orleans bar. Famous for requiring 12+ minutes of shaking. Uses orange flower water (not orange bitters) as the traditional ingredient

Sazerac

classic Difficulty: 2/5 4 min

New Orleans cocktail with Peychaud's bitters

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Lemon peel

Official cocktail of New Orleans

Sbagliato

classic Difficulty: 1/5 2 min

Negroni variation with Prosecco instead of gin

Glass: Wine Glass

Garnish: Orange slice

Created accidentally in Milan 1970s when bartender used Prosecco instead of gin. Name means "mistaken" in Italian

Singapore Sling

classic Difficulty: 3/5 5 min

Heritage Raffles Hotel cocktail with cherry and pineapple

Glass: Collins

Garnish: Pineapple and cherry

Created at Raffles Hotel Singapore circa 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon. The heritage recipe includes gin, Cherry Heering, Benedictine, Cointreau, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters

Sonnema Sour

regional Difficulty: 2/5 4 min

Classic sour cocktail showcasing Frisian berenburg herbal liqueur

Glass: Tumbler

Garnish: Lemon slice

Traditional Frisian herbal liqueur in classic sour format. Berenburg originated from Amsterdam spice merchant Hendrik Beerenburg in the 18th century, later adopted by Frisian distillers. Sonnema has been producing berenburg in Dokkum since 1860.

Spring Awakening

seasonal Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Gin cocktail with fresh herbs and bitters

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Fresh herbs

Modern original seasonal creation celebrating spring with fresh herbs and floral bitters

Summer Solstice

seasonal Difficulty: 1/5 2 min

Light rum cocktail with citrus bitters

Glass: Highball

Garnish: Citrus wheel

Modern original seasonal creation celebrating peak summer with bright citrus and refreshing bubbles

Suze Spritz

regional Difficulty: 1/5 2 min

French gentian aperitif spritz

Glass: Wine Glass

Garnish: Lemon peel

French aperitif tradition

Texel Warmer

regional Difficulty: 1/5 5 min

Comforting hot chocolate spiked with Texels Juttertje herbal liqueur

Glass: Mug

Garnish: Whipped cream (optional)

Traditional warming drink from the island of Texel in the West Frisian Islands. Originally drunk by beachcombers (jutters) who returned chilled to the bone after a day collecting treasures from the North Sea shore.

Trinidad Sour

modern Difficulty: 3/5 4 min

Orgeat-based sour with Angostura bitters as base

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Lemon peel

Modern classic using bitters as base spirit

Tropical Bitters Punch

modern Difficulty: 2/5 4 min

Caribbean-style punch with aromatic bitters

Glass: Punch Cup

Garnish: Pineapple and cherry

Modern original creation showcasing aromatic bitters in tropical punch format, inspired by Caribbean tradition

Vieux Carré

classic Difficulty: 3/5 4 min

New Orleans cocktail showcasing Peychaud's bitters

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Lemon peel

Created at Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, 1930s

Walnut Old Fashioned

modern Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Old Fashioned with Fee Brothers Walnut Bitters

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Walnut

Nutty twist on American classic

Whiskey Sour

classic Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Classic sour cocktail elevated with aromatic bitters

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Lemon wheel and cherry

American classic from 1860s, enhanced with bitters

Winter Warmer

seasonal Difficulty: 2/5 3 min

Whiskey cocktail with warming spices

Glass: Old Fashioned

Garnish: Cinnamon stick

Modern original seasonal creation featuring warming winter spices and aromatic bitters for cold weather

Zombie

classic Difficulty: 4/5 6 min

Potent tiki cocktail with multiple rums and bitters

Glass: Tiki Mug

Garnish: Mint sprig, pineapple, cherry

Created by Donn Beach (Don the Beachcomber) in the 1930s. Famously complex recipe with multiple rum types, fruit juices, and both Angostura bitters and absinthe as aromatic components