8 Great Classic Cocktails

Planning a party? These eight drinks cover all five of the major liquors and all the classics with a couple new twists here and there. Here we go:

The Classic Martini

• 3 oz. Vodka or Gin
• 1 oz. Dry Vermouth

Put these ingredients over ice in your cocktail mixer and then shake or stir, whichever your preference. Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with a twist of lemon or three olives.

If you’re really feeling adventurous you can get hollow olives and stuff them with your favorite soft cheese. This is a delicious and decadent upgrade to the average Martini.

The Old Fashioned

The old fashioned is traditionally made with bourbon but a recent trend in the pubs has customers calling for Rye Whiskey instead. Either way is great and here’s what you’ll need.

• 2 oz. Bourbon/Rye
• 2-3 dashes of bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• 1 splash water
• Lemon twist, orange slice and cherry

Put all the non-alcoholic ingredients in a glass: bitters, sugar, water, and lemon and then muddle the ingredients together. Now add the Whiskey then the ice. Stir and garnish with an orange and a cherry.

Aperol Spritz

No matter what season or temperature it is where you’re having your party, one sip of this drink and your guests will swear its summer in Italy.

This is super easy to make. Fill a glass with ice then just measure and pour the following ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Aperol
• 2 oz. Prosecco
• Splash of Club Soda

Garnish with a lime and enjoy!

Classic Margarita

Nothing says party like a Margarita. The Margarita is classic and favorite that’s good for any occasion. Three easy ingredients and you’re all set. If you like a salted rim—do that first by rubbing the rim of your glass with a fresh lime and then rotating it in a plate of salt. Now make the drink:

• 2 oz. Tequila
• 1 oz. fresh squeezed limejuice
• 1 oz. sweetener of choice (triple sec, agave, Cointreau, etc.)

Add ice to ingredients then shake vigorously. Pour over ice for a margarita on the rocks or pour into a martini glass for a margarita straight up.

Negroni

The Negroni is a classic Italian drink that’s enjoying a comeback. Its traditionally chilled in a mixer and then served up in a martini glass

• 1 oz. Campari
• 1 oz. premium gin
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth

Shake, pour into a martini glass then add club soda until glass is full. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Dark & Stormy

A Rum punch is always great too but if you’re trying to keep your ingredients to a minimum and still want a delicious rum drink, here it is.

Fill a cocktail glass with ice then add 4 oz. of ginger beer.

Pour two ounces of dark rum into top of glass. If you put a spoon under the rum so that it drips off the spoon into the glass, it will cause the rum to float on top of the ginger beer, which gives the “stormy” look to the drink. Now squeeze a fresh lime wedge into the top and garnish with a lime.

Manhattan

Fill your cocktail mixer with ice then start adding these ingredients:

• 2 oz. premium bourbon
• ¾ oz. sweet vermouth
• Several dashes of bitters

Stir all ingredients in the cocktail mixer then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Raspberry Lemonade

This one is a sure winner. It’s easy to make and tastes just like real old-fashioned lemonade…with a kick!

Fill a pint glass with ice then add two generous spoons full of sugar. Add a splash of water and then pour two ounces of raspberry flavored vodka directly over the sugar water and ice.

Cut a lemon in half and squeeze both sides into the glass. Discard one half and save the other.

Now shake the ingredients you’ve added to the ice hard and fast about ten times. Pour the ingredients back into the pint glass and add half of squeezed lemon to glass. Now top with club soda until glass is full. Stir twice then serve.