45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (2024)

These popular drink recipes have endured for a reason.

By Susan Choung and Catherine Lo
45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (1)

You don’t need to hit up a foofy “mixology” bar for the best cocktails. With just a few ingredients, you can make these tried and true classic cocktails. Think of them as your drink equivalents of a white tee shirt and blue jeans — they never go out of style. No fancy equipment or bartender tricks required. Just pick your poison: vodka, gin, whiskey, tequila, mezcal, rum or brandy, perhaps?

If hard liquor packs too much of a punch for you, choose from gentler tipples, like champagne cocktails where sparkling wine and affordable champagne will give a mellower buzz. For teetotalers or guests who are going alcohol-free for Dry January or Sober October, many of these classic cocktails can be revamped as delicious mocktails. So you still get the celebratory vibes without the booze. You could also simply make life easy by popping open the best non-alcoholic drinks (or for those partaking, the best canned cocktails) you can buy online.

Browse our list to find the best cocktail recipes perfect for any occasion, any time of the day. Boozy brunch? We’ve got your mimosa, Bellini and Bloody Mary. Pre-dinner aperitifs? Aperol Spritz and Pimm’s Cup are here to say, “Hold my beer.” Looking for stiffer drinks to serve as an after-dinner nightcap? Sazerac and Manhattan have entered the chat. So stock your bar cart with the staple spirits, fill up your ice cube trays (or step it up with crystal-clear ice cubes) and get ready to shake up some good, good, good libations.

1

Margarita

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (3)

One of the most popular drinks in the U.S., this refreshing cocktail originated in Mexico and was discovered by Americans in the early 1920s. Stories differ on how it came to be, but the name gives a hint: Margarita is Spanish for "daisy," a flower, but also once a variety of mixed drinks consisting of a spirit plus citrus and a sweetener.

Get the Classic Fresh Lime Margarita recipe or kick things up with the Spicy Margarita recipe.

2

Piña Colada

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (4)

If you like Piña Coladas... come sit with us. This tropical party drink became popular at the legendary Trader Vic's restaurant in New York City back in the '70s. Today it's a crowd fave and a must at any pool party.

In a blender, combine 4 cups of ice cubes with 3/4 cup fresh pineapple juice and 1/2 cup amber rum. Blend everything together until the mixture is smooth and frothy. Pour into chilled glasses and garnish with a wedge of pineapple. To complete the vacay vibes, don't forget the little cocktail umbrella.

Shop Cocktail Umbrellas

3

Paloma

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (5)

This tequila-based highball is a lighter alternative to the more famous margarita. It can be made with grapefruit soda (pink or yellow) or for an easy upgrade, fresh grapefruit juice and club soda. Our version here adds a zingy hit with ginger beer.

Get the Grapefruit Ginger Paloma recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

4

Bellini

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (6)

Nothing says simple elegance like a Bellini. This two-ingredient cocktail was invented by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry's Bar, in Venice, Italy. Pro tip: Freezing the white peach puree will help keep the Prosecco nice and chilled. You could also switch up the fruit with your favorite berries.

Get the Berry Bellini Party Ice recipe.

5

Egg Nog

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (7)

Is there a more divisive drink for the holidays? Creamy, rich and nicely spiced, this quintessential Christmas cocktail can be spiked with brandy or rum.

Get the Old-Fashioned Egg Nog recipe.

RELATED: 48 Christmas Cocktails to Get the Holiday Party Started

6

Dirty Martini

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (8)

Olive brine gives this martini a savory edge that's even more delicious with the blue cheese–stuffed olives.

Get the Dirty Martini With Stuffed Olives recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

7

Negroni

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (9)

This classic cocktail couldn't be easier to make. It's equal parts gin, Campari and vermouth plus an orange twist.

Get the Negroni recipe.

RELATED: 8 Best Drinking Glasses for Stylish Sipping

8

Cosmopolitan

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (10)

Have your Carrie Bradshaw moment with this eye-catching cocktail made with vodka and cranberry juice.

Get the Cosmopolitan recipe.

RELATED: 24 Best Valentine's Day Cocktails Perfect for a Romantic Toast

9

Espresso Martini

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (11)

Fun fact: This cocktail was reportedly created in the 1980s specifically for model Naomi Campbell. It features vodka, Kahlúa and of course, espresso.

Get the Espresso Martini recipe.

RELATED: How to Make Espresso at Home

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

10

White Russian

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (12)

This decadent cocktail is the perfect thing to cozy up with. You can include a bit of pumpkin pie spice for a seasonal drink, or omit it if you want a more classic recipe.

Get the Pumpkin Spice White Russian recipe.

RELATED: 35 Best Fall Cocktails That Will Keep You Warm All Season Long

11

Coquito

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (13)

Spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, this creamy Puerto Rican rum drink features not one, not two but three different kinds of milk.

Get the Coquito recipe.

12

Aperol Spritz

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (14)

Give your Aperol spritz a festive upgrade with this icy version. It's extra bright from fresh orange juice and zest.

Get the Aperol Spritz Granita recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

13

Michelada

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (15)

Take your next brunch up a level with these flavorful, colorful drinks made with beer, tomato juice and spices.

Get the Zesty Michelada recipe.

14

Gin Fizz

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (16)

A classic gin fizz combines the spirit with citrus, sugar and sparkling water. This pear version gets sweetness from honey and the sparkle from Prosecco.

Get the Pear Gin Fizz recipe.

15

Whiskey Sour

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (17)

This sophisticated cocktail comes together in just five minutes, and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand.

Get the Maple Whiskey Sour recipe.

SHOP COCKTAIL PICKS

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

16

Classic Daiquiri

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (18)

This citrusy drink is said to have started its path to popularity by thirsty Americans (Ernest Hemingway, for one) living or visiting Cuba during Prohibition. Although you’ll see variations churning away in frozen slush machines in bars and restaurants all over, the original was once served, very cold, over ice.

Get the Classic Daiquiri recipe.

17

Classic Old-Fashioned

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (19)

Even in the late 1800s, the basic three-ingredient version (whiskey or brandy, sugar and bitters) of this spirits-based drink was considered a throwback to the “good old days,” when cocktails were made without trendy additions like vermouth or curaçao. In the early 20th century, the occasional addition of muddled citrus and cherries became an embellishment we still love today.

Get the Classic Old-Fashioned recipe.

RELATED: 30 Best Gifts for Bartenders and Aspiring Mixologists

18

Classic Mai Tai

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (20)

In 1944, Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron, founder of the international Polynesian restaurant chain (yes, that Trader Vic) served his new tiki drink to friends visiting from Tahiti. One sip and it was declared “Maitai’i roe a’e” (“out of this world, the best,” in Tahitian).

Get the Classic Mai Tai recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

19

Big-Batch Watermelon Margaritas

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (21)

These cocktails are basically summer in a glass, thanks to the watermelon and lime flavors. But there's definitely no rule saying you can't make this easy big-batch recipe for any party in fall, winter or spring!

Get the Big-Batch Watermelon Margaritas recipe.

RELATED: 28 Refreshing Summer Cocktails That Totally Beat the Heat

20

Bees Knees

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (22)

The name of this Prohibition era classic is slang for "the best." Fitting for this top-tier gin and honey cocktail that we kicked up with black pepper.

Get the Bees Knees recipe.

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (23)

Susan Choung

Recipe Editor

Susan (she/her) is the recipe editor at Good Housekeeping, where she pitches ideas, parses words, and produces food content. In the Test Kitchen, she cooks (and samples!) recipes, working with developers to deliver the best written versions possible. A graduate of Brown University and a collaborator on several cookbooks, her previous experience includes stints at Food & Wine, Food Network, three meal kit companies, a wine shop in Brooklyn and Chez Panisse, the pioneering restaurant in Berkeley, California. She enjoys playing tennis, natural wines and reality competition shows.

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (24)

Catherine Lo

Food Editor, Hearst Lifestyle Food Group

Catherine (Cathy) Lo is Senior Food Editor for the team that produces culinary content for Hearst brands such as Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention and Women’s Health and spends her time helping to write and perfect recipes in the test kitchen, testing food products and beverages (both alcoholic and non) and keeping up with the latest food trends. Cathy has an advanced certificate in Wines and Spirits from the International Wine Center, a culinary degree from the Institute for Culinary Education and a BA from Binghamton University. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, where they’ve been known to push aside the furniture and dance swing and salsa in their living room.

45 Classic Cocktails That'll Upgrade Your At-Home Mixology Skills (2024)

FAQs

What are the 10 most popular mixed drinks? ›

Here are 10 of the most popular cocktails that will always be in style.
  • Margarita.
  • Cosmopolitan.
  • Daiquiri.
  • Gimlet.
  • Manhattan.
  • Negroni.
  • Old Fashioned.
  • Sex on the Beach.

What is a classic cocktail? ›

There's a certain kind of bartender in the past who might have summed it up succinctly: Classic cocktails are drinks from the Golden Age of drinking. Usually what they mean by that are drinks that were invented before Prohibition in the United States. It's not a definition I like much, though, for a few reasons.

What are the six classic cocktails? ›

Embury's six basic drinks are the Daiquiri, the Jack Rose, the Manhattan, the Martini, the Old Fashioned, and the Sidecar. Embury's preferred recipe for each is: Daiquiri. Shake with much finely crushed ice and strain well into a chilled cocktail glass.

What is the king of all cocktails? ›

Martini. The gin martini is the king of cocktails. A clear, classic, very strong cocktail.

What classic cocktail should I try? ›

12 Classic Cocktails Every Cocktail Lover Should Know
  • Old Fashioned.
  • Classic Martini.
  • Whiskey Sour.
  • Negroni.
  • Manhattan.
  • The Hemingway Daiquiri.
  • Pimm's Cup.
  • Mint Julep.
Jun 6, 2023

What are the four classic cocktails? ›

  • Classic champagne cocktail. A star rating of 5 out of 5.
  • Cucumber prawn cocktail cups. A star rating of 5 out of 5. 3 ratings.
  • Hurricane cocktail. A star rating of 5 out of 5. 13 ratings.
  • Sex on the beach cocktail. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. 24 ratings.

What classic cocktails should every home bartender know? ›

  • Aperol Spritz. This wine-based Italian cocktail is a big trend here in the United States. ...
  • Bloody Mary. A longtime brunch menu staple, the Bloody Mary is a favorite for those that like a more savory drink than sweet. ...
  • Cosmopolitan. ...
  • Daiquiri. ...
  • Dark 'n' Stormy. ...
  • Dirty Martini. ...
  • Long Island Iced Tea. ...
  • Mai Tai.
Mar 24, 2023

What are the five basic cocktails? ›

Get a handle on those six drinks, the authors write, and you'll be able to create innumerable variations. They are the Old Fashioned, Martini, Daiquiri, Sidecar, Whiskey Highball, and Flip.

What is the oldest cocktail? ›

What was the first ever cocktail? Accounts differ, but most experts agree that the first cocktail was the Sazerac, a blend of whisky, absinthe, bitters and sugar. Created in New Orleans in the mid-1800s, this is one of the first cocktails recognisable by name and remains a favourite to this day.

What is the number one cocktail in the world? ›

1.OLD FASHIONED

The Old Fashioned is timeless. This simple classic made with rye or bourbon, a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, a thick cube of ice, and an orange twist delivers every time. That's it — the most popular cocktail in the world.

What are the classic cocktails a bartender should know? ›

21 Drinks Every Bartender Should Know
  • Margarita. Margaritas are known for their tangy and refreshing taste. ...
  • Martini. Martinis can be spotted from across the room in their distinctive V-shaped Martini glasses. ...
  • Espresso Martini. ...
  • Old Fashioned. ...
  • Manhattan. ...
  • Daiquiri. ...
  • Mojito. ...
  • Gin and Tonic.
Mar 2, 2023

What is America's most popular cocktail? ›

Margarita

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Domingo Moore

Last Updated:

Views: 6520

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Domingo Moore

Birthday: 1997-05-20

Address: 6485 Kohler Route, Antonioton, VT 77375-0299

Phone: +3213869077934

Job: Sales Analyst

Hobby: Kayaking, Roller skating, Cabaret, Rugby, Homebrewing, Creative writing, amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Domingo Moore, I am a attractive, gorgeous, funny, jolly, spotless, nice, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.