Although the modern tweezer-wielding cooks often steer clear of most old-timey dishes, when it comes to alcohol delivery, the best mixologists are still reveling in the past. Even the most avant-garde, foamed and smoked, molecular gastro-cocktail joints always tip their caps to the classics. Why? These drinks are honed so perfectly over the years; they will never go out of style.
Here are ten cocktails you can easily make at home.
Martini
Ingredients:
- Vodka or Gin
- Orange bitters (substitute for gin)
- Dry vermouth, (optional for gin, not necessary for vodka)
The rich botanicals brought out by the gin are carefully rounded out by the dry vermouth before being tied together by either a brine-y olive or a citrus essence added by a lemon twist. According to Forbes Magazine, a Martini is a classic as elegant as it gets, for the classic imbiber.
The recipe:
- Add all contents to an ice-filled metallic shaker or a mixing glass
- Do not shake. Stir instead, for 10 seconds
- Serve and garnish with a lemon peel
Daiquiri
Ingredients:
- White rum
- Freshly squeezed lime juice
- Sugar
Daiquiri is a delicious drink featuring a combination of sweet, a little sour, and a strong taste. Very easy to make, but be careful, it is just as easy to mess it up. This is the ‘Hey chef, make me a nice omelette’ in bartenders world
The recipe:
- Combine all the ingredient in a mixing glass
- Add ice cubes and shake well
- Strain into a coupe and enjoy
Negroni
Ingredients:
- Campari
- Gin
- Sweet vermouth
Today, we are thankful that Count Camillo Negroni had acquired a taste for strong liquor while still working as a rodeo clown in America. His never-ending need to satisfy an unidentified craving led to the transformation of a low ABV Americano into the paradigmatic Negroni. The favorite classic drink among cocktail lovers. It’s a balance between a sweet, sour and sharp taste to create a perfect cocktail.
The recipe:
- Stir with ice cubes for 30 seconds
- Strain into a glass
- Garnish with an orange peel
Manhattan
Ingredients:
- Rye whiskey or bourbon
- Sweet vermouth and bitters
A Manhattan is considered to be a classic drink because it brings the spiciness of rye whiskey to balance the sweetness of fortified vermouth wine. This is an excellent entry-level cocktail or persons who are just discovering the taste for American whiskey but still finds joy in the more developed cocktail drinks
The recipe:
- Stir the ingredients together with cracked ice
- Strain into a pre-chilled coupe
- You can garnish with a brandied cherry or an orange twist
Gin & Tonic
Ingredients:
- London Dry gin
- Tonic water
- Lime wedge
Gin and Tonic is the perfect, warm weather drink. The beautiful botanicals of a well-prepared gin combined with quinine plus the healthy squeeze of lime wedges are just what the doctor would prescribe.
The recipe:
- Pour both over ice cubes
- Garnish with a lime wedge
Dark ‘n’ Stormy
Ingredients:
- Dark rum ginger
- Beer and lime
This is a year-round, highball and tasty cocktail. Combining the delicious taste of dark rum, with a spicy, yet sweet ginger beer and the acidity of freshly squeezed lime wedge makes this drink a perfect pick for any occasion, or at least according to the Entrepreneur Magazine.
The recipe:
- Fill glass with ice cubes
- Add rum
- Then top it with ginger beer
- Squeeze in the lime wedge
Mojito
Ingredients:
- Half a lime (cut into four pieces)
- Five fresh mint leaves
- Tablespoon of sugar
- 50ml golden rum
- Soda water
- A handful of strawberries or raspberries
Mojitos have definitely risen in popularity in recent years, especially amongst American youngsters and it’s quite easy to see why. The best part of it is that they are pretty simple to make.
The Recipe:
- Put the lime, mint leaves plus the sugar and berries, if you’re using them, into a glass and mash them
- Add the rum
- Top up with the soda water and stir
Piña Colada
Ingredients
- 50ml of white rum,
- 25ml of coconut cream,
- 25ml of single cream,
- 200ml of pineapple juice.
If you have not yet tried a Piña Colada, you are in for an amazing tropical treat. It’s my personal favorite and comes highly recommended.
The recipe
- Mix all of the ingredients.
- You can use a shaker for this.
- Serve over ice.
- If you want to cheat, use Malibu instead of the first three ingredients.
Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients
- 50ml of tequila
- 25ml of grenadine
- 175ml of orange juice
Zingy, refreshing and a fresh color to boot, I have got to confess, I am a little bit addicted to Tequila Sunrises.
The recipe
- Mix the tequila and orange juice
- Pour into a glass over ice cubes
- Slowly pour in the grenadine
- Careful to allow it to settle at the bottom of the glass. (Looks like sunrise on a bright morning, doesn’t it?)
Long Island Iced Tea
Ingredients:
- 25ml of light rum
- 25ml of vodka
- 25ml of gin
- 25ml of tequila
- 25ml of lime juice
- Coke.
This is perhaps one of the most alcoholic cocktails drinks out there, so be careful with the Long Island Iced Tea. The taste is, however, bloody good.
The recipe
- Mix all of the alcohols with the lime juice
- Pour into a glass over ice
- Top it up with coke and your Long Island Iced Tea is ready
Conclusion
A night out with buddies is among the first activities we cut out of the budget when the finances get tight. Even when you opt for staying home, you can still enjoy a wonderful drink without the need to spend a fortune while stocking your home bar.
