Cocktail Recipes You Can Make With What's In Your Bar

Tell me what’s behind your bar. I’ll tell you what to pour.

Drink type

Missing a thing or three.

WhiskeyIntermediate
Blood Red Diamond
An earthy and juicy cocktail that leans heavily upon the bright and sweet flavor Irish whiskey is known for.
Need: Irish whiskey, Freshly pressed beet juice, Sweet potato
WhiskeyBeginner
Grain Market
Nikka's grain whisky is corn-sweet like bourbon, but goes tropical and citrus where you'd expect vanilla.
Need: Kyoho or Concord grapes, Japanese whisky, Medium sweet Madeira
WhiskeyBeginner
Japanese Old Fashioned
A shitake mushroom infusion and bitters containing kelp, bonito, and shiitake help turn the Old Fashioned into an umami bomb.
Need: Whiskey, Bitters, Maple syrup
GinBeginner
Black Negroni
Campari swapped for Fernet-Branca. Bitter, minty and considerably less forgiving.
Need: Gin, Sweet vermouth, Fernet
GinBeginner
Connaught Martini
Mixed at your table at London's Connaught, where you choose the bitters and the pour comes from a great height. Any bitters you like will do.
Need: Dry vermouth, Gin, Bitters
GinBeginner
Gin & Tonic
It's gin. It's tonic. What more were you expecting?
Need: Gin, Tonic
GinBeginner
Monsieur L’osier
The vivid green color may be a throwback to an era when cocktails featured sugary, processed ingredients, but in truth the taste is timeless.
Need: Gin, Green tea liqueur, Lime
GinBeginner
Vesca Negroni
The bespoke ice is the key to this truly unique twist on the Negroni.
Need: Dry vermouth, Luxardo bitter bianco, Gin
GinBeginner
White Negroni
Ginger liqueur and Grand Marnier bring delicious clarity to the twist on the Negroni.
Need: Gin, Grand Marnier
AgaveIntermediate
Let's Fall in Love Tonight
Tequila, lemon, honey. Three ingredients and nowhere to hide.
Need: Tequila, Lemon, Honey
AgaveBeginner
Unscalpe
Three ingredients, two of them smoky. Bitter, peaty, and over quickly.
Need: Mezcal, Kamm & Sons Islay Cask, Aperitivo
RumBeginner
Cuba Libre
A rum and coke becomes a cocktail the moment you use a real lime.
Need: White rum, Cola, Lime
RumBeginner
Daiquiri
Three ingredients, nowhere to hide. The test of whether you can balance a sour.
Need: White rum, Lime, White sugar
RumBeginner
Dark 'n Stormy
Blackstrap rum floated over ginger beer, so it arrives in layers.
Need: Dark rum, Ginger beer, Lime
RumBeginner
Piña Colada
Unfashionable and completely delicious. Use real coconut cream and it earns its reputation.
Need: White rum, Pineapple juice, Coconut cream
VodkaBeginner
Moscow Mule
The copper mug isn't a gimmick: it frosts instantly and keeps the drink brutally cold.
Need: Vodka, Lime, Ginger beer
VodkaBeginner
Salty Dog
Grapefruit and salt. Seasoning belongs in drinks too.
Need: Vodka, Grapefruit
VodkaBeginner
Vodka Martini
Cold is the entire point. Chill everything longer than you think you need to.
Need: Vodka, Dry vermouth
VodkaBeginner
White Russian
Coffee liqueur and cream over vodka. Unserious and unbothered about it.
Need: Vodka, Coffee liqueur, Cream
LiqueurBeginner
Americano
The Negroni's older, gentler parent, and a much better afternoon drink.
Need: Campari, Sweet vermouth, Club soda
LiqueurBeginner
Aperol Spritz
Three-two-one: prosecco, Aperol, soda. Impossible to get wrong.
Need: Aperitivo, Sparkling wine, Club soda
LiqueurBeginner
Grasshopper
Mint chocolate chip in liquid form, and it knows exactly what it is.
Need: Crème de menthe, Crème de cacao, Cream
LiqueurBeginner
Negroni Sbagliato
A bartender grabbed the wrong bottle in 1970s Milan and improved the drink.
Need: Campari, Sweet vermouth, Sparkling wine
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Brandy Alexander
Dessert that happens to be a cocktail. The nutmeg is not optional.
Need: Cognac, Crème de cacao, Cream
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Champagne Cocktail
A sugar cube, bitters, and patience while the bubbles do the work.
Need: Sparkling wine, Angostura, White sugar
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Sherry Cobbler
The drink that popularized the drinking straw. Low proof, endlessly refreshing.
Need: Oloroso sherry, Orange juice, White sugar
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Sidecar
Cognac's answer to the daiquiri, and the template most modern sours copy.
Need: Cognac, Triple sec, Lemon
Zero proofBeginner
Arnold Palmer
Half tea, half lemonade. Named for a man who ordered it enough times that it stuck.
Need: Iced tea, Lemonade
Zero proofBeginner
Shirley Temple
The first cocktail most people ever drink. Real grenadine makes it worth revisiting.
Need: Ginger ale, Grenadine
Zero proofBeginner
Virgin Mule
Ginger beer has enough bite to carry a drink alone. Lean into it.
Need: Lime, Ginger beer
Zero proofBeginner
Zero-Proof Spritz
Bitterness is what makes a spritz feel grown-up, and bitterness doesn't need alcohol.
Need: Club soda, Grapefruit, White sugar
WhiskeyBeginner
Manhattan
The template every stirred, spirit-forward drink is measured against.
Need: Bourbon, Sweet vermouth, Angostura
WhiskeyBeginner
Boulevardier
A Negroni that swapped gin for bourbon, and got warmer for it.
Need: Bourbon, Sweet vermouth, Campari
WhiskeyBeginner
Gold Rush
A whiskey sour with honey standing in for sugar. Three ingredients, no technique to speak of.
Need: Bourbon, Lemon, Honey
WhiskeyBeginner
Old Pal
The Boulevardier's drier cousin: rye and dry vermouth in place of bourbon and sweet.
Need: Rye, Dry vermouth, Campari
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Corpse Reviver #1
All brandy, no citrus. The heavier and much rarer of the two.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Calvados, Sweet vermouth
GinBeginner
Gimlet
Gin and lime, sweetened just enough to stop it biting.
Need: Gin, Lime, White sugar
GinBeginner
Gin Rickey
Gin, lime, soda, no sugar. One of the few classics that's genuinely dry.
Need: Gin, Lime, Club soda
GinBeginner
Martini (Gin)
Stirred is proper, but cold is the only thing that actually matters.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth
GinBeginner
Dirty Martini
A Martini with olive brine stirred through it. Go carefully — too much and it is gone.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth, Olive brine
VodkaBeginner
Martini (Vodka)
No vermouth unless it's asked for. Cold, clean, and over in four sips.
Need: Vodka
GinBeginner
Gibson
A Martini with a pickled onion. The brine is the whole point.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth
GinBeginner
Negroni
Equal parts, no measuring skill required, and bitter in the way that makes you want another.
Need: Gin, Sweet vermouth, Campari
AgaveBeginner
Tommy's Margarita
Agave instead of triple sec. Cleaner, and it tastes more like the tequila you paid for.
Need: Tequila, Lime, Agave nectar
WhiskeyBeginner
Rob Roy
A Manhattan made with Scotch. Same rules, smokier answer.
Need: Blended Scotch, Sweet vermouth, Angostura
WhiskeyBeginner
Rusty Nail
Two ingredients, no technique. The Drambuie does all the work.
Need: Blended Scotch, Drambuie
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Mimosa
Two parts champagne to one part orange juice, and no reason to complicate it.
Need: Orange juice, Sparkling wine
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Stinger
Brandy and mint, stirred. A nightcap that predates the idea of nightcaps.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Crème de menthe
GinBeginner
Vesper
Gin, vodka and Lillet. Bond ordered it shaken, which is why everyone else does.
Need: Gin, Vodka, Lillet
VodkaBeginner
Black Russian
Vodka and coffee liqueur. Add cream and it becomes a White Russian.
Need: Vodka, Coffee liqueur
VodkaBeginner
Screwdriver
Vodka and orange juice. Honest about what it is.
Need: Vodka, Orange juice
VodkaBeginner
Cape Cod
Vodka and cranberry. The drink most people mean when they say vodka cran.
Need: Vodka, Cranberry juice
VodkaBeginner
Greyhound
Vodka and grapefruit. Salt the rim and it becomes a Salty Dog.
Need: Vodka, Grapefruit
RumBeginner
Caipirinha
Cachaça, lime and sugar, muddled in the glass. Brazil's national drink.
Need: Cachaça, Lime, White sugar
Zero proofBeginner
Raspberry Lime Cola
Sharper than most dirty sodas, and the one to make if cream isn't your thing.
Need: Cola, Raspberry syrup, Lime
Zero proofBeginner
Salted Caramel Cola
The salt is doing real work here. Without it the caramel just reads as sweet.
Need: Cola, Caramel syrup, Cream
Zero proofBeginner
Raspberry Lime Rickey
A soda-fountain drink from the 1880s, and still the best argument for syrup and soda water.
Need: Club soda, Raspberry syrup, Lime
Zero proofBeginner
Lime Rickey
Lime, soda, a little sugar. The non-alcoholic descendant of the gin rickey, and a Prohibition survivor.
Need: Club soda, Lime, Simple syrup
Zero proofBeginner
Cherry Lime Rickey
The other half of the classic rickey pair. Sour cherry syrup if you can find it.
Need: Club soda, Cherry syrup, Lime
Zero proofBeginner
Watermelon Lime Soda
Good without cream, better with a splash of coconut cream if it's very hot.
Need: Lemon-lime soda, Watermelon syrup, Lime
Zero proofBeginner
Strawberry Lemonade Soda
Add cream and it becomes strawberries and cream. Both versions are right.
Need: Lemon-lime soda, Strawberry syrup, Lemon
Zero proofBeginner
Vanilla Root Beer Cream
A root beer float without the washing up.
Need: Root beer, Vanilla syrup, Cream
Zero proofBeginner
Salted Caramel Root Beer
Root beer already tastes faintly of caramel. This leans into it.
Need: Root beer, Caramel syrup, Cream
Zero proofBeginner
Toasted Marshmallow Root Beer
Campfire adjacent, and very hard to stop drinking.
Need: Root beer, Toasted marshmallow syrup, Cream
Zero proofBeginner
Chocolate Root Beer Float Soda
Chocolate and sarsaparilla, which is an old pairing and a good one.
Need: Root beer, Chocolate syrup, Cream
Zero proofBeginner
Creamsicle Float
Orange soda and cream. The whole dirty-soda idea in two ingredients.
Need: Orange soda, Vanilla syrup, Cream
Zero proofBeginner
Green Apple Lime
Sharp and very green. Skip the cream on this one.
Need: Citrus soda, Green apple syrup, Lime
Zero proofBeginner
Blackberry Ginger Lime
Ginger beer rather than ale, and no cream. The grown-up end of this list.
Need: Ginger beer, Blackberry syrup, Lime
Zero proofBeginner
Vanilla Chai Root Beer
Chai syrup carries the spice without brewing anything.
Need: Root beer, Chai syrup, Cream
Zero proofBeginner
Horchata Cream Soda
Cinnamon, cream and vanilla soda lands remarkably close to horchata.
Need: Cream soda, Cinnamon Syrup, Cream
GinBeginner
Alexander
Gin, chocolate and cream in equal thirds. The brandy version came later and took the name.
Need: Gin, Crème de cacao, Cream
WhiskeyBeginner
Algonquin
Pineapple juice in a rye cocktail. Trust the round table on this one.
Need: Rye, Sweet vermouth, Pineapple juice
GinIntermediate
Archangel
Gin, Aperol, and three slices of cucumber. Bitter and cooling at the same time.
Need: Gin, Aperitivo, Cucumber
VodkaBeginner
Bay Breeze
Cranberry and pineapple over vodka or rum.
Need: Vodka, Cranberry juice, Pineapple juice
GinBeginner
Bee's Knees
Gin, lemon, honey. Born to make Prohibition gin drinkable, kept for being good.
Need: Gin, Lemon, Honey
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Bellini
Peach puree and something sparkling. Venice in a flute, and it takes a minute.
Need: Peach, Sparkling wine
LiqueurBeginner
Buck (Any Spirit)
Less a recipe than a shape: a spirit, some citrus, ginger ale or beer on top.
Need: Ginger beer
VodkaBeginner
Cape Codder
Vodka and cranberry. Nobody is fooled and nobody minds.
Need: Vodka, Cranberry juice
RumIntermediate
Dark & Stormy
Dark rum poured over ginger beer, in that order, which is what the name describes. Gosling's hold the trademark, and theirs is the dark rum meant.
Need: Dark rum, Ginger beer, Lime
GinBeginner
Hanky Panky
Two dashes of Fernet in a sweet Martini. Ada Coleman's, and still perfect.
Need: Gin, Sweet vermouth, Fernet
GinBeginner
Highball
Spirit and ginger ale, and very little else to it.
Need: Gin, Ginger ale
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Kir / Kir Royale
Crème de cassis with white wine poured over. Use sparkling wine instead and it becomes a Kir Royale.
Need: Dry white wine, Crème de cassis
VodkaBeginner
Madras
Vodka or rum, cranberry and orange. Hard to get wrong.
Need: Vodka, Cranberry juice, Orange juice
WhiskeyBeginner
Mamie Taylor
Scotch and ginger ale with a lemon wedge. The Highball's more interesting cousin.
Need: Blended Scotch, Ginger ale, Lemon
AgaveBeginner
Margarita
Tequila, orange liqueur, lime. Skip the mix and it's one of the great sours.
Need: Tequila, Curaçao, Lime
RumBeginner
Milk Punch
Spirit, sugar, and cold milk. Old as the hills and better than it sounds.
Need: Dark rum, White sugar, Milk
RumBeginner
Rain Man
Overproof rum hidden in melon and orange juice. Count carefully.
Need: Rum, Melon liqueur, Orange juice
RumBeginner
Rum Ricky
Lime, rum, soda. Nothing sweet in it at all, which is the point.
Need: Lime, White rum, Club soda
VodkaBeginner
Sea Breeze
Vodka, grapefruit, cranberry. Refreshing and unbothered by ambition.
Need: Vodka, Grapefruit, Cranberry juice
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Spritzer
Wine and soda. It's here because knowing when to make one is a skill.
Need: Dry white wine, Club soda
RumBeginner
Susie Taylor
Rum, lime, ginger ale. The Mamie Taylor's Caribbean sister.
Need: Lime, White rum, Ginger ale
LiqueurBeginner
Burning Sun
Strawberry schnapps and pineapple juice. Sweet, pink, and entirely unapologetic.
Need: Strawberry schnapps, Pineapple juice
VodkaShotBeginner
Purple Hooter
Citrus vodka and black raspberry, straight down.
Need: Citrus vodka, Triple sec, Black raspberry liqueur
LiqueurShotBeginner
Rocky Mountain
Southern Comfort and amaretto, sharpened with lime.
Need: Southern Comfort, Amaretto, Lime
VodkaShotBeginner
Sambuca Slide
Anise, vodka and cream. Sweeter than it sounds.
Need: Sambuca, Vodka, Cream
LiqueurBeginner
Tiki Dream
Melon and cranberry in a sugar-rimmed glass.
Need: Melon liqueur, Cranberry juice
VodkaShotBeginner
Woo Woo
Peach and cranberry. The shooter everyone's had at least once.
Need: Peach schnapps, Vodka, Cranberry juice
LiqueurBeginner
Dance of Twinkle & Shadow
Gyokuro tea and absinthe, served warm. Three ounces total, and plenty.
Need: Green tea, Absinthe
LiqueurIntermediate
Chartreuse Slushy
Lemonade, Chartreuse, and a freezer. San Francisco's contribution to civilization.
Need: Lemonade, Green Chartreuse, White sugar
Wine & BrandyIntermediate
Go Ahead Romeo
Aperol frozen into cubes, then Prosecco poured over. A Spritz that improves as it melts.
Need: Sparkling wine, Aperitivo
WhiskeyBeginner
Teton Tango
Aperol, Cynar, and rye in equal parts. Bitter, and it doesn't apologize.
Need: Aperitivo, Amaro, Rye
BeerBeginner
Coors Light
A crisp American lager requiring years of disciplined practice.
Need: Coors Light
GinBeginner
Mead Highball
Mead lengthened with gin and soda.
Need: Mead, Gin, Club soda
GinBeginner
Angel Face
Gin, apricot and apple, and the gin is only half of it.
Need: Gin, Apricot liqueur, Calvados
GinBeginner
Derby
Gin, two dashes of peach bitters, and mint dropped in whole.
Need: Gin, Peach bitters, Fresh mint
Wine & BrandyBeginner
French Connection
Cognac and amaretto over ice. Nothing to shake, nothing to get wrong.
Need: Cognac, Amaretto
WhiskeyBeginner
Godfather
Scotch and amaretto. The almond takes the edge off the smoke.
Need: Blended Scotch, Amaretto
VodkaBeginner
Harvey Wallbanger
A screwdriver with Galliano floated on top, which is the whole difference.
Need: Vodka, Galliano, Orange juice
VodkaBeginner
Kamikaze
Equal parts, served up. Sharper than its reputation as a shot suggests.
Need: Vodka, Triple sec, Lime
GinBeginner
Paradise
Gin, apricot and orange in descending order. The apricot does more than it looks.
Need: Gin, Apricot liqueur, Orange juice
GinBeginner
White Lady
A sidecar built on gin. Three ingredients and no room to hide.
Need: Gin, Triple sec, Lemon
LiqueurShotBeginner
B-52 Shooter
Equal thirds of coffee, cream and orange. Stirred here rather than layered, which is quicker and tastes the same.
Need: Coffee liqueur, Irish cream, Triple sec
WhiskeyBeginner
Tipperary
Irish whiskey and green Chartreuse, which sounds unlikely until you taste it.
Need: Irish whiskey, Sweet vermouth, Green Chartreuse
RumBeginner
Honey Bee
A daiquiri that swaps the sugar for honey. Warm the honey first or it will sit at the bottom.
Need: White rum, Honey, Lemon
WhiskeyBeginner
Bobby Burns Cocktail
Scotch and sweet vermouth with a teaspoon of Bénédictine doing the work.
Need: Blended Scotch, Sweet vermouth, Bénédictine
GinBeginner
Alaska Cocktail
Gin and yellow Chartreuse. Nothing sour in it at all, which surprises people.
Need: Gin, Yellow Chartreuse, Orange bitters
GinBeginner
Allies Cocktail
A dry martini with half a spoon of kümmel, which tastes of caraway and changes everything.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth, Kümmel
GinBeginner
Blackthorn
Sloe gin and sweet vermouth, and darker than either sounds.
Need: Sloe gin, Sweet vermouth
GinBeginner
Pink Gin
Gin and three dashes of bitters. Naval, and not really pink.
Need: Gin, Bitters
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Valencia Cocktail
Mostly apricot, with just enough orange to stop it being a liqueur.
Need: Apricot liqueur, Orange juice, Orange bitters
LiqueurBeginner
Kir Royale
Blackcurrant in the bottom of the flute and champagne on top. One part to five.
Need: Crème de cassis, Sparkling wine
VodkaBeginner
Godmother
Vodka and amaretto over ice, which leaves the almond nowhere to hide.
Need: Vodka, Amaretto
WhiskeyBeginner
Monte Carlo
A Manhattan with Bénédictine standing in for the vermouth. Sweeter, and herbal underneath.
Need: Rye, Bénédictine, Bitters
GinBeginner
Trinity Cocktail
Gin and both vermouths in equal thirds. Nothing to measure by eye.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth, Sweet vermouth
RumBeginner
Hop Toad
Rum and apricot in equal measure, with more lime than either. Short and sharp.
Need: White rum, Apricot liqueur, Lime
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Montana
Brandy and port over ice, kept dry by a half ounce of vermouth.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Port, Dry vermouth
LiqueurBeginner
Chrysanthemum Cocktail
No base spirit at all: dry vermouth and Bénédictine, with just enough absinthe to smell it.
Need: Dry vermouth, Bénédictine, Absinthe
LiqueurBeginner
Bamboo
Equal sherry and dry vermouth. About as low in strength as a stirred drink gets.
Need: Fino sherry, Dry vermouth, Orange bitters
GinBeginner
Bermuda Rose
Mostly gin, with a quarter ounce each of apricot and grenadine doing all the colouring.
Need: Gin, Apricot liqueur, Grenadine
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Betsy Ross
Brandy and port, stirred, with a dash of triple sec. Three ingredients and no juice.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Port, Triple sec
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Brandy Sour
The sour template on brandy: spirit, lemon, sugar, and nothing else to hide behind.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Lemon, White sugar
GinBeginner
Chelsea Sidecar
A Sidecar built on gin instead of brandy, in equal parts spirit and orange liqueur.
Need: Gin, Triple sec, Lemon
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Chicago Cocktail
Brandy with a quarter teaspoon of triple sec, served in a glass rimmed with sugar.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Bitters, Triple sec
WhiskeyBeginner
Maple Leaf
Three ingredients: bourbon, lemon and a teaspoon of maple syrup instead of sugar.
Need: Bourbon, Lemon, Maple syrup
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Applecart
A Sidecar built on applejack, in equal thirds. Sharper than the brandy original.
Need: Calvados, Triple sec, Lemon
GinBeginner
Artillery
Gin and sweet vermouth with a dash of bitters. Three things, shaken, done.
Need: Gin, Sweet vermouth, Bitters
WhiskeyBeginner
Black Hawk
Equal whiskey and sloe gin. Two ingredients and nowhere for either to hide.
Need: Whiskey, Sloe gin
WhiskeyBeginner
Blinder
Scotch lengthened with a lot of grapefruit and a teaspoon of grenadine.
Need: Blended Scotch, Grapefruit, Grenadine
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Brandy Cassis
Brandy, blackcurrant and lemon. The cassis does the sweetening on its own.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Crème de cassis, Lemon
LiqueurBeginner
Country Club Cooler
Dry vermouth, soda and half a teaspoon of grenadine. Barely a cocktail, and deliberately so.
Need: Dry vermouth, Club soda, Grenadine
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Harvard Cooler
Applejack, sugar and soda. A cooler in the old sense: long, cold and barely sweet.
Need: Calvados, White sugar, Club soda
GinBeginner
Knickerbocker
A dry Martini with half a teaspoon of sweet vermouth. That half teaspoon is the drink.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth, Sweet vermouth
LiqueurBeginner
Amer Picon Cocktail
Two ounces of a bitter orange aperitif, lengthened with lime and a teaspoon of grenadine.
Need: Amer Picon, Lime, Grenadine
Wine & BrandyIntermediate
Baltimore Bracer
Equal brandy and anisette with an egg white, which turns the whole thing pale and soft.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Anisette, Egg white
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Bosom Caresser
Brandy and Madeira stirred together, with just enough triple sec to lift them.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Medium sweet Madeira, Triple sec
GinBeginner
Coronation Cocktail
Gin, dry vermouth and Dubonnet in equal thirds. Not the sherry Coronation.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth, Dubonnet
WhiskeyBeginner
Narragansett
Bourbon and sweet vermouth with a dash of anisette, which is the whole idea.
Need: Bourbon, Sweet vermouth, Anisette
WhiskeyBeginner
Kentucky Colonel
Three ounces of bourbon and half an ounce of Bénédictine. Nothing else at all.
Need: Bourbon, Bénédictine
RumBeginner
Little Princess
Two parts rum to one of sweet vermouth. A Manhattan with the whiskey swapped out.
Need: White rum, Sweet vermouth
VodkaBeginner
Ninotchka Cocktail
Vodka, chocolate and lemon in a two-to-one-to-one that keeps it from being a dessert.
Need: Vodka, Lemon, Crème de cacao
GinBeginner
Obituary Cocktail
A dry Martini with as much absinthe as vermouth. A New Orleans drink and it tastes it.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth, Absinthe
GinBeginner
Parisian
Equal gin and dry vermouth with half an ounce of cassis. Drier than it sounds.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth, Crème de cassis
WhiskeyBeginner
Everybody's Irish
Irish whiskey with green crème de menthe and green Chartreuse. As green as it sounds.
Need: Irish whiskey, Crème de menthe, Green Chartreuse
RumBeginner
Jean Harlow
Rum and sweet vermouth in equal ounces. The Little Princess with the vermouth doubled.
Need: White rum, Sweet vermouth
GinBeginner
Newbury
Three to one gin and sweet vermouth, with half an ounce of triple sec.
Need: Gin, Sweet vermouth, Triple sec
LiqueurBeginner
Queen Elizabeth
Two parts sweet vermouth to one of Bénédictine. No base spirit at all.
Need: Bénédictine, Sweet vermouth
GinBeginner
Zaza
Mostly Dubonnet with a splash of gin, and often called the Dubonnet Cocktail. Low, sweet and bitter all at once.
Need: Gin, Dubonnet, Orange bitters
GinBeginner
Gin Fix
A sour served long over ice, with a spoon of water to open it up.
Need: Gin, Lemon, White sugar
GinBeginner
Gin Sour
The sour template on gin. Three ingredients and nowhere to hide.
Need: Gin, Lemon, White sugar
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Green Room
Two parts dry vermouth to one of brandy, with half a teaspoon of curaçao.
Need: Curaçao, Brandy/Calvados, Dry vermouth
GinBeginner
Johnnie Cocktail
Sloe gin and curaçao with a teaspoon of anisette. Sweet, and darker than it looks.
Need: Curaçao, Sloe gin, Anisette
GinBeginner
Montmartre Cocktail
Gin with sweet vermouth and triple sec in equal half ounces.
Need: Gin, Sweet vermouth, Triple sec
GinBeginner
Poet's Dream
Gin, dry vermouth and Bénédictine in equal thirds. Herbal and dry at once.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth, Bénédictine
RumBeginner
Poker Cocktail
Two parts sweet vermouth to one of rum. Barely a cocktail and all the better for it.
Need: Sweet vermouth, White rum
GinBeginner
Pompano
Gin and grapefruit in equal ounces, kept dry by half an ounce of vermouth.
Need: Gin, Dry vermouth, Grapefruit
WhiskeyBeginner
Scotch Sour
The sour on Scotch, and made with lime here rather than lemon.
Need: Blended Scotch, Lime, White sugar
WhiskeyBeginner
Scotch Stinger
A Stinger built on Scotch, in equal parts. Sweeter and smokier than the brandy one.
Need: Blended Scotch, Crème de menthe
VodkaBeginner
Silverado
Equal vodka and Campari with an ounce of orange juice, built over ice.
Need: Vodka, Campari, Orange juice
GinBeginner
Snowball
Gin with anisette and a spoon of cream. Small, white and stronger than it looks.
Need: Gin, Anisette, Cream
WhiskeyBeginner
Tarantula
Scotch, sweet vermouth and Bénédictine. The shape of a Bobby Burns.
Need: Blended Scotch, Sweet vermouth, Bénédictine
VodkaBeginner
Vodka Stinger
A Stinger with vodka in place of the brandy, in equal parts.
Need: Vodka, Crème de menthe
Wine & BrandyBeginner
A. J.
Applejack and grapefruit, three parts to two. Two ingredients and no sweetener at all.
Need: Calvados, Grapefruit
RumBeginner
Adam
Dark rum and lemon with a teaspoon of grenadine. A daiquiri that went darker.
Need: Dark rum, Lemon, Grenadine
GinBeginner
Arthur Tompkins
Gin with half an ounce of Grand Marnier and just two teaspoons of lemon.
Need: Gin, Grand Marnier, Lemon
GinBeginner
Flying Dutchman
Gin with half an ounce of triple sec. Two ingredients, stirred, and that is the whole drink.
Need: Gin, Triple sec
LiqueurBeginner
Port Wine Cocktail
Two and a half ounces of port with half a teaspoon of brandy. About as low as a cocktail goes.
Need: Port, Brandy/Calvados
RumBeginner
Quarter Deck Cocktail
Rum with a third of an ounce of cream sherry and a good squeeze of lime.
Need: White rum, Cream sherry, Lime
WhiskeyBeginner
Dry Rob Roy
A Rob Roy with dry vermouth instead of sweet, and only a teaspoon and a half of it.
Need: Blended Scotch, Dry vermouth
RumBeginner
Havana Cocktail
Equal rum and pineapple with a teaspoon of lemon. Three ingredients and nothing sweetened.
Need: White rum, Pineapple juice, Lemon
GinBeginner
Hawaiian Cocktail
Gin with triple sec and a tablespoon of pineapple juice. Drier than the name suggests.
Need: Gin, Triple sec, Pineapple juice
WhiskeyBeginner
Loch Lomond
Scotch with Drambuie and dry vermouth in equal half ounces. A Rusty Nail turned dry.
Need: Blended Scotch, Drambuie, Dry vermouth
GinBeginner
Lone Tree Cocktail
Two parts gin to one of sweet vermouth. A sweet Martini by another name.
Need: Gin, Sweet vermouth
GinBeginner
Poppy Cocktail
Gin and white crème de cacao, two to one. The whole drink is two ingredients.
Need: Gin, Crème de cacao
RumBeginner
Rum Cobbler
Sugar and soda stirred in the glass, then dark rum poured over ice. A cobbler is that simple.
Need: White sugar, Club soda, Dark rum
RumBeginner
Rum Sour
The sour template on light rum, with only half a teaspoon of sugar.
Need: White rum, Lemon, White sugar
GinBeginner
Sloe Gin Cocktail
Two ounces of sloe gin with a quarter teaspoon of dry vermouth and a dash of bitters.
Need: Sloe gin, Dry vermouth, Orange bitters
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Sol Y Sombra
Equal brandy and anisette. Sun and shade, and nothing else in the glass.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Anisette
RumBeginner
Van Vleet
Three ounces of rum with maple syrup and lemon. Sweeter and bigger than a daiquiri.
Need: White rum, Maple syrup, Lemon
LiqueurBeginner
Vermouth Cassis
Dry vermouth and cassis over ice with soda. Low, purple and very French.
Need: Dry vermouth, Crème de cassis, Club soda
GinBeginner
Victor
Gin with sweet vermouth and brandy in equal half ounces.
Need: Gin, Sweet vermouth, Brandy/Calvados
WhiskeyBeginner
Whisky Mac
Scotch and green ginger wine, poured and stirred. A British winter in a glass.
Need: Blended Scotch, Green ginger wine
VodkaBeginner
Blue Lagoon
Vodka and blue curaçao lengthened with lemonade. The colour is the entire point and it makes no apology for that.
Need: Vodka, Blue curaçao, Lemonade
RumBeginner
Caipirissima
The caipirinha built on white rum instead of cachaça. Two limes, muddled in the glass with the sugar.
Need: Lime, White sugar, White rum
RumBeginner
Dark Caipirinha
A caipirinha made with demerara sugar, which takes it molasses-dark and rounds off the lime.
Need: Demerara sugar, Lime, Cachaça
VodkaBeginner
Godchild
The third of the family. Vodka and amaretto like the Godmother, with an equal ounce of cream shaken through it.
Need: Vodka, Amaretto, Cream
WhiskeyBeginner
Highland Fling Cocktail
A Rob Roy that takes orange bitters instead of Angostura. The swap is small and the drink is not the same.
Need: Blended Scotch, Sweet vermouth, Orange bitters
GinBeginner
London Town
Gin and maraschino with orange bitters. A Casino without the lemon, and drier for it.
Need: Gin, Maraschino, Orange bitters
LiqueurShotIntermediate
Port and Starboard
Grenadine and green crème de menthe, layered and not mixed. Two ingredients, and the whole drink is the pour.
Need: Grenadine, Crème de menthe
WhiskeyBeginner
Raspberry Julep
The julep with raspberry syrup in place of the sugar. Eight mint leaves and a lot of crushed ice, as ever.
Need: Bourbon, Raspberry syrup, Fresh mint
AgaveBeginner
Tequila Sour
The sour template on tequila, and nothing else. Two ounces, a squeeze of lemon, a spoon of sugar.
Need: Tequila, Lemon, White sugar
VodkaBeginner
Vodka Tonic
Vodka and tonic over plenty of ice, with a strip of lemon peel. There is nowhere for a warm one to hide.
Need: Vodka, Tonic, Lemon
AgaveBeginner
Whitecap Margarita
Tequila, lime and two ounces of cream of coconut, blended white. Nothing dairy in it despite the name.
Need: Tequila, Coconut cream, Lime
VodkaIntermediate
Meyer Lemon Granita
A lemon ice with vodka stirred through it, forked into crystals straight from the freezer.
Need: White sugar, Lemon, Vodka
GinBeginner
The Cosmonaut
Gin, lemon and a heaped bar spoon of raspberry jam.
Need: Gin, Lemon, Raspberry preserves
LiqueurShotIntermediate
Slippery Nipple
Sambuca with Irish cream floated on it. Two ingredients and one skill, and the skill is pouring slowly.
Need: Sambuca, Irish cream, Grenadine
LiqueurShotIntermediate
Buttery Nipple
The Slippery Nipple with butterscotch underneath instead of sambuca. Sweeter, softer, and much easier to get down.
Need: Butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, Grenadine
LiqueurShotAdvanced
B-55
A B-52 with absinthe where the orange liqueur goes. It will light, and it is the kind of drink people light.
Need: Coffee liqueur, Irish cream, Absinthe
LiqueurShotIntermediate
Brain Tumor
Peach schnapps, Irish cream dropped in rather than floated, and grenadine after it. It curdles on purpose and looks exactly as advertised.
Need: Peach schnapps, Irish cream, Grenadine
LiqueurShotIntermediate
Irish Flag
Green, white and orange in that order. Get the pour right and it is a flag; get it wrong and it is a brown shot.
Need: Crème de menthe, Irish cream, Grand Marnier
LiqueurShotBeginner
Irish Frog
Melon liqueur with Irish cream on top. Two ingredients, one pour, and about as green as a drink gets.
Need: Melon liqueur, Irish cream
LiqueurShotIntermediate
Squashed Frog
Grenadine, melon liqueur and advocaat, layered. Milder than the name and the colours suggest.
Need: Grenadine, Melon liqueur, Advocaat
LiqueurIntermediate
Angel's Tit
Maraschino over crème de cacao with cream on top and a cherry on that.
Need: Crème de cacao, Maraschino, Cream
LiqueurShotBeginner
Banshee
Banana, cacao and cream shaken cold. Equal thirds, and the cream is what keeps it civil.
Need: Banana liqueur, Crème de cacao, Cream
LiqueurShotIntermediate
Jelly Bean
Grenadine, sambuca and Southern Comfort in equal layers. Aniseed and cherry, and it does taste like the sweet.
Need: Grenadine, Sambuca, Southern Comfort
VodkaShotBeginner
Boyarskiy
Grenadine, vodka and five drops of Tabasco. Sweet for the first second and then not.
Need: Grenadine, Vodka, Hot sauce
AgaveShotIntermediate
Flatliner
Sambuca, tequila and a dash of Tabasco. The heat arrives after you have swallowed, which is the joke.
Need: Sambuca, Tequila, Hot sauce
VodkaShotBeginner
Red Square
Sambuca and vodka with hot sauce through it. A Flatliner built on vodka instead of tequila.
Need: Sambuca, Vodka, Hot sauce
AgaveShotBeginner
Chupacabra
A tequila shot with three drops of Tabasco in it. That is the entire drink.
Need: Tequila, Hot sauce
AgaveShotBeginner
Green Mexican
Tequila, melon and lime shaken and poured short. A margarita's argument, made in one swallow.
Need: Tequila, Melon liqueur, Lime
LiqueurShotIntermediate
Innocent Sex
Sambuca, Irish cream and triple sec layered in a shot glass. The B-52 shape with aniseed at the bottom.
Need: Sambuca, Irish cream, Triple sec
LiqueurShotBeginner
Orgasm
Irish cream, triple sec and Grand Marnier. Two orange liqueurs rather than one, which is what separates it from a B-52.
Need: Irish cream, Triple sec, Grand Marnier
LiqueurShotBeginner
Redheaded Slut
Jägermeister, peach schnapps and cranberry. Sweet enough that the Jäger takes a second to show up.
Need: Jägermeister, Peach schnapps, Cranberry juice
LiqueurShotIntermediate
Galliano Hot Shot
Galliano with hot espresso poured on it and cream on that. Hot and cold in the same glass, which is the whole idea.
Need: Galliano, Espresso, Cream
WhiskeyShotBeginner
Anaconda
Tennessee whiskey and sambuca, shaken cold. Equal parts, and it drinks like neither one.
Need: Tennessee whiskey, Sambuca
RumShotBeginner
Fireball
White rum, cinnamon schnapps and Tabasco, shaken. Nothing here is on fire — the name is about the aftertaste.
Need: White rum, Goldschläger, Hot sauce
RumShotBeginner
Liquid Cocaine
Overproof rum, cinnamon schnapps and Jägermeister in equal measure. One is plenty.
Need: Overproof rum, Goldschläger, Jägermeister
LiqueurShotBeginner
Oatmeal Cookie
Cinnamon schnapps, butterscotch and Irish cream. It does taste like the biscuit, which is unsettling at this strength.
Need: Goldschläger, Butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream
AgaveShotBeginner
Horny Bull Shot
Equal parts tequila and white rum, with vodka if you are feeling it. No mixer and nothing to hide behind.
Need: Tequila, White rum
LiqueurShotAdvanced
Flaming Dr Pepper
Amaretto with overproof rum floated on it, lit, and dropped into a pint of beer. There is no Dr Pepper in it and it tastes like Dr Pepper.
Need: Amaretto, Overproof rum, Beer/Stout
LiqueurBeginner
Death in the Afternoon
Absinthe topped with cold champagne. It goes cloudy the moment the wine hits it, and that is the drink telling you it is working.
Need: Absinthe, Sparkling wine
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Bentley
Equal parts calvados and Dubonnet, stirred. Apple and quinine, and nothing else to get in the way.
Need: Calvados, Dubonnet
LiqueurBeginner
Golden Cadillac
Galliano, white crème de cacao and cream in equal parts. Vanilla and chocolate, served cold and after dinner.
Need: Galliano, Crème de cacao, Cream
GinBeginner
Silver Bullet
Gin with Scotch stirred into it and nothing else.
Need: Gin, Blended Scotch
Wine & BrandyBeginner
B&B
Brandy and Bénédictine, half and half. The name is the recipe.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Bénédictine
GinBeginner
Charlie Chaplin
Equal parts sloe gin, apricot brandy and lime. Three sweet-sounding things that come out tart.
Need: Sloe gin, Apricot liqueur, Lime
LiqueurBeginner
Japanese Slipper
Melon liqueur, Cointreau and lemon in equal parts. Bright green and much sharper than it looks.
Need: Melon liqueur, Triple sec, Lemon
LiqueurBeginner
Midori Sour
Melon liqueur, lemon and a little sugar. The sour template with the spirit left out entirely.
Need: Melon liqueur, Lemon, White sugar
VodkaBeginner
Appletini
Vodka stirred with apple liqueur and Cointreau. The 1990s in a glass, and not as bad as its reputation.
Need: Vodka, Green apple liqueur, Triple sec
VodkaBeginner
Hazelnut Martini
Vodka, Frangelico and crème de cacao, stirred and served cold. Dessert with the sugar dialled back.
Need: Vodka, Frangelico, Crème de cacao
LiqueurBeginner
Nutty Irishman
Frangelico, Irish cream and cream in equal parts. Hazelnut all the way down.
Need: Frangelico, Irish cream, Cream
LiqueurBeginner
Butter Cream
Butterscotch and Irish cream with milk over the top. Soft enough to drink at the wrong end of the evening.
Need: Butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, Milk
VodkaBeginner
Crème Anglaise
Advocaat, cream and vodka. Thicker than a White Russian and considerably more yellow.
Need: Advocaat, Cream, Vodka
RumBeginner
Fluffy Duck
White rum and advocaat with a splash of cream over ice. The stronger of the two drinks under this name.
Need: White rum, Advocaat, Cream
LiqueurBeginner
Fluffy Duckling
Advocaat and white crème de cacao lengthened with lemonade. The softer one, and long rather than short.
Need: Advocaat, Crème de cacao, Lemon-lime soda
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Canary Flip
Advocaat and white wine shaken with lemon. Odd on paper, and the lemon is what makes it work.
Need: Advocaat, Dry white wine, Lemon
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Brandy Separator
Brandy and coffee liqueur under a long pour of milk. A White Russian that went to France.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Coffee liqueur, Milk
WhiskeyBeginner
Sneaky Pete
Rye, coffee liqueur and milk in equal parts. The White Russian's build with whiskey in the vodka's place.
Need: Rye, Coffee liqueur, Milk
AgaveBeginner
Brave Bull
Tequila and coffee liqueur over ice. A Black Russian with agave underneath it.
Need: Tequila, Coffee liqueur
WhiskeyBeginner
BMW
Irish cream, coconut rum and whiskey in equal parts. Named for the initials and nothing else.
Need: Irish cream, Coconut rum, Whiskey
LiqueurBeginner
Barbarella
Two parts Cointreau to one of sambuca, shaken. Orange and aniseed, and sweet from start to finish.
Need: Sambuca, Triple sec
LiqueurBeginner
Delta Sunset
The Barbarella with lemon juice in it, which is all it takes to turn a sweet drink into a sour one.
Need: Sambuca, Triple sec, Lemon
LiqueurBeginner
Blueberry Tea
Amaretto and Grand Marnier under hot black tea. No blueberries, and it tastes like blueberries anyway.
Need: Amaretto, Grand Marnier, Black tea
RumBeginner
Jagertee
Hot black tea with overproof rum in it and sugar to taste. A cold-weather drink, and the rum is not a rounding error.
Need: Black tea, Overproof rum, White sugar
AgaveShotBeginner
Tequila Slammer
Tequila and lemonade, slammed on the bar to make it foam and drunk straight down. A party trick with a recipe attached.
Need: Tequila, Lemon-lime soda
WhiskeyBeginner
Boilermaker
A shot of whiskey and a glass of beer. Four ways to drink them and no wrong answer.
Need: Whiskey, Beer/Stout
VodkaBeginner
Yorsh
Beer with vodka in it. The Russian answer to the Boilermaker, and it hits harder than either half suggests.
Need: Beer/Stout, Vodka
WhiskeyBeginner
7 & 7
Whiskey and lemon-lime soda over ice. The name is the two sevens and nothing more.
Need: Whiskey, Lemon-lime soda
WhiskeyBeginner
Jack and Coke
Tennessee whiskey and cola. No technique, no garnish, and no apology needed.
Need: Tennessee whiskey, Cola
LiqueurBeginner
Fernandito
Fernet and cola over ice. The ratio is the whole argument, and everyone who drinks it has a firm view.
Need: Fernet, Cola
LiqueurBeginner
Scarlett O'Hara
Southern Comfort with cranberry and lime. Three ingredients and no way to get it wrong.
Need: Southern Comfort, Cranberry juice, Lime
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Dubonnet-Cassis
Dubonnet and crème de cassis lengthened with soda. A low-strength aperitif that tastes like it should be stronger.
Need: Dubonnet, Crème de cassis, Club soda
LiqueurBeginner
Cherry Hooker
Cherry Heering and orange juice over ice. Two ingredients, and the cherry does all the work.
Need: Cherry Heering, Orange juice
RumBeginner
Caribou Lou
Overproof rum and coconut rum under a long pour of pineapple. It tastes like almost nothing and is almost entirely rum.
Need: Overproof rum, Coconut rum, Pineapple juice
LiqueurShotBeginner
Jägerbomb
A shot of Jägermeister dropped into half a can of energy drink. There is nothing else to it.
Need: Jägermeister, Energy drink
WhiskeyShotBeginner
Vegas Bomb
Whiskey and peach schnapps dropped into energy drink. The Jägerbomb's sweeter cousin.
Need: Rye, Peach schnapps, Energy drink
WhiskeyBeginner
Basil Julep
The julep with basil where the mint goes. Softer and a little peppery, and it wants the same mountain of crushed ice.
Need: Bourbon, Fresh basil, White sugar
WhiskeyBeginner
Dry Manhattan
Rye and dry vermouth instead of sweet. Sharper, paler, and it takes a lemon twist rather than a cherry.
Need: Rye, Dry vermouth, Angostura
WhiskeyBeginner
Washington Apple
Rye, apple liqueur and cranberry in near-equal parts. Sweet-tart, and the rye keeps it from being a sweet.
Need: Rye, Green apple liqueur, Cranberry juice
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Rose
Kirsch and dry vermouth with a little strawberry syrup. Pink, and nowhere near as sweet as that makes it sound.
Need: Kirsch, Dry vermouth, Strawberry syrup
LiqueurBeginner
Adriatique
Amaro and Aperol lengthened with orange juice. Bitter at the edges and easy in the middle.
Need: Amaro, Aperitivo, Orange juice
AgaveBeginner
Ambassador
Tequila and orange juice over ice with a little sugar. A screwdriver that went south.
Need: Tequila, Orange juice, White sugar
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Rossini
Blended strawberries under cold sparkling wine. The Bellini with the peach swapped out, and it behaves the same way.
Need: Strawberries, Sparkling wine, Lemon
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Tintoretto
Pomegranate juice under sparkling wine. Same idea as the Bellini, deeper in colour and drier on the finish.
Need: Pomegranate juice, Sparkling wine
Zero proofBeginner
Roy Rogers
Cola with grenadine in it and a cherry on top. The Shirley Temple's cola half, and the one children actually ask for.
Need: Grenadine, Cola
Zero proofBeginner
Stay Sober
Apple and cranberry under ginger beer. Sharp enough that nobody asks what is in it.
Need: Apple juice, Cranberry juice, Ginger beer
Zero proofBeginner
Banana Flash
A banana, a peach and orange juice in a blender. Breakfast, in a hurricane glass.
Need: Banana, Peach, Orange juice
Zero proofBeginner
Banana Fantasy
Banana, pineapple and coconut syrup blended smooth. A piña colada with the rum left out — or left in, if you want.
Need: Banana, Pineapple juice, Coconut syrup
LiqueurBeginner
Fuzzy Navel
Peach schnapps and orange juice. Fuzzy is the peach, navel is the orange, and that is the whole joke.
Need: Peach schnapps, Orange juice
VodkaBeginner
Ice Pick
Vodka and iced tea over ice, with lemon to your own taste. A porch drink that asks nothing of you.
Need: Vodka, Iced tea, Lemon
LiqueurBeginner
Amaretto Sour (Basic)
Two ingredients and nowhere to hide. Without the bourbon the almond comes forward, and the lemon has to carry the whole balance on its own.
Need: Amaretto, Lemon
Wine & BrandyBeginner
Stinger (Advanced)
Two and a half parts to one where the original pours three, so the mint comes a step forward. Stirred, which keeps it clear.
Need: Cognac, Crème de menthe
GinBeginner
Ginhound
The Greyhound with gin under it. The botanicals meet the grapefruit halfway, which vodka never tries to do.
Need: Gin, Grapefruit
VodkaBeginner
Martini Chocolate (Basic)
Two bottles, equal parts. None of the grated Valrhona or the truffle honey of the house build, and it takes about a minute.
Need: Vodka, Crème de cacao
GinBeginner
Salty Dog (with Gin)
The gin Salty Dog. Salt on the rim pulls the bitterness out of the grapefruit, and the juniper gives it something to pull against.
Need: Gin, Grapefruit, Salt
LiqueurBeginner
Incredible Hulk
Equal parts Hpnotiq and cognac, and the colour is most of the point. Sweet, strong, and over in about four sips.
Need: Hpnotiq, Cognac
LiqueurBeginner
Aquamarine
Hpnotiq stretched with pineapple and banana liqueur. Softer than the colour suggests, and the pineapple stops the banana taking over.
Need: Hpnotiq, Pineapple juice, Banana liqueur
WhiskeyShotBeginner
Red Shooter
Three equal shots of Canadian whisky, amaretto and cranberry, shaken and thrown back in one. Sweet enough that the whisky never gets to argue.
Need: Canadian whisky, Amaretto, Cranberry juice
VodkaBeginner
57 Chevy with a White License Plate
Equal parts vodka and white crème de cacao over ice. Chocolate with no cream behind it, which leaves it lighter and a good deal colder than it sounds.
Need: Vodka, Crème de cacao
GinBeginner
69 Special
Gin lengthened with lemon-lime soda and a real squeeze of lemon. The fresh juice is the whole difference; without it this is a gin and soda.
Need: Gin, Lemon-lime soda, Lemon
BeerBeginner
110 in the Shade
A tequila boilermaker. The shot goes in glass and all, and the lager does the rest of the work.
Need: Lager, Tequila
WhiskeyShotBeginner
3 Wise Men
One Tennessee, one Scotch and one bourbon, in equal thirds. The line-up is the joke; the drink underneath is a shot of whiskey.
Need: Tennessee whiskey, Blended Scotch, Bourbon
WhiskeyShotBeginner
Grandma's Coughdrop
Whiskey with a quarter ounce of coffee liqueur under it and four drops of grenadine on top.
Need: Whiskey, Coffee liqueur, Grenadine
RumShotBeginner
Whip's Wake
An ounce of rum with half an ounce of espresso on it, drunk in one. Somewhere between a nightcap and the thing that undoes a nightcap.
Need: Rum, Espresso
Wine & BrandyShotBeginner
Whip's Nightcap
Brandy and amaretto in a shot glass, two to one. The French Connection with the ice and the sipping taken out of it.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Amaretto
AgaveShotBeginner
Whip's Reveille
Tequila and coffee liqueur in a shot glass, two to one. The Brave Bull with the ice left out and a little more agave in it.
Need: Tequila, Coffee liqueur
GinShotBeginner
Christmas Fir
Grandma's Coughdrop with gin under it instead of whiskey. The juniper turns the whole thing pine-and-berry, which is where the name came from.
Need: Gin, Coffee liqueur, Grenadine

The ambitious end of the book, and most of them start with a syrup or infusion you make yourself.

WhiskeyAdvanced
American Troubadour
Bourbon, Fernet Menta, and Grand Marnier over cold brew. Bitter, minty, and wide awake.
Need: Bourbon, Fernet, Grand Marnier, Cold brew, Lime, Demerara sugar, White sugar
Make first: Demerara Syrup
WhiskeyAdvanced
Bellini 95
This mashup of a Bellini and a French 95 is rich and nutty, and requires a serious amount of practice to get the texture and complexity just right.
Need: Sparkling wine, Lemon, Peach, Wakocha tea, Agar agar, Almonds, Demerara sugar, White sugar
Make first: Bellini 95 Mix, Orgeat, Demerara Syrup
WhiskeyAdvanced
Blackberry Derby
Sunflower seeds add a rich, nutty note to the bourbon, which keeps the shrub from running away with the drink.
Need: Fresh mint, Angostura, Honey, Blackberries, Balsamic vinegar, Sunflower seeds, Bourbon
Start 8 to 16 hours ahead
WhiskeyAdvanced
Cherry Cherry Monkey
The Salted Pistachio Syrup is the reason to make this, and you'll start putting it in everything else.
Need: Blended Scotch, Lime, Cherries, Bitters, White sugar, Pistachios, Salt
Make first: Salted Pistachio Syrup
WhiskeyAdvanced
Earl of Seville
A multilayered drink with an emphasis on subtle citrus touches.
Need: Lemon, Italicus rosolio di bergamotto liqueur, Fernet, Bitter orange marmalade, Earl Grey, Whiskey, Demerara sugar, White sugar, Apple juice, Egg white powder
Make first: Earl Grey Infused Chivas Regal, Demerara Syrup, Apple Foam
WhiskeyAdvanced
Irish Breeze
Irish Coffee served cold. An Ethiopian espresso brings the floral edge that makes it work.
Need: Irish whiskey, Cold brew, Cream, Dried hibiscus, White sugar
Start 10 days ahead
WhiskeyAdvanced
Michter’s & Pear
A fusion of an Old Fashioned and a Gimlet provides a zingy and irresistible combination. Despite the name, the bourbon doesn’t have to be Michter’s.
Need: Bourbon, White sugar, Pear, Citric acid, Malic acid, Vodka
Start 24 hours ahead
WhiskeyAdvanced
Fire Star Punch
Two corn-forward whiskeys against red pepper syrup and hibiscus. The Cuban roll gets it cold and mixed without beating any air into it.
Need: Corn whiskey, Rye, Martini & Rossi riserva speciale rubino, Martini & Rossi bitter, Iced hibiscus tea, Demerara sugar, White sugar, Bell pepper, Citric acid
Start 24 hours ahead
WhiskeyAdvanced
Sayonara!
Ichijiku are Japanese figs, and kuromitsu is a black sugar syrup. Both turn up online or at a good Asian grocer.
Need: Whiskey, White soy sauce, Nori, Kombu, Angostura, White sugar, Kuromitsu, Licorice root, Cinnamon
Start 2 weeks ahead
WhiskeyAdvanced
Shiso Miso
Butter, miso and shiso worked into Japanese whisky. The spirit on its own is already most of a cocktail.
Need: Angostura, Shiso leaves, White miso, Butter, Whiskey, Demerara sugar, White sugar
Start 12 hours ahead
WhiskeyAdvanced
Table 32
A week of maceration lets the berries ferment slightly, which adds a pleasant funk without reaching for another spirit.
Need: Bourbon, Lime, White sugar, Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Sesame seeds, Rye, Whiskey, Almonds, Demerara sugar
Start 1 week ahead
WhiskeyAdvanced
The Marathon Man
A birthday cake in a glass, and just as filling.
Need: Bourbon, Kahlua, Frangelico, Mozart dark chocolate liqueur, Peanut butter, Milk, Miniature Snickers bar, Almonds, Demerara sugar, White sugar
Make first: Orgeat, Demerara Syrup
WhiskeyAdvanced
Time’s Arrow II
The candy garnish takes some work. It earns it, on looks and on taste.
Need: Whiskey, Luxardo bitter bianco, White vermouth, Lemon, Orange juice, Salt
Start 12 hours ahead
WhiskeyAdvanced
Yinchuan
Fat-washing is a great way of adding another dimension to spirits, giving them an irresistible depth.
Need: Rye, Red date tea, Crème de pêche, Bitters, Hay, for smoking, Honey, Sichuan peppercorns
Make first: Sichuan Peppercorn Syrup
GinAdvanced
Basilico
The basil lends a pleasant touch of anise, while the lemon thyme allows the vermouth to articulate a sweet, citric note that complements the gin.
Need: Fresh basil, Gin, Tonic, Lemon, Fresh thyme, Dry vermouth
Start 24 hours ahead
GinAdvanced
Crystal Gazpacho
As refreshing as the soup it's named for, and a fair measure of how far the kitchen has crept into the bar.
Need: Dry vermouth, Tomato, Gin, St-Germain, White sugar, White balsamic vinegar
Start 12 hours ahead
GinAdvanced
Electric Earl
Bitter tea and grapefruit with something herbal underneath. Track down the electric daisy, because it genuinely buzzes your tongue.
Need: Lime, Grapefruit, Bitters, Shiso vinegar, Sichuan peppercorns, Gin, Orange juice, Lady Grey tea, White sugar, Lemon, Fresh thyme, Shiso leaves, Lemongrass, Eucalyptus leaves, Prunella leaves, Kukicha tea, Tonic
Start 3 to 5 days ahead
GinAdvanced
Even A Tree Can Shed Tears
Herb-infused gin with muscat and tea liqueur. The infusion pushes the pine into the background and lets the rest come forward.
Need: Mistia Muscat liqueur, Lemon, Fresh mint, Lemongrass, Chamomile, Cardamom, Gin
Make first: Herb-Infused Tanqueray No. Ten
GinAdvanced
Fennel & Olive Oil Gimlet
The fennel comes through far more than the olive oil, which is there for texture rather than flavor.
Need: Gin, Lime, Orange flavored olive oil, Fennel, White sugar
Make first: Fennel Syrup, Simple Syrup
GinAdvanced
Fizz Kaffir
A refreshing, sweet, and sour drink that will hit the spot when you want dessert, but don’t have room for something heavy.
Need: Brandy/Calvados, Giffard crème de rhubarbe, Cranberry juice, Lemon, Egg white, Lime, Gin
Start 12 hours ahead
GinAdvanced
Lady in Red
A cocktail inspired by the Negroni Sbagliato, with a floral and fruity finish.
Need: Gin, Campari, Sparkling wine, Lemon, Apple cider vinegar, Strawberries, White sugar, Pomegranate juice
Start 3 days ahead
GinAdvanced
Lapsang Souchong
Smoky tea brewed in a coffee siphon. It wants precision and real equipment, and it repays both.
Need: Gin, Brandy/Calvados, Applewood chips, Almonds, Loose-leaf lapsang souchong tea, Apple slice, Rosemary, White sugar
Make first: Simple Syrup
GinAdvanced
Local Tea Party
A tropical tea cocktail that you’ll want to drink all summer.
Need: Gin, Lemon, Rosemary, Green Chartreuse, Honey, Lychee, Blackberries, Salers aperitif
Start 1 week ahead
GinAdvanced
Mister Nine
Bourbon and gin don't share a glass willingly. Elderflower, jasmine and bay leaf talk them both down.
Need: Bourbon, St-Germain, Jasmine tea, Gin
Make first: Jasmine-Infused Gin
GinAdvanced
Night Vision
A brief rest in American white oak gives Spirit Works barrel gin spicy, floral and dark fruit notes.
Need: Gin, Lemon, Dry vermouth, Oloroso sherry, Carrot, White sugar, Caraway seeds, Vodka
Start 24 hours ahead
GinAdvanced
Panda Latino
Herbal, sour, and just faintly salty from the Parmesan. A good lead-in to a long dinner.
Need: Gin, Kiwi fruit, peeled, St-Germain, Lemon, Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, Fresh thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Black peppercorns
Start 12 hours ahead
GinAdvanced
Sgroppino Plagiato
There’s no better way to celebrate the miracle of homemade sorbet.
Need: Aperitivo, Sparkling wine, White sugar, Lemon, Passion fruit puree, Mango, Vanilla bean, Cream
Start 24 hours ahead
GinAdvanced
Simply Red
Thoughtful, playful, and straightforward at the same time, which is everything a modern cocktail should be.
Need: Gin, Lime, Egg white, Bitters, Pomegranate juice, Urfa pepper, Sumac
Make first: Simply Red Syrup
GinAdvanced
Sleeping Lotus
Orgeat, pronounced ore-zha. The bottled stuff is sweeter and flatter than anything you'd make yourself.
Need: Fresh mint, Gin, Lemon, Orange bitters, Almonds, Demerara sugar, White sugar
Make first: Orgeat, Demerara Syrup
GinAdvanced
Strawberry Letter 23
Everything from the cabbage juice to the gin is there to make the strawberry pop.
Need: Gin, Strawberries, Lime, Freshly pressed cabbage juice, Olive oil, Cinnamon, White wine vinegar
Start 1 week ahead
GinAdvanced
The Beehive
A Bee’s Knees with ginger and sarsaparilla worked into the honey. Sharper than the original, and oddly nostalgic.
Need: Islay Scotch, Lemon, Orange bitters, White sugar, Fresh ginger, Honey, Indian sarsaparilla, Salt
Start 24 hours ahead
GinAdvanced
Thyme Traveler
The Thyme Syrup ties everything together, highlighting the botanicals in the gin and the floral nature of the St-Germain.
Need: Cucumber, Gin, St-Germain, Lemon, Bittermens hellfire habanero shrub, White sugar, Fresh thyme
Make first: Thyme Syrup
GinAdvanced
Violet Fizz
Violette, orgeat, and passion fruit under a cap of foam. Tropical, and built to be looked at.
Need: Gin, Lemon, Creme de violette, Egg white, Blue curaçao, Almonds, Demerara sugar, White sugar, Passion fruit puree
Make first: Orgeat, Demerara Syrup, Rich Simple Syrup, Passion Fruit Syrup
GinAdvanced
Wicca Cauldron Cure
The pea flower dashed over the top keeps changing the color after the first few sips. The taste is not far behind the spectacle.
Need: Lemon, Gin, Sparkling wine, Grapefruit, Orange juice, White sugar, Fresh ginger
Start 24 hours ahead
AgaveIntermediate
Champagne Paloma
A Paloma that put on a tuxedo. Two grapefruits and a bottle of Champagne.
Need: Tequila, Grapefruit, Sparkling wine, Cinnamon, White sugar
Start 12 hours ahead
AgaveIntermediate
Drunken Rabbit
Tropical fruit dragged over a campfire. Big, smoky, dangerously easy.
Need: Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Fresh pineapple, Cinnamon, Cloves, Allspice berries, Chipotle chile, Dried chiles, White sugar
Start 12 hours ahead
AgaveIntermediate
Gun Metal Blue
Yes, blue curacao. Smoke and cinnamon keep it from being a novelty.
Need: Mezcal, Blue curaçao, Brandy/Calvados, Lime, Cinnamon, White sugar
Start 12 hours ahead
AgaveAdvanced
Habitual Line Stepper
Pumpkin-oil-washed tequila and four fortified wines. Exactly as far over the line as promised.
Need: Quinquina, Brandy/Calvados, Fino sherry, Bitters, Pumpkin seed oil, Tequila
Start 6 days ahead
AgaveAdvanced
Historia de un Amor
Pineapple and passion fruit with five dashes of chile. A love story with an argument in it.
Need: Tequila, Mezcal, Lime, White sugar, Fresh pineapple, Thai chile, Rum, Passion fruit puree, Demerara sugar
Start 2 weeks ahead
AgaveAdvanced
Home Is Where the Heat Is
A cocktail where each sip provides something new to consider, thanks in large part to the presence of the capricious flavor of tamarind.
Need: Giffard banane du brésil liqueur, Lime, Manzanilla sherry, Jalapeño, Mezcal, White sugar, Tamarind pulp
Start 24 hours ahead
AgaveAdvanced
La Diosa
The Pineapple Marmalade does the heavy lifting, and you'll want it in other drinks afterwards.
Need: Tequila, Triple sec, Lime, Red pepper flakes, Cilantro, Egg white, White sugar, Orange juice, Fresh pineapple, Cinnamon, Vanilla bean, Guajillo chile, Dried chiles, Sweet vermouth, Lillet
Make first: Pineapple Marmalade
AgaveAdvanced
Pamplemousse au Poivre
Grapefruit and black pepper over smoke. Sharp in three directions at once.
Need: Mezcal, Crème de pamplemousse, Lemon, Grapefruit bitters, Coriander seeds, Sichuan peppercorns, Pink peppercorns, Vodka, White sugar
Start 24 hours ahead
AgaveAdvanced
Peach Tea
White tea, peach, and clary sage. Barely there and completely deliberate.
Need: Tequila, Crème de pêche, Club soda, Green tea, White sugar, Peach, Citric acid, Pectinex, Fresh sage, Vodka
Start 3 days ahead
AgaveIntermediate
Shake Your Tamarind
Tamarind and Campari with cinnamon underneath. Sour, bitter, sticky in the best way.
Need: Reposado tequila, Mezcal, Campari, Tamarind concentrate, Lime, Cinnamon, White sugar
Start 12 hours ahead
RumBeginner
Cable Car
A spiced-rum Sidecar out of San Francisco. Cinnamon sugar on the rim, always.
Need: Curaçao, Lemon, White sugar, Rum, Cloves, Cinnamon, Allspice berries, Black peppercorns, Vanilla bean
Start 1 week ahead
VodkaIntermediate
Copper Cup #4
A mule that got dressed up. Elderflower and hibiscus over fresh ginger juice.
Need: Vodka, St-Germain, Fresh ginger, Lemon, Dried hibiscus, White sugar
Start 10 days ahead
VodkaIntermediate
Stranger Things
Strawberry tea vodka and passion fruit under Prosecco. Upside down in a good way.
Need: Passion fruit puree, Sparkling wine, Vodka, Strawberry tea, White sugar
Start 24 hours ahead
VodkaIntermediate
Sacred Lotus
Tamarind vodka, elderflower, Prosecco. Three ingredients, all of them working.
Need: St-Germain, Sparkling wine, Vodka, Tamarind pulp
Start 1 week ahead
VodkaIntermediate
Chocolate Martini
Real grated chocolate and truffle honey. Nothing like the version you're picturing.
Need: Dark chocolate, Vodka, Cream, Yuzu, Honey, Winter truffle
Start 24 hours ahead
VodkaIntermediate
Beet Connection
Beet and apple juice with chile vodka. Earthy, sweet, and quietly hot.
Need: Beets, Apple juice, Lemon, Fresh ginger, Orange juice, Salt, Vodka, Jalapeño, Chipotle chile, White sugar
Start 24 hours ahead
VodkaIntermediate
Mumbai Mule
Cardamom vodka with pear and apple over ginger beer. Spiced and long.
Need: Apple juice, Pear, Lime, Ginger beer, Vodka, Cardamom, Cinnamon, White sugar
Start 2 weeks ahead
VodkaIntermediate
Chervona Wine
Vodka and red wine in the same glass, sweetened with vermouth. Older logic, still sound.
Need: Red wine, Sweet vermouth, Vodka, Allspice berries, Juniper berries, Black peppercorns, Coriander seeds, Fenugreek seeds, Cinnamon, Star anise, Cloves, Maple syrup, White sugar
Start 4 days ahead
VodkaIntermediate
Shinzo No Tobira
Stirred, diluted, and salted to taste. Minimal in the way that takes real work.
Need: White sugar, Soy milk, Agar agar, Shochu, Kinako, Molasses, Dry mugwort, Salt
Start 24 hours ahead
GinIntermediate
Leeward Negroni
Coconut-fat-washed Campari and pandan. A Negroni that moved to the tropics.
Need: Bitters, Gin, Coconut oil, Campari, Pandan leaves, Vodka, White sugar
Start 48 hours ahead
LiqueurIntermediate
Exchange Student
Five bitter, fortified things and no base spirit. Low proof, high intensity.
Need: Amaro, Sweet vermouth, Lillet, Maraschino, Cucumber, Campari
Start 1 week ahead
LiqueurIntermediate
Voodoo Child
Passion fruit boba in the bottom of the glass. Zero proof and not remotely boring.
Need: Passion fruit boba, Lemon, Cashews, Falernum, Almonds, Demerara sugar, White sugar
Start 48 hours ahead
Wine & BrandyIntermediate
Roasted Rum Manhattan
Hojicha-infused rum in place of whiskey. Toasty, and still a Manhattan.
Need: Cognac, Sweet vermouth, Rum, Hojicha
Start 12 hours ahead
RumIntermediate
Salty Doug
Fresh grapefruit flesh blended in, with a grapefruit salt rim. A Salty Dog, taken further.
Need: Aged rum, Lime, Grapefruit, Salt, Agave nectar
Start 1 day ahead
RumIntermediate
Tuesday Club
Tiki bitters, spiced rum, banana syrup, and a mist of pear calvados. A Tuesday, elevated.
Need: Bitters, White rum, Banana CBD syrup, Calvados, Rum, Cloves, Cinnamon, Allspice berries, Black peppercorns, Vanilla bean
Start 1 week ahead
RumIntermediate
Island Hopper
Puerto Rican rum and Hawaiian agricole over ginger beer. Hibiscus keeps it bright.
Need: White rum, Rhum agricole, Lemon, Pineapple juice, Ginger beer, Dried hibiscus, White sugar
Start 10 days ahead
RumIntermediate
South Pointe Swizzle
Lemongrass syrup, mint, and crushed ice, swizzled until the tin frosts over.
Need: White rum, Lime, Fresh mint, Angostura, White sugar, Lemongrass
Start 24 hours ahead
WhiskeyIntermediate
The Expedition
Rum and bourbon with three syrups and coffee liqueur. Long, spiced, and built to last.
Need: Dark rum, Bourbon, Coffee liqueur, Lime, Club soda, Cinnamon, White sugar, Honey, Vanilla bean
Start 12 hours ahead
LiqueurIntermediate
Sloe Sunset
Hibiscus rum, sloe gin, and pomegranate. Red the whole way down.
Need: Sloe gin, Pomegranate liqueur, Grapefruit, Lemon, Rum, Dried hibiscus, Demerara sugar, White sugar
Start 48 hours ahead
RumIntermediate
London Haze
Pineapple rum and passion fruit with vanilla. Soft, tropical, and easy to over-order.
Need: Aged rum, Passion fruit puree, Lime, Rum, Fresh pineapple, White sugar, Vanilla bean
Start 1 week ahead
LiqueurIntermediate
Mojito de Piña
A mojito with pineapple and basil instead of mint alone. Sweeter, and better.
Need: Lime, Fresh pineapple, Fresh basil, White sugar, Rum
Start 1 week ahead
Wine & BrandyAdvanced
Combustible Edison
Campari and lemon in the glass, and the brandy poured in lit. Shaken cold instead, it is called an Edisonian.
Need: Campari, Lemon, Brandy/Calvados
RumBeginner
Original Polynesian Pearl
POG juice and RumChata with Grand Marnier and cinnamon — a soft, creamy tropical drink. The acid-adjusted version is the one its maker prefers.
Need: POG juice, RumChata, Grand Marnier, Cinnamon, White sugar
Start 12 hours ahead
RumAdvanced
Improved Polynesian Pearl
The same tropical build with white rum added and a quarter ounce of citric-malic solution standing in for the acidity POG juice does not have.
Need: POG juice, RumChata, Grand Marnier, White rum, Cinnamon, White sugar, Citric acid, Malic acid
Start 12 hours ahead
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