Cocktail families

Nearly every classic drink is a variation on one of a few templates. Learn the template and you understand the family: swap the spirit in a Daiquiri and you have a Gimlet; add orange liqueur and you are near a Margarita. The ratios behind them are on the balance page.

Sours 29

Spirit, citrus and sugar in balance, usually shaken. The largest family by far: the Daiquiri, Margarita, Sidecar and Whiskey Sour are all the same idea in different clothes.

Amaretto Sour Almond liqueur, lemon and a little bourbon, shaken with egg white. Sweet and nutty, made balanced by plenty of lemon. Sours · Shaken · ~9%

Aviation Gin, lemon, maraschino and a touch of violet liqueur. Tart, floral and pale lilac-grey in the glass. Sours · Shaken · ~19%

Bee's Knees Gin, lemon and honey shaken cold. A gin sour where honey's floral roundness replaces plain sugar. Sours · Shaken · ~16%

Between the Sheets Cognac, white rum, orange liqueur and lemon. A Sidecar with rum in it, and stronger than it tastes. Sours · Shaken · ~21%

Blood and Sand Scotch, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth and orange juice in equal parts. Fruity and round, with a whisky backbone. Sours · Shaken · ~13%

Bramble Gin, lemon and sugar over crushed ice with blackberry liqueur bleeding through. A modern London classic. Sours · Built · ~16%

Brandy Crusta Cognac, curaçao, maraschino, lemon and bitters in a sugar-crusted glass lined with lemon peel. New Orleans, 1850s. Sours · Shaken · ~19%

Caipirinha Cachaça, muddled lime and sugar over crushed ice. Brazil's national cocktail, rough-edged and refreshing. Sours · Built · ~24%

Clover Club Gin, lemon, raspberry and egg white under a pink foam. Tart, fruity and silky rather than sweet. Sours · Shaken · ~12%

Corpse Reviver No. 2 Equal parts gin, quinquina, orange liqueur and lemon with a breath of absinthe. Bright, citrusy and lightly bitter. Sours · Shaken · ~16%

Cosmopolitan Citrus vodka, orange liqueur, lime and a splash of cranberry. Tart, pale pink and a defining drink of the 1990s. Sours · Shaken · ~15%

Daiquiri White rum, fresh lime and sugar, shaken hard and served straight up. Three ingredients with nowhere to hide. Sours · Shaken · ~15%

Gimlet Gin and lime, sweetened just enough. Sharp, cold and simple; originally made with preserved lime cordial rather than fresh juice. Sours · Shaken · ~17%

Gold Rush Bourbon, lemon and honey, shaken and served over a large cube. A whiskey sour made rounder and richer by honey. Sours · Shaken · ~17%

Hemingway Daiquiri A Daiquiri reworked with grapefruit and maraschino in place of most of the sugar. Tart, dry and faintly bitter. Sours · Shaken · ~16%

Jack Rose Apple brandy, lemon and grenadine shaken and served up. A rosy pink American classic from the early 1900s. Sours · Shaken · ~18%

Last Word Equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino and lime. Herbal, sweet-sour and much more than the sum of its parts. Sours · Shaken · ~20%

Margarita Tequila, orange liqueur and lime, with salt on the rim. The most popular tequila cocktail, at its best fresh and simple. Sours · Shaken · ~19%

Naked and Famous Equal parts mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, light orange aperitivo and lime. Smoky, herbal and bittersweet, all at once. Sours · Shaken · ~16%

Paper Plane Equal parts bourbon, bittersweet amaro, light orange aperitivo and lemon. Tart, gently bitter and easy to remember. Sours · Shaken · ~15%

Pegu Club Gin, orange curaçao, lime and two kinds of bitters. Dry, citrusy and spiced; a colonial-era club drink. Sours · Shaken · ~22%

Penicillin Blended Scotch, lemon and honey-ginger, with a float of smoky Islay malt. A modern classic from New York. Sours · Shaken · ~16%

Pisco Sour Pisco, lime, sugar and egg white, shaken to a thick foam and dotted with bitters. Peru's national drink. Sours · Shaken · ~12%

Sidecar Cognac, orange liqueur and lemon, shaken and served up. The classic brandy sour of 1920s London and Paris. Sours · Shaken · ~19%

Southside Gin, citrus, sugar and fresh mint, shaken and fine-strained. Like a Gimlet that has walked through a herb garden. Sours · Shaken · ~16%

Tommy's Margarita Tequila, lime and agave syrup on the rocks. A Margarita without orange liqueur, built to taste of agave. Sours · Shaken · ~15%

Ward Eight Rye, lemon, a little orange and real grenadine, shaken. A rosy Boston whiskey sour with a political name. Sours · Shaken · ~16%

Whiskey Sour Whiskey, lemon and sugar, shaken, often with egg white for a soft foam. The simplest balance of strong, sour and sweet. Sours · Shaken · ~16%

White Lady Gin, orange liqueur and lemon, often with egg white. A gin Sidecar with a pale, silky finish. Sours · Shaken · ~20%

Old Fashioneds 5

Spirit, a little sugar and bitters, stirred. The first drinks ever called cocktails, and the template for spirit-forward drinking.

Oaxaca Old Fashioned Reposado tequila and mezcal stirred with agave syrup and bitters. The drink that put mezcal on American back bars. Old Fashioneds · Stirred · ~26%

Old Fashioned Whiskey, a little sugar, bitters and ice. The oldest cocktail formula, and still the clearest test of a bartender's balance. Old Fashioneds · Stirred · ~29%

Rusty Nail Blended Scotch and Drambuie over ice. Honeyed, herbal and warming, and as simple as a cocktail gets. Old Fashioneds · Built · ~36%

Sazerac Rye, sugar and anise-scented bitters in an absinthe-rinsed glass, served without ice. New Orleans's own Old Fashioned. Old Fashioneds · Stirred · ~29%

Ti' Punch Rhum agricole, a squeeze of lime and a little cane syrup, built in the glass. The everyday drink of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Old Fashioneds · Built · ~44%

Spirit and vermouth 12

Spirit softened and seasoned with vermouth or another aromatised wine, stirred and served cold: the Martini, Manhattan and Negroni lines.

Bamboo Dry sherry and dry vermouth stirred with orange and aromatic bitters. Low in alcohol, dry, nutty and quietly complex. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~12%

Boulevardier Bourbon, sweet vermouth and red bitter aperitivo, stirred. A warmer, rounder Negroni for whiskey drinkers. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~22%

Dry Martini Gin and dry vermouth stirred very cold. A short, clean, aromatic drink whose dryness is set by how much vermouth you use. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~26%

El Presidente Rum stirred with blanc vermouth, orange curaçao and a touch of grenadine. Havana's elegant answer to the Manhattan. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~22%

Hanky Panky Gin and sweet vermouth with a sharp edge of bitter, minty amaro. A Savoy classic created by Ada Coleman. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~21%

Manhattan Rye or bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters, stirred and served up. Rich, spiced and the model for a whole family of drinks. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~26%

Martinez Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, a little maraschino and bitters. The rich, rounded forerunner of the Martini. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~21%

Negroni Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and red bitter aperitivo. Bittersweet, strong and easy to remember. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~20%

Rob Roy Blended Scotch, sweet vermouth and bitters, stirred and served up. The Manhattan with a Scottish accent. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~23%

Stinger Cognac and white crème de menthe, stirred very cold. A two-ingredient after-dinner drink that tastes cleaner than it sounds. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~25%

Vesper Gin, vodka and a quinine aperitif wine, shaken. James Bond's own Martini, strong and lightly bitter. Spirit and vermouth · Shaken · ~24%

Vieux Carré Rye, cognac, sweet vermouth, a spoon of Bénédictine and two bitters. Rich, spiced and very New Orleans. Spirit and vermouth · Stirred · ~24%

Highballs 10

A measure of spirit lengthened with a cold carbonated mixer over ice. Built in the glass in seconds.

Americano Red bitter aperitivo and sweet vermouth lengthened with soda. Bittersweet, low in alcohol and made for the hour before dinner. Highballs · Built · ~8%

Bloody Mary Vodka and tomato juice seasoned with lemon, Worcestershire, hot sauce, celery salt and pepper. Savoury, spicy and endlessly adjusted. Highballs · Built · ~11%

Cuba Libre Rum and cola with a real squeeze of lime. The lime is what turns a simple mixer into a drink with a name. Highballs · Built · ~12%

El Diablo Tequila, lime, blackcurrant liqueur and ginger beer over ice. Fruity, spicy and deep purple. Highballs · Built · ~12%

Gin and Tonic Gin and quinine tonic over plenty of ice. Bitter, bright and dry, and only as good as its ice and tonic. Highballs · Built · ~11%

Gin Rickey Gin, fresh lime and soda over ice, with no sugar at all. Bone-dry, sharp and very refreshing in heat. Highballs · Built · ~13%

Moscow Mule Vodka, lime and spicy ginger beer over ice, traditionally in a copper mug. Simple, zingy and easy to drink. Highballs · Built · ~10%

Paloma Tequila, lime and grapefruit soda over ice with a pinch of salt. Mexico's everyday tequila highball. Highballs · Built · ~12%

Tequila Sunrise Tequila and orange juice with grenadine sunk to the bottom. Simple, sweet, and famous for its red-to-gold layers. Highballs · Built · ~11%

Whisky Highball Whisky and very cold soda water over plenty of ice. Light, dry and refreshing; simple to make, harder to make well. Highballs · Built · ~10%

Fizzes and Collinses 4

Sours lengthened with soda water. A fizz is shaken and served short without ice; a Collins is built tall over ice.

Gin Fizz Gin, lemon and sugar shaken hard and lifted with soda, served short with no ice. Brisk and quickly drunk. Fizzes and Collinses · Shaken · ~11%

Ramos Gin Fizz Gin, citrus, cream, egg white and orange flower water shaken long and topped with soda. A tall, silky, floral New Orleans fizz. Fizzes and Collinses · Shaken · ~9%

Singapore Sling Gin, cherry liqueur, pineapple, lime and a few spiced liqueurs. Long, fruity and pink, in the Raffles Hotel style. Fizzes and Collinses · Shaken · ~9%

Tom Collins Gin, lemon, sugar and soda over ice in a tall glass. A long, sharp-sweet lemonade for adults. Fizzes and Collinses · Shaken · ~8%

Juleps and smashes 4

Spirit, sugar and fresh mint or fruit over crushed ice. Cold, aromatic and slow to drink.

Mint Julep Bourbon, sugar and mint over a mound of crushed ice. Cold, strong and fragrant, and the drink of the Kentucky Derby. Juleps and smashes · Built · ~25%

Mojito Rum, lime, mint and sugar over crushed ice with a splash of soda. Havana's long, cool answer to a hot afternoon. Juleps and smashes · Built · ~12%

Queen's Park Swizzle Aged rum, lime, mint and sugar, swizzled on crushed ice and capped with a heavy dose of bitters. Trinidad's showpiece. Juleps and smashes · Swizzled · ~16%

Sherry Cobbler Sherry, sugar and orange shaken and poured over crushed ice. Light, fruity and cold; a craze of 1840s America. Juleps and smashes · Shaken · ~10%

Tiki and tropical 4

Layered rums, several citrus juices and spiced syrups, served over crushed ice. Born in 1930s California, built on Caribbean punch.

Jungle Bird Dark rum, a red bitter aperitivo, pineapple and lime. A tiki drink with a bitter Italian streak, from 1970s Kuala Lumpur. Tiki and tropical · Shaken · ~11%

Mai Tai Two rums, lime, orange curaçao and almond orgeat over crushed ice. The tiki classic is dry, nutty and rum-forward, not a fruit punch. Tiki and tropical · Shaken · ~16%

Piña Colada Rum, sweetened coconut cream and pineapple blended with ice into a thick, cold, tropical shake. Puerto Rico's official drink. Tiki and tropical · Blended · ~7%

Zombie Three rums, lime, grapefruit, cinnamon and falernum. Don the Beachcomber's famously strong tiki drink, now decoded. Tiki and tropical · Blended · ~19%

Cream and dessert drinks 4

Drinks made rich with cream, egg or chocolate and coffee liqueurs. After-dinner drinks, small and sweet.

Brandy Alexander Cognac, crème de cacao and cream shaken cold, with nutmeg on top. An after-dinner drink that tastes like a liquid dessert. Cream and dessert drinks · Shaken · ~16%

Espresso Martini Vodka, coffee liqueur and fresh espresso shaken to a thick crema. Bitter-sweet, cold and wide awake. Cream and dessert drinks · Shaken · ~15%

Grasshopper Mint liqueur, chocolate liqueur and cream, shaken. A pale green after-dinner drink that tastes like a mint chocolate. Cream and dessert drinks · Shaken · ~11%

White Russian Vodka and coffee liqueur over ice with a layer of cream. Sweet, soft and dessert-like. Cream and dessert drinks · Built · ~21%

Sparkling and spritzes 6

Drinks built on sparkling wine or a bitter aperitivo, lower in alcohol and made for long afternoons.

Bellini White peach purée topped with cold prosecco. Soft, fragrant and pale pink, from Harry's Bar in Venice. Sparkling and spritzes · Built · ~7%

Champagne Cocktail A bitters-soaked sugar cube in a flute of cold sparkling wine. A slowly changing, gently spiced old celebration drink. Sparkling and spritzes · Built · ~13%

French 75 Gin, lemon and sugar topped with dry sparkling wine. Bright and festive, and stronger than it tastes. Sparkling and spritzes · Shaken · ~13%

Kir Royale Blackcurrant liqueur topped with dry sparkling wine. Simple, festive and deep pink, from Burgundy. Sparkling and spritzes · Built · ~12%

Mimosa Fresh orange juice and dry sparkling wine in equal parts. Light, fruity and the standard brunch drink. Sparkling and spritzes · Built · ~6%

Spritz Prosecco, a light orange aperitivo and a splash of soda over ice. Bittersweet, bright orange and low in alcohol. Sparkling and spritzes · Built · ~8%

Hot drinks 2

Spirit with hot water, coffee or tea, sugar and spice. Comfort in a mug.

Hot Toddy Whisky, honey, lemon and hot water, with a little spice. The old winter remedy, and a good drink in its own right. Hot drinks · Hot · ~9%

Irish Coffee Hot coffee, Irish whiskey and brown sugar under a layer of lightly whipped cream. Drunk through the cream, never stirred. Hot drinks · Hot · ~9%

Punches and swizzles 1

The oldest mixed-drink tradition: sour, sweet, strong and weak, diluted generously and often shared.

Planter's Punch Jamaican rum, lime, sugar and bitters, lengthened with water and ice. A single serve of the old Caribbean punch formula. Punches and swizzles · Shaken · ~14%