Top Gin-based Cocktails
Everybody aboard the gin train! This liquor has sky-rocketed in popularity in recent years as the gin craze has made way for so many different flavours. It’s also used in a number of popular cocktails.
Dirty Martini
This classic cocktail includes dry vermouth and olive brine. It’s shaken and served with an olive, on ice.
Gibson
Stepping away from the traditional martini, the Gibson is served martini style but is dry vermouth and cocktail onions.
Gin Frizz
This gin based cocktail is created with lemon juice, sparkling water and sugar, then served on ice in a highball glass.
Gin Madras
This fruity mix includes both cranberry and orange juice and is served over ice in a lowball glass.
Gin Sour
Served in a lowball glass, the gin sour includes sweet and sour mix.
Gin & Tonic
This timeless classic is simple, take gin, add tonic and serve on ice in a lowball glass.
Greyhound
Gin and orange juice, served with ice and in a lowball glass.
Lime Rickey
Gin, lime juice and sparkling water, served on ice, in a highball glass and completed with a wedge of lime.
Martini
This traditional martini can be shaken or stirred and served with an olive.
Negroni
Made with sweet vermouth and Campari, this cocktail is served in an old fashioned glass
Singapore Sling
This sweet drinks includes gin and brandy, and is served with fruit juices in a tall glass. Add a cherry to garnish.
Slow Gin Fizz
Much like a gin fizz, but this drink uses sloe gin and is garnished with an orange. Serve in an old fashioned glass with ice.
Top Rum-based Cocktails
Rum is extremely popular in cocktails due to it’s very sweet taste. This is why it features in lots of fruity and tropical themed drinks.
Bahama Mama
This tasty rum cocktail is served with coconut and coffee liqueur, complete with pineapple juice and served on the rocks.
Blue Hawaii
Served on ice this drink is made with pineapple juice, sweet and sour mix, and blue curcao.
Cuba Libre
This is another timeless classic, take rum, add coke and lime, service in a highball glass on ice.
Dark & Stormy
This calls for dark rum, served with ginger beer and ice.
Daiquiri
This blended frozen drink traditionally uses rum, lime juice and sugar.
Hurricane
This is a New Orleans cocktail made with rum, lime juice and passionate fruit syrup – serve on ice.
Mojito
Rum, soda water, lime juice and mint, served on crushed ice and garnished with a sprig of mint.
Piña Colada
This is another frozen drink made with rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream.
Zombie
This more complex cocktail is made up of rum, orange curaçao, bitters, passion fruit, grenadine, orange juice, lemon juice and finally, lime juice.
Top Tequila-based Cocktails
Tequila can be an acquired taste, but it a staple for many of the world’s favourite cocktails.
Juan Collins
Tequila, lemon juice, soda water and agave nectar.
Margarita
There are a number of variations of this drink, a frozen margarita, fruit flavoured margarita or even a spicy margarita made with Habanero.
Tamarind & Tequila
Made with tamarind extra, syrup and ginger ale. Serve over ice and in a highball glass.
Tequila Sunrise
This classic is made with tequila, orange juice and grenadine, served on ice and with a wedge of orange.
Tequila Sunset
Much like a tequila sunrise, but served with the grenadine on top and complete with cocktail umbrella.
Top Whiskey-based Cocktails
Whiskey has a sophisticated flavour and can therefore be found in many exciting cocktails. The flavour palette means it goes well with both sweet and bitter mixes.
Highball
Whiskey and ginger ale, served in a highball glass with ice
Hot Toddy
Whiskey, honey, lemon juice and tea, served warm and in a mug.
Irish Coffee
Irish whiskey with coffee, add sugar and cream and serve warm in a mug.
Jack & Coke
Jack Daniel’s whiskey and coke, served with ice in a highball glass.
Manhattan
Whiskey, with sweet vermouth and bitters. Shake and serve martini style over ice.
Old Fashioned
Bourbon, syrup and bitters, served in an old fashioned glass.
Sneaky Pete
Whiskey, coffee liqueur and milk, served in a lowball glass.
Whiskey Sour
Whiskey served with sweet and sour mix, ice and garnished with a cherry.
Top Vodka-based Cocktails
One of the most popular liquors is vodka and that’s why this can be found in some of the most popular and recognisable cocktails.
Appletini
Vodka and apple liqueur, shaken and served on ice in a martini glass.
Bloody Mary
A favourite at brunch (or to cure a hangover) vodka, tomato juice, Tabasco and celery stalk to garnish.
Cosmopolitan
This classic is a concoction of vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec and lime juice, served martini style.
Kamikaze
Vodka with lime juice and triple sec, serve in lowball glass with ice.
Mudslide
Vodka, coffee liqueur and Irish cream, served on ice or blended with ice cream.
Screwdriver
Vodka and orange juice, served with ice.
Sea Breeze
Vodka mixed with grapefruit and cranberry juice, served with ice.
Sex on the beach
Another classic, this sweet cocktail is made with vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice and cranberry juice.
Vodka & Tonic
Exactly what it says on the tin, served on ice and in a lowball glass.
Vodka Collins
Similar to Tom Collins but using vodka instead of gin.
Vodka Martini
Same as a standard martini but can be served with or without vermouth.
Vodka Red Bull
Vodka and Red Bull, served on ice and in a highball glass.
White Russian
Vodka, coffee liqueur and cream, served on ice and in an old fashioned glass.
Other Popular Cocktails
We’ve covered the most popular liquors, but some of the greatest cocktails use some of the lesser-known ingredients, like the below.
Boston Sidecar
Brandy, light rum, triple sec and lime juice. Shake and serve on ice and in a cocktail glass.
Brandy Alexander
Brandy with créme de cacao and cream. Strain and serve in a cocktail glass.
Fuzzy Naval
Peach Schnapps and orange juice, served with crushed ice and a slice of orange.
Harvey Wallbanger
Vodka, Galliano, orange juice and crushed ice, served with the Galliano on top.
Long Island Ice Tea
This is the one with all the white spirits! Vodka, rum, tequila, gin, triple sec, lemon juice and coke. Served over crushed ice and garnish with a cherry.
Melon Ball
Vodka, melon liqueur and orange juice, served on ice.
Metropolitan
Brandy and sweet vermouth, served martini style.
