Cocktails: Are you a bartender who wants to impress your customers and colleagues with your skills and knowledge? Do you want to learn how to make some of the most iconic and popular cocktails in the world? If you answered yes to both questions, then you will love this article, which will teach you how to make five classic cocktails that every bartender should master. These cocktails are easy to make, delicious to drink, and have a rich and fascinating history. They are perfect to serve on any occasion, whether it is a casual night out, a formal event, or a special celebration. Here is how to make them:

What are classic cocktails?

Classic cocktails are drinks that have been around for a long time and have become widely recognized and appreciated by bartenders and drinkers alike. They are usually made with simple and quality ingredients, such as spirits, liqueurs, juices, syrups, bitters, and ice. They are usually served in specific glassware, such as martini glasses, old-fashioned glasses, or highball glasses. They are usually garnished with fruits, herbs, or spices, such as lemon peels, olives, or mint leaves.

Classic cocktails have a timeless appeal and a universal appeal. They can suit different tastes, moods, and occasions. They can also showcase the creativity and skill of the bartender who makes them. They are the foundation of mixology and the inspiration for many modern cocktails.

How to make classic cocktails?

To make classic cocktails, you will need the following tools and equipment:

• A cocktail shaker: A metal container with a lid that is used to mix ingredients by shaking them vigorously.
• A cocktail strainer: A metal device with holes that is used to filter out ice and solid ingredients from the cocktail shaker.
• A jigger: A metal measuring device that is used to measure liquid ingredients in ounces or milliliters.
• A bar spoon: A long metal spoon that is used to stir ingredients in a glass or a mixing glass.
• A mixing glass: A glass container that is used to mix ingredients by stirring them with ice.
• A muddler: A wooden or metal tool that is used to crush ingredients in a glass or a mixing glass.
• A citrus juicer: A manual or electric device that is used to extract juice from citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, or oranges.
• A citrus zester: A metal tool that is used to peel thin strips of zest from citrus fruits.
• A knife: A sharp tool that is used to cut fruits or other ingredients.
• A cutting board: A flat surface that is used to cut fruits or other ingredients on.
• An ice bucket: A container that is used to store ice cubes or crushed ice.
• An ice scoop: A metal or plastic tool that is used to scoop ice from the ice bucket.
• A corkscrew: A metal tool that is used to open bottles of wine or champagne.

To make classic cocktails, you will also need the following ingredients:

• Spirits: Alcoholic beverages that are distilled from grains, fruits, or other sources, such as vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, tequila, or brandy.
• Liqueurs: Alcoholic beverages that are flavored with fruits, herbs, spices, nuts, or other ingredients, such as vermouth, triple sec, amaretto, or coffee liqueur.
• Juices: Non-alcoholic beverages that are extracted from fruits or vegetables, such as lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, or tomato juice.
• Syrups: Sweet liquids that are made by dissolving sugar in water or other liquids, such as simple syrup, grenadine, orgeat, or honey syrup.
• Bitters: Alcoholic beverages that are infused with herbs, spices, fruits, or other ingredients, and have a bitter taste, such as Angostura bitters, orange bitters, or Peychaud’s bitters.
• Ice: Frozen water that is used to chill, dilute, or shake cocktails.

To make classic cocktails, you will need to follow these general steps:

1. Prepare your ingredients and tools. Wash and cut your fruits if needed. Juice your citrus fruits if needed. Zest your citrus fruits if needed. Fill your ice bucket with ice cubes or crushed ice. Open your bottles of spirits and liqueurs if needed.
2. Measure your ingredients using your jigger. Pour them into your cocktail shaker, mixing glass, or serving glass according to the recipe.
3. Shake, stir, or muddle your ingredients according to the recipe. Use your cocktail shaker for ingredients that need to be mixed well and aerated, such as juices, syrups, or egg whites. Use your bar spoon and mixing glass for ingredients that need to be mixed gently and chilled, such as spirits and liqueurs. Use your muddler for ingredients that need to be crushed and released their flavors, such as fruits, herbs, or spices.
4. Strain your cocktail into your serving glass using your cocktail strainer. Use a fine mesh strainer for cocktails that need to be filtered from small particles, such as pulp or seeds. Use a julep strainer for cocktails that need to be filtered from large ice cubes.
5. Garnish your cocktail with fruits, herbs, or spices according to the recipe. Use your knife and cutting board to cut your garnishes if needed. Use your citrus zester to peel your garnishes if needed. Use a toothpick or a cocktail pick to secure your garnishes if needed.
6. Serve your cocktail with a napkin and a straw if needed. Enjoy!

How to make 5 classic cocktails?

Here are five classic cocktails that every bartender should master, along with their recipes, histories, and tips:

Martini

A martini is a classic cocktail that consists of gin and dry vermouth, stirred with ice, and strained into a chilled martini glass. It is garnished with an olive or a lemon twist.

The martini is one of the most iconic and popular cocktails in the world. It has been associated with elegance, sophistication, and glamour. It has been featured in many movies, books, and songs, especially in the James Bond franchise, where the spy prefers his martini “shaken, not stirred”.

The origin of the martini is not very clear, but it seems to be influenced by the Martinez, a cocktail that was made with gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and bitters in the 19th century. The martini evolved over time, becoming drier and simpler, until it reached its current form in the early 20th century.

To make a martini, you will need:

• 2 oz of gin
• 1/2 oz of dry vermouth
• Ice
• An olive or a lemon twist for garnish

And these are the steps to follow:

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice and add the gin and vermouth. Stir well for about 20 seconds or until chilled.
2. Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass using a julep strainer.
3. Garnish with an olive or a lemon twist.

Tips:

• You can adjust the ratio of gin and vermouth according to your taste. A dry martini has less vermouth, while a wet martini has more vermouth.
• You can also use vodka instead of gin for a vodka martini.
• You can also add a dash of orange bitters for an orange martini.

Old Fashioned

An old fashioned is a classic cocktail that consists of whiskey, sugar, bitters, and water, muddled with ice, and strained into an old-fashioned glass. It is garnished with an orange peel and a cherry.

The old fashioned is one of the oldest and simplest cocktails in the world. It is considered to be the original cocktail, as it follows the basic formula of spirit, sugar, bitters, and water that was used in the 19th century. It is named after the old-fashioned way of making cocktails.

The origin of the old fashioned is not very clear, but it seems to be influenced by the whiskey cocktail, a drink that was made with whiskey, sugar, bitters, and water in the early 19th century. The old fashioned evolved over time, becoming more complex and varied, until it reached its current form in the late 19th century.

To make an old fashioned, you will need:

• 2 oz of whiskey (preferably bourbon or rye)
• 1/4 oz of simple syrup
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Ice
• An orange peel and a cherry for garnish

And these are the steps to follow:

1. In an old-fashioned glass, add the simple syrup and bitters.
2. Fill the glass with ice and add the whiskey. Stir well for about 20 seconds or until chilled.
3. Twist an orange peel over the glass to release its oils and rub it around the rim of the glass. Drop it into the drink.
4. Add a cherry for garnish.

Tips:

• You can also use a sugar cube instead of simple syrup for a more traditional method. You will need to muddle it with bitters and water in the glass before adding ice and whiskey.
• You can also use different types of bitters for different flavors, such as orange bitters, chocolate bitters, or walnut bitters.

Margarita

A margarita is a classic cocktail that consists of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, shaken with ice, and strained into a salt-rimmed glass. It is garnished with a lime wedge.

The margarita is one