5 Classic Cocktail Recipes Everyone Should Know
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Time to read 3 min
If someone asked us where to start, these are the drinks we’d point to. Not because they’re trendy or clever, but because they form the backbone of almost every cocktail menu you’ll ever see.
When people start getting interested in cocktails, the instinct is often to look for something complicated. A drink with six ingredients. A technique you saw online. Something that feels a little impressive to make.
But the truth is that most good bars rely on the same handful of drinks night after night. Simple cocktails that have been around for decades because they work. Once you understand them, the entire world of cocktails suddenly becomes much easier to navigate.
The Negroni
If the martini is all about clarity and precision, the negroni is about balance. Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari come together to create something that is bitter, sweet and aromatic all at once. It’s a drink that wakes up the palate and works beautifully before dinner.
It also happens to be one of the easiest cocktails in the world to make. No shaking, no special technique, just stir it with ice and pour it over a large cube with an orange peel garnish.
To make one, stir 30ml The Butler's Gin, 30ml Campari, and 30ml sweet vermouth with ice until chilled. Strain it over a large cube in a short glass and express an orange peel over the top.
Despite its simplicity, the negroni remains one of the most satisfying drinks you can order at a bar.
The Margarita
The margarita has been copied, frozen and overly sweetened so many times that people sometimes forget how good the original idea is.
At the bar we tend to love a slightly more modern version known as a Tommy’s Margarita. It was popularised in San Francisco in the 1990s and strips the drink back to its essentials: tequila, fresh lime and agave syrup. Without orange liqueur the drink becomes brighter and cleaner, letting the tequila do most of the talking.
To make one, shake 60ml tequila, 30ml fresh lime juice, and 15ml agave syrup with ice until the outside of the shaker is properly cold. Strain it into a glass over fresh ice. A lightly salted rim works beautifully, though we’re just as happy to skip the salt and keep it crisp.
Done well, a Tommy’s Margarita is incredibly refreshing. Sharp citrus, smooth tequila and just enough sweetness to bring everything together. It’s one of those drinks that disappears faster than you expect and for everyone that tells you they don't like margaritas... make them one of these.
The Limoncello Spritz
The limoncello spritz proves cocktails don’t need to be strong to be satisfying.
Traditionally built with limoncello, sparkling wine and soda, it’s bright, refreshing and perfect for long afternoons that slowly turn into evening.
Our Familiar take is a slice of lemon into a wine glass, 2 fresh basil leaves, 60ml Limoncello, top with Prosecco and a splash of soda water. Poured over plenty of ice and finished with a scoop of lemon sorbet.
It’s the sort of drink that seems to suit almost any occasion and taste buds.
The Daiquiri
The classic daiquiri has almost nothing in common with the frozen versions most people imagine.
In reality it’s one of the purest cocktails you can make: rum, fresh lime and sugar. That’s it.
Shake 60ml The Gentleman Pirate cane spirit, 25ml fresh lime juice, and 15ml sugar syrup with ice, then strain into a chilled coupe.
When the proportions are right it becomes incredibly crisp and refreshing. Slightly tart, slightly sweet and perfect in warm weather.
The Martini
Few drinks carry as much reputation as the martini.
At its core it’s beautifully simple: good gin, good vermouth, stirred properly cold and served in a chilled glass. The entire drink lives and dies on balance and temperature. When it’s right, it’s clean, elegant and incredibly satisfying.
At the bar we make our martinis with Butler’s Gin because its smooth mouthfeel keeps the drink soft and rounded even when it’s served ice cold.
To make one yourself, start by filling a mixing glass with ice. Add 60ml Butler’s Gin and 15ml blanco vermouth, then stir patiently until the drink is properly chilled. Strain it into a frozen Nick & Nora glass and finish with olives or a lemon twist.
A martini should feel crisp, cold and effortless.
