5 Classic Cocktail Recipes Everyone Should Know

How to mix up a batch of manhattans, martinis, and more.

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Old Fashioned

Sarah Karnasiewicz

Saturate a sugar cube with 4 dashes of Angostura bitters. Place the cube in an old-fashioned glass, add 1 tablespoon water and muddle the sugar until it dissolves. Fill the glass with ice, pour in 1¾ ounces rye whiskey and stir. Garnish with a slice of orange. Makes 1 drink.

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Manhattan

Sarah Karnasiewicz

Combine 2½ ounces bourbon or rye whiskey, 1 ounce sweet vermouth and a dash of orange bitters in an ice-filled bar glass. Stir until very cold. Serve up, strained into a cocktail glass, or on the rocks, in an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. Makes 1 drink.

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Gimlet

Sarah Karnasiewicz

Combine 2½ ounces gin and ¾ ounce Rose’s lime juice in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Makes 1 drink.

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Martini

Sarah Karnasiewicz

Combine 3 ounces of vodka or gin and ¾ ounce dry vermouth in an ice-filled bar glass. Stir until very cold. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an olive. Makes 1 drink.

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Sidecar

Sarah Karnasiewicz

Combine ½ ounce fresh lemon juice, 1 ounce triple sec, and 1½ ounces brandy in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Makes 1 drink.

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