50 Essential Drink Recipes

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Basic Drinks for Bartending

This list of drinks is just to get you started.
It isn’t some master list of drinks and there are plenty of drinks
that could be added to this list.

I just want to give you a place to start.
Over the 23 years behind the bar I’ve made every one of these drinks.

The drink was either ordered by the customer or I suggested it.

One of the tricks you can use to help memorize drinks is pick a drink
of the day.  During the day recite the ingredients of that drink.

When you get a bartending job, you sell the drink of the day, at least once.
It’s a fun challenge and it helps with keeping you on top of your game.

  1. Learn the ingredients.
  2. Learn the amounts.
    Amounts can change at different bars.
    The reasons could be:
    Glass sizes are larger or smaller.
    The standard pour for a drink is larger or smaller. A bars standard pour could be 1oz., 1 ¼ oz., 1 ½ oz. Or something else.
    It just depends on the bar.
  3. Ratios. If you understand the basic ratios of the drinks then
    changing the amounts is easier.

 

  1. Martini:
    • 2 1/2 oz Gin
    • 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
    • Lemon twist or olive for garnish
  2. Manhattan:
    • 2 oz Rye Whiskey
    • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
    • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
    • Maraschino cherry for garnish
  3. Old Fashioned:
    • 2 oz Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
    • 1 sugar cube
    • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
    • Orange twist and cherry for garnish
  4. Margarita:
    • 2 oz Tequila
    • 1 oz Lime Juice
    • 1 oz Triple Sec
    • Salt rim and lime wedge for garnish
  5. Mojito:
    • 2 oz White Rum
    • 1 oz Lime Juice
    • 1 oz Simple Syrup
    • Fresh Mint leaves
    • Soda water
    • Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish
  6. Negroni:
    • 1 oz Gin
    • 1 oz Campari
    • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
    • Orange twist for garnish
  7. Daiquiri:
    • 2 oz White Rum
    • 1 oz Lime Juice
    • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
    • Lime wheel for garnish
  8. Cosmopolitan:
    • 1 1/2 oz Vodka
    • 1 oz Cranberry Juice
    • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
    • 1/2 oz Triple Sec
    • Lime twist for garnish
  9. Mai Tai:
    • 2 oz Dark Rum
    • 1 oz Lime Juice
    • 1/2 oz Orgeat Syrup
    • 1/2 oz Orange Curacao
    • Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish
  10. Moscow Mule:
    • 2 oz Vodka
    • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
    • 4 oz Ginger Beer
    • Lime wedge for garnish
  11. Bloody Mary:
    • 1 1/2 oz Vodka
    • 3 oz Tomato Juice
    • 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
    • Worcestershire Sauce
    • Hot Sauce
    • Celery salt and celery stalk for garnish
  12. Whiskey Sour:
    • 2 oz Whiskey
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
    • Lemon wheel and cherry for garnish
  13. Sazerac:
    • 2 oz Rye Whiskey
    • 1/4 oz Absinthe
    • 1 Sugar cube
    • 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
    • Lemon twist for garnish
  14. Pina Colada:
    • 2 oz White Rum
    • 3 oz Pineapple Juice
    • 1 oz Coconut Cream
    • Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
  15. Sidecar:
    • 2 oz Cognac
    • 1 oz Triple Sec
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • Sugar rim and lemon twist for garnish
  16. White Russian:
    • 2 oz Vodka
    • 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
    • Light Cream or Milk
  17. Gimlet:
    • 2 oz Gin
    • 3/4 oz Lime Juice
    • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
    • Lime wheel for garnish
  18. Mint Julep:
    • 2 1/2 oz Bourbon
    • 6-8 Fresh Mint leaves
    • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
    • Mint sprig for garnish
  19. French 75:
    • 1 1/2 oz Gin
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
    • Champagne or sparkling wine
  20. Bellini:
    • 2 oz Peach Puree or Peach Schnapps
    • Champagne or sparkling wine
    • Peach slice for garnish
  21. Caipirinha:
    • 2 oz Cachaça
    • 1/2 Lime, cut into wedges
    • 2 tsp Sugar
    • Lime wedge for garnish
  22. Sex on the Beach:
    • 1 1/2 oz Vodka
    • 3/4 oz Peach Schnapps
    • 2 oz Cranberry Juice
    • 2 oz Orange Juice
    • Orange slice and cherry for garnish
  23. Mojito:
    • 2 oz White Rum
    • 1 oz Lime Juice
    • 1 oz Simple Syrup
    • Fresh Mint leaves
    • Soda water
    • Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish
  24. Piña Colada:
    • 2 oz White Rum
    • 3 oz Pineapple Juice
    • 1 oz Coconut Cream
    • Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
  25. Bramble:
    • 2 oz Gin
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
    • 1/2 oz Blackberry Liqueur
    • Blackberries and lemon wheel for garnish
  26. Vodka Martini:
    • 2 1/2 oz Vodka
    • 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
    • Lemon twist or olive for garnish
  27. Aperol Spritz:
    • 2 oz Aperol
    • 3 oz Prosecco
    • Splash of Soda Water
    • Orange slice for garnish
  28. White Lady:
    • 2 oz Gin
    • 1 oz Triple Sec
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • Lemon twist for garnish
  29. Long Island Iced Tea:
    • 1/2 oz Vodka
    • 1/2 oz Rum
    • 1/2 oz Gin
    • 1/2 oz Tequila
    • 1/2 oz Triple Sec
    • 1 oz Lemon Juice
    • Coca-Cola
    • Lemon wheel for garnish
  30. Espresso Martini:
    • 1 1/2 oz Vodka
    • 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
    • 1 oz Espresso
    • Coffee beans for garnish
  31. Tom Collins:
    • 2 oz Gin
    • 1 oz Lemon Juice
    • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
    • Soda water
    • Lemon wheel and cherry for garnish
  32. Singapore Sling:
    • 1 1/2 oz Gin
    • 1/2 oz Cherry Brandy
    • 1/2 oz Triple Sec
    • 2 oz Pineapple Juice
    • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
    • Soda water
    • Pineapple slice and cherry for garnish
  33. Dark ‘n’ Stormy:
    • 2 oz Dark Rum
    • 3 oz Ginger Beer
    • Lime wedge for garnish
  34. Irish Coffee:
    • 1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey
    • 4 oz Hot Coffee
    • 1 oz Brown Sugar Syrup
    • Freshly whipped cream
  35. Whiskey Smash:
    • 2 oz Bourbon
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
    • Fresh Mint leaves
    • Lemon wheel and mint sprig for garnish
  36. Boulevardier:
    • 1 1/2 oz Bourbon
    • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
    • 1 oz Campari
    • Orange twist for garnish
  37. Aviation:
    • 2 oz Gin
    • 1/2 oz Maraschino Liqueur
    • 1/4 oz Crème de Violette
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • Lemon twist for garnish
  38. Zombie:
    • 1 oz Light Rum
    • 1 oz Dark Rum
    • 1 oz Overproof Rum
    • 3/4 oz Lime Juice
    • 1/2 oz Apricot Brandy
    • 1/2 oz Grenadine
    • Orange slice and cherry for garnish
  39. Gibson:
    • 2 1/2 oz Gin
    • 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
    • Cocktail onion for garnish
  40. Corpse Reviver No. 2:
    • 3/4 oz Gin
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • 3/4 oz Lillet Blanc
    • 3/4 oz Triple Sec
    • 1 dash Absinthe
    • Lemon twist for garnish
  41. Hemingway Daiquiri:
    • 2 oz White Rum
    • 3/4 oz Lime Juice
    • 1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
    • 1/2 oz Maraschino Liqueur
    • Lime wheel for garnish
  42. French Connection:
    • 1 1/2 oz Cognac
    • 1 1/2 oz Amaretto
    • Lemon twist for garnish
  43. Bee’s Knees:
    • 2 oz Gin
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • 3/4 oz Honey Syrup
    • Lemon twist for garnish
  44. Rusty Nail:
    • 1 1/2 oz Scotch Whisky
    • 3/4 oz Drambuie
  45. Penicillin:
    • 2 oz Blended Scotch Whisky
    • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
    • 3/4 oz Honey Ginger Syrup
    • 1/4 oz Islay Scotch Whisky float
    • Candied ginger for garnish
  46. Caipiroska:
    • 2 oz Vodka
    • 1/2 Lime, cut into wedges
    • 2 tsp Sugar
    • Lime wedge for garnish
  47. Paloma:
    • 2 oz Tequila
    • 1 oz Grapefruit Juice
    • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
    • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
    • Salt rim and grapefruit wedge for garnish
  48. White Russian:
    • 2 oz Vodka
    • 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
    • Light Cream or Milk
  49. Black Russian:
    • 2 oz Vodka
    • 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
  50. Vesper:
    • 2 oz Gin
    • 1 oz Vodka
    • 1/2 oz Lillet Blanc
    • Lemon twist for garnish

 

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