The first written mention of a cocktail was in 1806. A cocktail was a mix of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. These days, the meaning is much broader. A cocktail can be bright, bitter, smooth, bold, or refreshing.
Here is a complete guide to the world's most famous cocktails and their types!
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Definition of Cocktail
At its simplest, a cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink, but its meaning has evolved over time.
In 1806, a cocktail was a mix of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. If it did not include bitters, it was called a "sling" or a "toddy".
Today, a cocktail is any mixed drink that contains alcohol. Most are built from a base spirit such as gin, rum, whisky, or vodka, combined with ingredients such as vermouth, fruit juice, cream, or liqueurs.
Small additional ingredients such as bitters, syrup, or garnishes are also added to enhance the flavor's depth.
Despite this flexibility, balance remains the key. Today's cocktails feature bold flavors—sweet, sour, or bitter.
Type of Cocktails
The International Bartenders Association (IBA) organizes its cocktails into three categories: The Unforgettables, Contemporary Classics, and New Era Drinks.
The list below has the history and description of the cocktails in the official registry.
1. The Unforgettables
These cocktails represent the foundational pillars of mixology, having stood the test of time since the early 20th century or earlier.
- Alexander: A creamy, indulgent dessert cocktail made with cognac, cocoa liqueur (crème de cacao), and fresh cream. It was likely created in the early 20th century, famously named after Alexander Woollcott or perhaps a New York bartender named Troy Alexander.
- Americano: Originally known as the "Milano-Torino" due to its ingredients (Campari from Milan and Punt e Mes from Turin), it was renamed after American tourists who favored its refreshing mix of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water during Prohibition.
- Angel Face: A potent blend of gin, apricot brandy, and calvados. It first appeared in Harry Craddock’s Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) and is thought to be named after a notorious gangster.
- Aviation: A pre-Prohibition classic made with gin, maraschino liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and crème de violette, which gives it a distinct pale blue hue reminiscent of the sky. It was created by Hugo Ensslin at the Hotel Wallick in New York.
- Between the Sheets: A variation of the Sidecar that adds white rum to cognac, triple sec, and lemon juice. It is often attributed to Harry MacElhone at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, circa 1921.
- Boulevardier: Essentially a Negroni made with whiskey instead of gin. It was created by Erskine Gwynne, an American writer who founded the monthly magazine The Boulevardier in Paris.
- Brandy Crusta: Notable for its elaborate sugar rim and long lemon peel garnish, this drink is made with brandy, maraschino liqueur, curacao, and bitters. Invented by Joseph Santini in New Orleans in the 1850s, it is a direct ancestor of the Sidecar.
- Casino: A gin-based cocktail featuring maraschino liqueur, orange bitters, and fresh lemon juice. It is a floral, slightly tart classic from the early 1900s.
- Clover Club: A pre-Prohibition pink cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and egg white for silky foam. It was named after a Philadelphia men's club of the same name.
- Daiquiri: A simple, elegant blend of white rum, lime juice, and sugar. It was created in the mining town of Daiquiri, Cuba, around 1898, and later popularized by Ernest Hemingway.
- Dry Martini: Perhaps the most iconic cocktail, made with gin and dry vermouth. Its exact origins are debated, but it evolved from the sweeter Martinez in the late 19th century to the bone-dry versions preferred today.
- Gin Fizz: A refreshing highball of gin, lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water. It became a sensation in New Orleans between 1900 and 1940.
- Hanky Panky: Created by Ada Coleman, the first female head bartender at London's Savoy Hotel, for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey. It features gin, sweet vermouth, and a few dashes of Fernet-Branca for a bitter herbal finish.
- John Collins: A long drink made from gin, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water. It is a variation of Tom Collins, named after a head waiter at Limmer's Hotel in London.
- Last Word: A sharp, herbal cocktail with equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice. It originated at the Detroit Athletic Club in the 1920s.
- Manhattan: A sophisticated mix of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Legend says it was created at the Manhattan Club in New York for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill in 1874.
- Martinez: Widely considered the precursor to the Dry Martini, it uses Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters.
- Mary Pickford: Named after the "Queen of Hollywood" during a trip to Havana in the 1920s, this tropical drink combines white rum, pineapple juice, grenadine, and maraschino liqueur.
- Monkey Gland: A Prohibition-era drink of gin, orange juice, grenadine, and absinthe. Created by Harry MacElhone, it was mockingly named after a contemporary medical fad involving monkey tissue transplants.
- Negroni: The quintessential Italian aperitivo, made of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. It was reportedly created in Florence in 1919, when Count Camillo Negroni asked for his Americano to be strengthened by replacing soda with gin.
- Old Fashioned: One of the oldest cocktail recipes, consisting of bourbon or rye muddled with sugar, bitters, and a splash of water. Its name reflects a 19th-century desire for a drink made in the "old-fashioned" way.
- Paradise: A bright, fruity gin cocktail with apricot brandy and orange juice. It was a popular pre-dinner drink in the early 20th century.
- Planter's Punch: A classic Caribbean rum punch with lime juice and sugar. While many variations exist, the IBA version focuses on a balanced, spirit-forward fruit profile.
- Porto Flip: A rich, velvety "flip" made with brandy, ruby port, and a fresh egg yolk, typically served after dinner with a dusting of nutmeg.
- Ramos Gin Fizz: A New Orleans legend created by Henry C. Ramos in 1888. It is famous for its vigorous shaking process, which creates a stiff, meringue-like foam from egg whites and cream.
- Rusty Nail: A simple two-ingredient drink of Scotch whiskey and Drambuie (a honeyed Scotch liqueur). It gained fame in the 1960s as a favorite of the Rat Pack.
- Sazerac: Often called the first American cocktail, originating in New Orleans. It features cognac (or rye), absinthe, a sugar cube, and Peychaud's Bitters.
- Sidecar: A classic trio of cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. Its origin is contested between London and Paris (specifically the Ritz) following World War I.
- Stinger: A "duo" cocktail made with brandy and white crème de menthe. Once considered a high-society "nightcap", it was a favorite of the Vanderbilt family.
- Tuxedo: A refined gin and dry vermouth cocktail with maraschino, absinthe, and orange bitters. It was named after the Tuxedo Club in New York.
- Vieux Carré: A complex New Orleans classic created in 1938, combining rye, cognac, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, and two types of bitters.
- Whiskey Sour: A timeless blend of bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar (often with egg white). It was first mentioned in print in 1862, but dates back to sailors who used citrus to prevent scurvy.
- White Lady: A crisp gin-based Sidecar variation using triple sec and lemon juice. It was perfected by Harry MacElhone in the 1920s.
2. Contemporary Classics
These are modern standards that became world-famous during the mid-to-late 20th century.
- Bellini: Created by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harry's Bar in Venice (1948), consisting of Prosecco and white peach purée.
- Black Russian: A simple mix of vodka and coffee liqueur created in 1949 at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels for the American ambassador to Luxembourg.
- Bloody Mary: A savory vodka and tomato juice cocktail seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and celery salt. Fernand Petiot claimed to have invented it in Paris in the 1920s.
- Caipirinha: Brazil’s national cocktail, made with cachaça (sugar cane spirit), sugar, and lime.
- Champagne Cocktail: An elegant mix of Champagne, a sugar cube soaked in Angostura bitters, and a lemon twist.
- Cosmopolitan: A 1980s pink icon made with vodka citron, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry juice.
- Cuba Libre: Rum and cola with lime. It originated in Cuba around 1900, celebrating the end of the Spanish-American War.
- French 75: Named after the powerful 75mm French field gun from WWI, this "kick" is made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, and Champagne.
- French Connection: A two-ingredient "slow sipper" made of equal parts cognac and amaretto.
- Golden Dream: A 1960s classic with Galliano, Cointreau, orange juice, and cream, meant to taste like an orange creamsicle.
- Grasshopper: A sweet, minty green dessert drink featuring green crème de menthe, white crème de cacao, and cream.
- Hemingway Special: A "Papa Doble" daiquiri made with rum, lime, grapefruit juice, and maraschino liqueur, designed for the author’s preference for less sugar.
- Horse's Neck: A long drink of brandy and ginger ale, distinguished by a long, spiral "neck" of lemon peel hanging over the rim.
- Irish Coffee: Hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar, topped with a thick layer of chilled cream. Created in 1943 by Joe Sheridan to warm up transatlantic travelers.
- Kir: A simple French aperitif of dry white wine (traditionally Aligoté) and crème de cassis.
- Long Island Iced Tea: A potent mix of vodka, tequila, rum, gin, triple sec, lemon juice, and syrup, topped with cola to resemble tea.
- Mai Tai: The king of Tiki drinks, created by Trader Vic in 1944. It uses aged rum, lime, orgeat (almond syrup), and orange curacao.
- Margarita: The most popular tequila cocktail, made with tequila, lime juice, and triple sec, often served with a salt rim.
- Mimosa: Equal parts Champagne and chilled orange juice, invented at the Ritz London in 1925.
- Mint Julep: The signature drink of the Kentucky Derby, featuring bourbon, fresh mint, and sugar served over crushed ice in a silver cup.
- Mojito: A refreshing Cuban highball of white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and fresh mint.
- Moscow Mule: The drink that popularized vodka in the US in the 1940s, made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime, traditionally served in a copper mug.
- Piña Colada: A tropical blend of rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. It originated in Puerto Rico, often credited to the Caribe Hilton in 1954.
- Pisco Sour: The national drink of Peru (and Chile), made with Pisco, lemon juice, syrup, and egg white, topped with bitters.
- Sea Breeze: A 1980s staple made with vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice.
- Sex on the Beach: A fruity vodka cocktail with peach schnapps, orange juice, and cranberry juice.
- Singapore Sling: A complex gin-based tropical sling created by Ngiam Tong Boon at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore around 1915.
- Tequila Sunrise: Famous for its layered appearance (tequila, orange juice, and grenadine), it was popularized in the 1970s by The Rolling Stones.
3. New Era Drinks
This category includes modern creations, many of which have emerged from the "Cocktail Renaissance" of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
- B-52 Cocktail: A layered shot of Kahlúa, Baileys Irish Cream, and Grand Marnier.
- Barracuda: A sparkling gold drink with gold rum, Galliano, pineapple juice, lime, and Prosecco.
- Bee's Knees: A Prohibition-era cocktail of gin, lemon, and honey, which has seen a modern resurgence.
- Bramble: Created by Dick Bradsell in 1980s London, featuring gin, lemon, sugar, and a drizzle of blackberry liqueur (crème de mûre).
- Canchanchara: A traditional Cuban drink made with aguardiente, honey, and fresh lime juice.
- Dark 'n' Stormy: A trademarked drink consisting of Gosling's Black Seal Rum and ginger beer.
- Dirty Martini: A standard Gin Martini with the addition of olive brine.
- Espresso Martini: Another Dick Bradsell creation, famously requested by a model who wanted a drink to "wake her up". It features vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur.
- French Martini: A fruity mix of vodka, raspberry liqueur (Chambord), and pineapple juice.
- Gin Basil Smash: A 2008 creation from Hamburg, blending gin, fresh basil, lemon, and sugar.
- Illegal: A mezcal-forward drink with white rum, Falernum, maraschino, lime, and egg white.
- Kamikaze: A high-energy mix of equal parts vodka, triple sec, and lime juice.
- Lemon Drop Martini: A vodka-based sweet-and-sour drink served with a sugar rim.
- Naked and Famous: A modern classic from Death & Co, using equal parts mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and lime juice.
- New York Sour: A classic Whiskey Sour with a float of red wine on top.
- Old Cuban: Created by Audrey Saunders, it is essentially a Mojito made with aged rum and topped with Champagne.
- Paloma: Mexico's favorite tequila drink, made with tequila and grapefruit soda.
- Paper Plane: A modern equal-parts cocktail of bourbon, Amaro Nonino, Aperol, and lemon juice.
- Penicillin: A medicinal-tasting modern classic by Sam Ross using Scotch, honey-ginger syrup, lemon, and a float of peaty Islay Scotch.
- Russian Spring Punch: A vodka and sparkling wine drink with lemon and crème de cassis.
- South Side: A refreshing gin, mint, and lemon drink, often called the "Mojito of the gin world".
- Spicy Fifty: A modern blend of vodka, elderflower cordial, honey, lime, and fresh chili.
- Spritz Veneziano: Better known as the Aperol Spritz, combining Prosecco, Aperol, and soda.
- Suffering Bastard: A WWII-era gin and brandy hangover cure from Cairo, mixed with lime, bitters, and ginger ale.
- Tipperary: A spirited Irish whiskey drink with sweet vermouth and green Chartreuse.
- Tommy's Margarita: A 1990s variation that replaces triple sec with agave nectar to highlight the tequila.
- Trinidad Sour: A unique drink where Angostura bitters is the primary base spirit (1.5 oz), balanced with orgeat and lemon.
- Ve.n.to: The first IBA cocktail using Grappa as a base, mixed with lemon, honey, and chamomile.
- Vesper: Created by Ian Fleming for James Bond in Casino Royale, featuring gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc.
- Yellow Bird: A Caribbean-inspired mix of white rum, Galliano, triple sec, and lime juice.
ModernHaus Blend
Now you know the details and types. Next, check out ModernHaus Blend at ModernHaus Senopati.
ModernHaus Blend Whisky is crafted from a bold blend of Bourbon Whisky, Japanese Whisky, and Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Rested for 40 days in a Bourbon barrel at our warehouse, the blend develops a layered and expressive profile that captures the distinctive spirit of Modern Haus.
- Nose: Herbal notes lead the way, with peppermint, pine, and pleasant grassy tones, rounded out by cucumber and melon.
- Palate: The herbal freshness carries seamlessly onto the palate, where the mint develops into softer, sweeter notes. Bright citrus zest adds further vibrancy.
- Finish: Long and lingering, with a gentle waft of smoke appearing toward the end.
ALSO READ: Whiskey and the Stories Behind It: Types and How It's Made
Visit ModernHaus in Jakarta Selatan to Get a Cozy Living Room Style Bar!
Cocktails blend craft, character, and creativity. Once you understand them, it is easier to choose what suits your taste.
To explore the world of cocktails with peace, head to ModernHaus in Senopati, Jakarta Selatan. The bar's style mixes mid-century design with modern cocktail techniques.
Reserve your table at ModernHaus!
