Top 10 Most Famous Cocktails Worldwide

Margarita in Spanish means “daisy”, and it's said that this cocktail originates from Mexico. Surprisingly, this wasn't during the Prohibition era when many wealthy Americans traveled abroad for drinks. The origin of a cocktail is often unclear, and Margarita is no exception. The first story of a margarita-like drink is from an Iowa newspaper editor in 1936. He found the cocktail in Tijuana, Mexico.

Margarita also appears in a cocktail book in England in 1937, but the ingredients and proportions are for a cocktail called the Picador. Another story dates back to 1938, when bartender Carlos “Danny” Herrera created a cocktail for former Ziegfeld dancer Marjorie King in Baja, California. She was allergic to many strong spirits but not tequila.

Ingredients:

• 15ml white tequila (also known as blanco or silver tequila)
• 30ml orange liqueur, such as triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier
• 15ml freshly squeezed lime juice
• Kosher or coarse salt for the rim, optional (do not use iodized salt)
• Ice cubes
• Lime slice for garnish

Instructions:

• Pour a little kosher salt into a wide bowl or small plate. Take a lime slice and lightly rub it around the rim of your glass. Dip the rim into the salt. Fill the glass with some fresh ice and set aside.
• Pour the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 10 seconds, then strain into the prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime slice if desired.

Daiquiri is said to have been invented in 1898 in the mining town of the same name, Daiquiri, located on the southeastern coast of Cuba by an American mining engineer named Jennings Cox. The Daiquiri was introduced to the United States a decade later when a US Navy medical officer brought the Daiquiri recipe from Cuba to Washington, DC. This cocktail has pleased millions of palates in the years since, including familiar names like Ernest Hemingway and President JFK.

Daiquiri is straightforward yet superb in taste, a delicate blend of the sweetness of rum with the refreshing tang of lime and sugar. This recipe pioneers the combination of light rum and darker demerara sugar syrup. Both bring out the best qualities in each other and pair perfectly with fresh lime juice. A little tip when juicing the lime: Use a hand juicer (or your own hands). The oils from the peel add an extra depth to the cocktail, giving it a naturally vibrant and beautiful color.

Ingredients:

• 60ml light rum
• 30ml freshly squeezed lime juice
• 22ml demerara sugar syrup
• Lime peel

Instructions:

• Add rum, lime juice, and demerara sugar syrup to a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled.
• Strain into a chilled glass.
• Garnish with a lime peel.

There are some cocktails that are instantly recognizable, like the Cosmopolitan. Born at the height of the Queer Power movement and on the dawn of the cocktail renaissance. There's been a long-standing debate about who truly invented this cocktail, but what's more interesting is the fairytale cast and circumstances that popularized it. The Cosmopolitan reached its peak of fame in the 1990s, when the HBO show 'Sex and the City' was at its zenith. Even today, the Cosmopolitan remains extremely popular and can be spotted across the feeds of many social media accounts.

The light pink Martini-style drink became a favorite among characters in the show. It premiered in the second season and became a regular fixture thereafter. At one point, the Cosmopolitan could have been the most popular cocktail in America, with bartenders mixing dozens of them per shift. Though it may not enjoy the same level of popularity today as it did in its heyday, the classic recipe still endures.

Ingredients:

• 60ml vodka
• 30ml cranberry juice
• Fresh lime juice
• Triple sec
• Orange peel

Instructions:

• Combine vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and Triple sec in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.
• Strain the cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer or a slotted spoon into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange peel.

Among all whisky-based classic cocktails, the Manhattan is perhaps the most timeless. It was renowned in the fashionable drinking establishments of the 19th century to the extent that even after the Volstead Act of 1919 declared drinking illegal on American shores, the Manhattan continued to be enjoyed at soirées abroad. The Manhattan persisted even as many other whisky cocktails once savored completely faded into the darkness of drinking culture.

The likelihood that rye whiskey was the first spirit used to craft the Manhattan is because it was the first grain used to make whiskey in America. One of the earliest notes on the Manhattan cocktail can be found in William Schmidt's 'The Flowing Bowl,' published in 1891. People from the small island of Fohr in the North Frisian Islands were enamored with the Manhattan cocktail, and you'll find it featured on the menus of most bars and restaurants. If you want to savor the traditional cocktail, then the Manhattan should be made with American rye whiskey, although it's often made with bourbon or Canadian whisky.

Ingredients:

• 60 ml rye whiskey
• 30ml sweet vermouth
• Angostura bitters
• Garnish: brandied cherry (or twisted lemon peel, if preferred)

Instructions:

• Combine rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled.
• Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass or coupe glass.
• Garnish with a brandied cherry (or a lemon twist, if preferred).

Derived from gin, fresh lime juice, and sugar, this cocktail is classified as a sour gin, fitting for those eager to experiment with different libations. The origin of the Gimlet is unclear, but it's believed to have been invented by British sailors in the late 18th century. According to lore, sailors required lime to ward off scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. This libation eventually found its way into cocktail books including Harry Craddock's classic “The Savoy Cocktail Book” in 1930 with varying recipes, ingredients, and proportions.

Today, fresh lime juice is the preferred choice, but for many decades, the Gimlet was predominantly made with Rose's lime juice, a bottled blend of lime juice and sugar introduced in the 1860s. The Gimlet could also be crafted with vodka, particularly popular in the 1980s and 1990s. However, as gin regained its foothold, gin was reinstated into the Gimlet's mixology. Gin's natural taste complements lime, and the spirit's botanical, dry essence adds complexity to the libation while still controlling the sweetness.

Ingredients:

• Gin
• 15 ml fresh lime juice
• 15ml simple syrup
• Lime peel

Instructions:

• Combine gin, lime juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled.
• Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
• Garnish with a lime wheel.

Even if you know nothing about cocktails, at least you've heard of the Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned is a truly classic cocktail. Made with whiskey, sugar, Angostura bitters, and an orange or cherry garnish, it's a formula for whiskey enthusiasts. The Old Fashioned stands alongside other great cocktails like the Manhattan, Negroni, and Sazerac. However, in terms of historical significance, nothing compares to the Old Fashioned.

What we do know is that at the time cocktail recipe books began to appear in the late 19th century, what we now call the Old Fashioned was often referred to as the Whiskey Cocktail. The first rendition in 1887 provided a Whiskey Cocktail with gum syrup, ice, Angostura or Boker's bitters, a few dashes of curacao, and whiskey. By 1887, Angostura was omitted. By 1900, gum syrup was swapped for raw sugar, and a few dashes of curacao or absinthe were added. The Old Fashioned is a cocktail that has never gone out of style. It's also incredibly simple to craft, fitting for a cocktail designed to highlight its main ingredient: whiskey.

Ingredients:

• Bourbon or rye whiskey
• Sugar cube
• Water
• Angostura bitters
• Orange peel

Instructions:

• Muddle 4 dashes of bitters onto a sugar cube, then mix with 1/2 teaspoon of water. This is the traditional method, although many modern recipes call for simple syrup as it dissolves better.
• Add whiskey. Sweet bourbon with hints of vanilla and oak, or opt for spicier rye whiskey.
• Add ice, orange peel, optional cherry. Add a large ice cube and orange peel, ensuring to express the oils onto the drink. If desired, add a cocktail cherry.

Negroni is said to have been invented in Florence by the bold Italian Count Camillo Negroni at the turn of the 20th century. While at the Bar Casino in Florence, he requested the bartender to jazz up his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by substituting regular soda water with gin. To give the drink a twist, the bartender also used orange peel instead of the usual lemon peel. The count's fateful substitution led to one of the most widely stirred drinks in history. Today, Negroni can be found in countless restaurants and cocktail bars worldwide.

Negroni has been beloved throughout its 100-year history. Its unique blend of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth has become a platform that generations of mixologists have left their mark on. Try rum or mezcal following the same equal parts ratio with Campari and sweet vermouth, and you'll have different yet balanced and impressive drinks. The key to a great Negroni is finding a complementary pair of gin and vermouth that enhance, rather than overshadow, the bitter, bold flavor of Campari.

Ingredients:

• 30ml gin, preferably Bombay Dry
• 30ml sweet vermouth, preferably Cinzano Rosso
• 30ml Campari
• Twist of orange peel

Instructions:

• Combine all liquid ingredients with ice in a mixing glass and stir until chilled, about 30 seconds.
• Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a glass filled with ice.
• Express orange peel over the drink and drop into the glass.

Passion Fruit Martini was crafted in the early 2000s by a renowned mixologist at a famous bar in London. The mixologist aimed to create a sensual and enticing flavor experience. By blending vodka and premium ingredients, The Passion Fruit Martini was born. This irresistible cocktail has made its way to bars around the globe. Exquisite and sophisticated, the stylish Passion Fruit Martini has achieved iconic status among cocktail enthusiasts worldwide.

The queen of fruit cocktails, Passion Fruit Martini bursts with passion fruit flavor and looks absolutely captivating; you can whip up a beautiful passion fruit martini at home in just 5 minutes. Fresh passion fruit can vary from very tart to quite sweet and will affect the overall flavor profile. If the cocktail is too sweet, add a splash of lime juice; if too tart, you can add more simple syrup.

Ingredients:

• Fresh passion fruit
• Passion fruit-infused vodka
• Pineapple or passion fruit juice
• Lime juice
• Simple syrup
• Prosecco (optional)

Instructions:

• Fill half of a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Pour vodka, pineapple or passion fruit juice, simple syrup, and lime juice into the shaker.
• Halve each passion fruit and scoop out the seeds into the cocktail shaker.
• Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds. It's important to shake well to evenly distribute the passion fruit throughout the cocktail.
• Pour the passion fruit martini into two glasses and top each with a splash of Prosecco.

The modern classic drink was invented by British bartender Dick Bradsell at Fred's Club in London. Legend has it that a 'top model' requested a drink that could 'wake me up and f*ck me up' at the same time. Bradsell obliged, mixing vodka with espresso coffee and coffee liqueur, and the Espresso Martini was born. The term 'martini' had previously been used to describe a drink served in a V-shaped cocktail glass, so Dick renamed his concoction the Espresso Martini.

Ingredients:

• Coffee: Use strong espresso coffee, ideally brewed with lots of crema! Instant coffee is not recommended for this cocktail; it won't taste like a true Espresso Martini.
• Vodka: Any good-quality vodka will do
• Coffee liqueur: Kahlua is the most popular choice for this ingredient, but you can also use Tia Maria or even Baileys Irish Cream if you're looking for something a bit different.
• Simple syrup: This is a sweetening agent sometimes used to balance out the strong coffee and vodka.
• Coffee beans: Coffee beans are optional, but tradition (and most bartenders) will have you garnish your espresso martini with 3 coffee beans.
• Ice: Use plenty of ice to keep your cocktail nice and cool!

Instructions:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
• Add all ingredients except coffee beans (if using) and stir until the outside of the shaker frosts up. This step is crucial as it chills the drink without diluting it.
• Pour the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with 3 stacked coffee beans (optional).

Mimosa is a cocktail made with equal parts of orange juice and sparkling wine or Champagne, often served in a champagne flute. Originally, mimosas were not cocktails at all. They were called orange mimosas and were popular drinks in the wine country of France. The British royalty brought this drink back to England, where it became known as the mimosa, and not long after, famous Europeans were imbibing in this libation.

If you're talking about a classic Mimosa with equal parts orange juice and sparkling white wine, it will only taste as good as the quality of those two ingredients. A sparkling wine labeled brut is your best bet, as the orange juice will bring plenty of sweetness to the glass. There are many variations on the mimosa, and each one will change the flavor profile. For example, a peach-flavored sparkling wine will add depth of flavor and make the drink a bit more robust. The art of making a mimosa lies in the details and knowing your customers' preferences. The original recipe is orange juice and sparkling wine in equal proportions. At some point, adding a splash of Cointreau became popular. Then came the garnish of orange slice or strawberry.

Ingredients:

• Sparkling Wine
• Orange Juice
• Optional additional ingredients such as vodka, Grand Marnier, Chambord, and even whiskey

Instructions:

• Pour sparkling wine into a champagne flute, filling about half the glass in each.
• Top off with orange juice and serve.