No. 031 · Cocktail · IBA
Americano
Campari and sweet vermouth over ice with a splash of soda: a lighter, lower-strength bitter aperitif.
Photo: Conrad and Peter, CC BY 2.0
The Bar
Cocktails
Our cocktail recipes follow the official specifications of the International Bartenders Association (IBA) wherever one exists, with quantities exactly as the IBA gives them. A handful of other classics, such as the G&T and Hot Toddy, are our own house recipes and say so.
19 entries · alcoholic drinks for adults aged 18+
By spirit: Gin · Whisky & whiskey · Vodka · Rum · Tequila · Sparkling wine · Brandy & cognac · Wine · Liqueurs · Vermouth & aperitifs · Pisco · Cachaça
No. 056 · Cocktail · IBA
Black Russian
Vodka and coffee liqueur over ice. Float cream on top and it becomes a White Russian.
No. 039 · Cocktail · IBA
Champagne Cocktail
A bitters-soaked sugar cube and a little cognac, topped with chilled Champagne.
No. 041 · Cocktail · IBA
Cuba Libre
White rum, cola and fresh lime built over ice in a highball glass.
Photo: Martin Belam (currybet), CC BY-SA 2.0
No. 011 · Cocktail
Gin and Tonic
Gin and tonic water poured over plenty of ice with a wedge of lime. Our house ratio is one part gin to three of tonic.
Photo: NotFromUtrecht, CC BY-SA 3.0
No. 069 · Cocktail · IBA
Horse's Neck
Cognac and ginger ale over ice with a long spiral of lemon peel draped from the rim.
Photo: Cocktailmarler, CC BY-SA 4.0
No. 012 · Cocktail
Hot Toddy
Whisky, honey and lemon topped with hot water and lightly spiced. A house recipe for a cold evening.
Photo: Patrick Truby, CC BY-SA 2.0
No. 028 · Cocktail · IBA
John Collins
Gin, lemon, sugar syrup and soda built over ice in a tall glass. Use Old Tom gin and it's a Tom Collins.
Photo: cyclonebill, CC BY-SA 2.0
No. 044 · Cocktail · IBA
Kir
Crème de cassis topped with dry white wine. Use Champagne and it becomes a Kir Royal.
No. 045 · Cocktail · IBA
Long Island Iced Tea
Five spirits, lemon, sugar syrup and a top of cola. Contains no tea and a lot of alcohol: take it slowly.
Photo: Alisdair McDiarmid from Glasgow, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
No. 048 · Cocktail · IBA
Mimosa
Equal parts fresh orange juice and Prosecco in a flute. The IBA notes it's also known as Buck's Fizz.
Photo: John Knox, CC BY-SA 2.0
No. 051 · Cocktail · IBA
Moscow Mule
Vodka, ginger beer and fresh lime in a copper mug over ice.
Photo: Will Shenton, CC BY-SA 3.0
No. 019 · Cocktail · IBA
Negroni
Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth built over ice: bitter, sweet and bracing.
No. 060 · Cocktail · IBA
Paloma
Tequila, a squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt topped with pink grapefruit soda.
Photo: Erich Wagner, CC BY-SA 4.0
No. 035 · Cocktail · IBA
Rusty Nail
Scotch whisky and Drambuie stirred over ice: honeyed and warming.
Photo: Brian Child, CC BY-SA 2.0
No. 072 · Cocktail · IBA
Sea Breeze
Vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juice built over ice.
No. 061 · Cocktail · IBA
Spritz
Prosecco and Aperol with a splash of soda over ice in a wine glass.
Photo: Geolina163, CC BY-SA 4.0
No. 054 · Cocktail · IBA
Tequila Sunrise
Tequila and orange juice over ice with grenadine poured in to sink, creating the sunrise effect.
Photo: Nicor, CC BY-SA 3.0
No. 015 · Cocktail
Whisky Highball
Whisky lengthened with ice-cold soda water in a tall glass: simple, dry and refreshing.
Guides for this shelf
- Drinking responsibly: the UK guidelines The UK Chief Medical Officers' low-risk drinking guidelines, what a unit is, alcohol and young people, and where to get help.
- Cocktail techniques: shake, stir, build and more When to shake and when to stir, plus building, muddling, double straining, layering, blending, rinsing and working with egg white.
- Ice: the most important cocktail ingredient Cubes, large blocks, cracked and crushed ice: which to use for which drink, how to make crushed ice at home, and keeping ice fresh.
- Garnishes: twists, wheels, rims and more How to cut a citrus twist and express its oils, salt and sugar rims, herbs, spices and the classic garnishes in IBA specifications.
- Home bar basics: kit, measures, syrups and bottles The essential tools, UK spirit measures, how to make sugar and honey syrups, fresh citrus, and a sensible starter set of bottles.
- Glassware: which glass for which drink Coupes, martini glasses, rocks, highballs and flutes; nonic pints, tulips and weizen glasses; Irish coffee glasses, and how to look after them.
Most-used kit
- Jigger Search Amazon.co.uk for Jigger (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Bar spoon Search Amazon.co.uk for Bar spoon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Cocktail shaker Search Amazon.co.uk for Cocktail shaker (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Hawthorne strainer Search Amazon.co.uk for Hawthorne strainer (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Coupe glass Search Amazon.co.uk for Coupe glass (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Highball glass Search Amazon.co.uk for Highball glass (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Rocks (old fashioned) glass Search Amazon.co.uk for Rocks (old fashioned) glass (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Mixing glass Search Amazon.co.uk for Mixing glass (opens Amazon in a new tab)
Amazon links search Amazon.co.uk, so you can compare options yourself. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.