10 Classic Cocktails Every Bar Should Know
Cocktail trends come and go, but some drinks have earned a permanent place behind the bar. From a refreshing Mojito to an after-dinner Espresso Martini, the classics continue to provide inspiration for modern cocktail menus. For pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants, cocktails can also provide an opportunity to make more of the drinks already stocked behind the bar. Spirits, post-mix soft drinks, mixers, fruit juices and a few fresh ingredients can create an impressive selection. So, rather than trying to rank today’s most fashionable drinks, we’ve chosen ten established cocktails worth knowing. 1. Margarita Fresh, sharp and instantly recognisable, the Margarita combines tequila, lime and orange liqueur. It is traditionally served with a salted rim, although there are now countless variations. Fruit flavours can also put a different spin on the original. As a result, the Margarita remains an adaptable choice for 2. Old Fashioned The Old Fashioned proves that cocktails don’t need a long list of ingredients. Traditionally made with whiskey, sugar and bitters, it is usually finished with orange peel. The result is a strong, spirit-led drink that has remained a cocktail-bar favourite for generations. 3. Mojito Originating in Cuba, the Mojito combines rum, lime, mint, sugar and soda water. It is refreshing, recognisable and particularly popular during warmer weather. Furthermore, fruit can be added to create variations without completely changing the character of the drink. 4. Martini Few cocktails are as instantly recognisable as the Martini. Traditionally combining gin and dry vermouth, it can be garnished with an olive or lemon twist. Vodka Martinis have also become extremely popular. Its simplicity means the quality and balance of the ingredients really matter. 5. Daiquiri The classic Daiquiri is another excellent example of a simple cocktail. At its heart are just three ingredients: rum, fresh lime and sugar. However, the name is now associated with numerous fruit and frozen variations too. Strawberry Daiquiris, in particular, have become a familiar sight on cocktail menus. 6. Negroni The Negroni is traditionally made using equal measures of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. Its bittersweet flavour makes it very different from many sweeter cocktails. Usually finished with orange peel, it has become a modern bar staple despite having more than a century of history behind it. 7. Whiskey Sour Whiskey, lemon juice and sugar provide the foundations of a Whiskey Sour. Egg white is also traditionally used in many versions to create its distinctive foamy top. However, venues can adapt the recipe depending on their preferred serving style. The combination of sweetness, citrus and whiskey gives this classic its distinctive balance. 8. Cosmopolitan The Cosmopolitan combines vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry and lime. Although its history stretches further back, its appearance in Sex and the City helped turn the bright pink cocktail into a cultural icon. It remains an attractive choice for bars looking for a familiar fruit-led cocktail. 9. Piña Colada Rum, pineapple and coconut give the Piña Colada its unmistakably tropical character. Closely associated with Puerto Rico, it has become one of the world’s best-known tropical cocktails. Furthermore, its distinctive appearance makes it instantly recognisable when served. 10. Espresso Martini The Espresso Martini may be younger than many drinks on this list, but it has firmly established itself as a modern classic. Vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso create its distinctive combination of coffee, sweetness and alcohol. Consequently, it works particularly well as an after-dinner drink or later-evening serve. Making Cocktails Work Behind a Busy Bar A successful cocktail menu isn’t necessarily the one with the most choices. Instead, a carefully selected range can make ordering easier for customers and preparation simpler for staff. There is also plenty of scope to use ingredients across several drinks. Post-mix cola, lemonade, tonic, soda and fruit flavours can serve multiple purposes behind the bar. They can accompany spirits, feature in cocktails and provide the foundations for alcohol-free alternatives. Therefore, a good post-mix system can help reduce preparation time while keeping drinks consistent. Post-Mix Drinks and Cocktail Mixers from CS Drinks At CS Drinks, we’ve worked with the hospitality trade for over 35 years. We supply post-mix soft drinks alongside the dispensing equipment needed to serve them. Our systems are suitable for pubs, clubs, bars, bistros, cafés, restaurants and other hospitality venues. Moreover, installation, servicing and maintenance are handled by our own team. Whether you’re creating cocktails, serving spirits and mixers or simply pouring a refreshing soft drink, a dependable dispensing system helps keep the bar moving. Speak to Steve, Dianne or Matthew on 01539 559033 to find out more about post-mix drinks and dispensing equipment for your venue.
Cocktails in Literature
Cocktails have been appearing in novels for generations. However, a drink in the hands of a fictional character is rarely there simply because they are thirsty. Writers have used cocktails to suggest wealth, celebration, escape and excess. Sometimes, the choice of drink tells us something about a character before they have even said very much. From the parties of The Great Gatsby to the precise drinking habits of James Bond, cocktails have certainly made their mark on literature. Cocktails and The Great Gatsby Few novels capture the extravagance of the Jazz Age quite like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, published in 1925. Alcohol flows freely at Jay Gatsby’s lavish parties, despite the novel taking place during American Prohibition. Consequently, drinking becomes part of Fitzgerald’s portrayal of wealth, excess and rebellion. One particularly memorable drink is the Mint Julep. It appears during a crucial scene involving Daisy, Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. However, the glamorous surroundings disguise much darker tensions. Fitzgerald uses parties and drinking to contrast outward success with dissatisfaction and disillusionment. As a result, cocktails become part of the carefully constructed world surrounding Gatsby and his guests. Ernest Hemingway and the Daiquiri Ernest Hemingway had a well-documented association with drinking, and alcohol frequently appears throughout his writing. Characters drink in novels including The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms. Sometimes it accompanies friendship and conversation. Elsewhere, drinking reflects attempts to cope with war, uncertainty and personal difficulties. Hemingway also became closely associated with the Daiquiri during his time in Cuba. His connection with Havana’s El Floridita bar subsequently became part of cocktail folklore. A variation of the Daiquiri is still widely associated with his name. Therefore, the relationship between Hemingway and cocktails extends beyond the pages of his novels into the story surrounding the writer himself. James Bond and the Vesper Martini Few fictional characters have a stronger association with cocktails than James Bond. Ian Fleming introduced Bond in Casino Royale in 1953. During the novel, Bond gives precise instructions for a cocktail combining gin, vodka and Kina Lillet. He eventually names the drink the Vesper, after Vesper Lynd. The Vesper subsequently became one of the most famous cocktails associated with literature and film. Bond’s wider preference for Martinis also became an important part of the character. His particular approach to ordering drinks reinforces an image of someone who knows exactly what he wants. Decades later, the association between Bond and the Martini remains firmly embedded in popular culture. When a Cocktail Becomes Part of the Character The choice of drink can be a surprisingly effective literary device. A carefully ordered Martini might suggest control and confidence. Meanwhile, overflowing glasses at a party can represent excess or the desire to escape everyday life. The setting matters too. Bars, restaurants and hotel lounges provide writers with places where characters can meet, celebrate and argue. Moreover, sharing a drink can create opportunities for conversations that move a story forward. Cocktails can therefore become part of the atmosphere without ever becoming the main subject. From the Page to the Bar Literature and popular culture continue to influence what customers order. Someone discovering the Vesper through James Bond might decide to try one at a bar. Likewise, a customer familiar with Hemingway may be tempted by a Daiquiri. Classic cocktails also continue to inspire modern menus. While recipes and presentation may change, many of the familiar names remain. Behind the scenes, however, successful cocktail service depends on more practical considerations. Bars need reliable ingredients, consistent mixers and equipment that can cope when service gets busy. At CS Drinks, we supply post-mix soft drinks, mixers and dispensing equipment to pubs, clubs, bars, bistros, cafés and other hospitality venues. After all, whether inspiration comes from a cocktail menu or the pages of a classic novel, somebody still has to make the drink.
Cocktails in Film
Some cocktails are famous because of their ingredients. Others have become famous because of the person holding the glass. Film and television have played an enormous part in cocktail culture. A carefully chosen drink can tell us about a character, establish a period or help create the atmosphere of a scene. From James Bond’s Martini to The Dude’s White Russian, some drinks have become almost inseparable from the characters who order them. So, let’s take a look at some memorable appearances of cocktails on screen. James Bond and the Martini Few fictional characters are as closely associated with a drink as James Bond is with the Martini. Ian Fleming established Bond’s particular drinking habits in the original novels. However, the films introduced them to a much larger audience. The phrase “shaken, not stirred” subsequently became one of cinema’s most recognisable lines. Bond is also associated with the Vesper, introduced in Casino Royale. It combines gin, vodka and the original Kina Lillet, although modern versions require substitutions because Kina Lillet is no longer produced. For Bond, ordering a drink is rarely casual. His precise choices reinforce the character’s confidence, particular tastes and attention to detail. As a result, the Martini became part of the Bond image both on the page and on screen. The Big Lebowski and the White Russian If Bond’s Martini represents precision, the White Russian in The Big Lebowski represents something very different. Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski drinks White Russians throughout the 1998 film. His favourite combination of vodka, coffee liqueur and cream becomes an extension of his laid-back personality. The drink appears so frequently that it is almost another character in the film. Moreover, The Big Lebowski helped introduce the White Russian to a new generation. It’s a good example of how popular culture can revive interest in an established cocktail. Casablanca and the Bar as a Film Set Not every memorable film drink needs to be associated with a particular cocktail. In Casablanca, Rick’s Café Américain provides the setting for some of cinema’s most famous scenes. Drinks, music and conversation help create the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the bar provides a meeting place for characters whose lives have been brought together by war. The setting demonstrates something pubs and bars have always understood. A drink is often only part of the experience. The people, surroundings and conversations taking place around it can be just as important. Cocktails and The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby has reached cinema audiences through several adaptations. The 1974 film starred Robert Redford as Gatsby, while Leonardo DiCaprio took the role in the 2013 adaptation. In both the original story and its screen adaptations, drinking accompanies a world of parties, wealth and excess. Cocktails, Champagne and overflowing glasses contribute to the image of Jazz Age extravagance. However, beneath the celebrations lies a much less comfortable story. Therefore, the drinks help establish both the period and the lifestyle of the characters. Mad Men and the Drinking Culture of the 1960s Moving from cinema to television, Mad Men made classic cocktails an important part of its portrayal of 1960s American business culture. Don Draper and his colleagues regularly drink in offices, restaurants and bars. The Old Fashioned became particularly associated with Draper. Here, cocktails do more than provide attractive props. They help establish the period and illustrate very different attitudes towards drinking in the workplace. Furthermore, bars and restaurants become important settings for meetings and conversations. The series helped bring several traditional cocktails back into popular culture decades after their original heyday. When the Screen Influences the Bar Film and television don’t simply reflect drinking trends. Sometimes, they help create them. Customers may order a cocktail because they’ve seen a favourite character drinking one. Others might rediscover an older drink after it appears in a new film or television series. That influence can continue for decades. The Martini will probably always be associated with James Bond. Likewise, ordering a White Russian is likely to prompt references to The Dude for many years to come. For pubs, clubs and bars, familiar cocktail names can provide useful inspiration when planning a drinks menu. From the Silver Screen to Your Bar Behind every memorable cocktail is a combination of ingredients that need to work together. While some cocktails are largely spirit-led, others rely on soft drinks and mixers. Cola, lemonade, tonic, ginger and fruit flavours can also be used across numerous mixed drinks and simpler serves. At CS Drinks, we supply post-mix soft drinks, mixers and dispensing equipment for pubs, clubs, bars, bistros, cafés and other hospitality venues. Our own team handles installation, servicing and deliveries. So, whether customers are ordering something inspired by the silver screen or simply their usual spirit and mixer, we’ll help you keep the drinks flowing. Speak to Steve, Dianne or Matthew on 01539 559033 to find out more.