Guidance

Cocktail families

Almost every cocktail belongs to one of seven families. Know the family and you can guess how a drink will taste before you order it.

01

Sour bright, tart and balanced

Spirit, fresh citrus and something sweet, shaken hard with ice. It's the backbone of cocktails: change the spirit or the sweetener and you get a new classic.

Formula
Spirit + citrus + sweet
Method
Shaken
Glass
Coupe or rocks glass
The 31 classics in this family
AviationGin · 22%Bee’s KneesGin · 16.9%BrambleGin · 15.1%CaipirinhaCachaça · 26%Clover ClubGin · 14.2%Corpse Reviver #2Gin · 22.5%CosmopolitanVodka · 24%DaiquiriRum · 18%Gin Basil SmashGin · 20%Hemingway SpecialRum · 19%Last WordGin · 22.4%Lemon Drop MartiniVodka · 40%MargaritaTequila · 24%Naked and FamousMezcal · 17.6%Paper PlaneWhiskey · 16.7%PenicillinScotch · 19%Pisco SourPisco · 16%SidecarCognac · 40%Tommy’s MargaritaTequila · 16.8%Whiskey SourWhiskey · 18%Between the SheetsRum · 40%Brandy CrustaBrandy · 22.2%CanchancharaAguardiente · 18%CasinoGin · 21.6%Grand MargaritaTequila · 26%New York SourWhiskey · 15.8%South SideGin · 20%Spicy FiftyVodka · 20%Trinidad SourWhiskey · 50%Ve.N.ToGrappa · 14.5%White LadyGin · 40%
02

Spirit-Forward strong, silky, slow

Almost all spirit, softened with vermouth, a liqueur or bitters. No juice, so it's stirred, never shaken, to stay clear and smooth.

Formula
Spirit + modifier + bitters
Method
Stirred
Glass
Rocks or stemmed glass
The 17 classics in this family
BoulevardierWhiskey · 25.8%Dry MartiniGin · 30%ManhattanWhiskey · 30%Mint JulepWhiskey · 28%NegroniGin · 24%Old FashionedWhiskey · 29.4%SazeracCognac · 30%VesperGin · 28%CardinaleGin · 22.1%Hanky PankyGin · 22.9%MartinezGin · 21%Rabo de GaloCachaça · 22.8%Remember the MaineWhiskey · 50%Rusty NailScotch · 31.5%TipperaryWhiskey · 26%TuxedoGin · 24%Vieux CarréWhiskey · 28%
03

Highball long, light, refreshing

One spirit and a lot of mixer, like soda, tonic, ginger beer or juice, built straight in a tall glass full of ice.

Formula
Spirit + a long mixer
Method
Built
Glass
Highball or Collins glass
The 16 classics in this family
AmericanoCampari · 8.8%Bloody MaryVodka · 10%Cuba LibreRum · 9%Dark ‘N’ StormyRum · 9%Gin FizzGin · 7.3%Long Island Iced TeaVodka · 40%MojitoRum · 11%Moscow MuleVodka · 10.8%PalomaTequila · 10.1%Tom CollinsGin · 12.1%FernanditoFernet · 9.2%GaribaldiCampari · 5.3%Horse’s NeckCognac · 9%John CollinsGin · 12.1%Ramos FizzGin · 12%Suffering BastardCognac · 9.5%
04

Sparkling festive and fizzy

Topped with sparkling wine such as champagne or prosecco. Lively bubbles, usually lighter in alcohol.

Formula
Sparkling wine + a little something
Method
Built or topped
Glass
Flute or wine glass
The 12 classics in this family
BelliniProsecco · 6.5%French 75Gin · 16%Kir RoyalChampagne · 12.3%MimosaProsecco · 4.7%SpritzProsecco · 9%Champagne CocktailChampagne · 13%KirWine · 11%Old CubanRum · 13%PucciniProsecco · 6.5%RossiniProsecco · 6.5%Russian Spring PunchVodka · 14%TintorettoProsecco · 6.5%
05

Tiki tropical, bold and often strong

Rum-led drinks with tropical juices, spice and syrups like orgeat and falernum. Born in the American tiki bars of the 1930s.

Formula
Rum + juices + spiced syrups
Method
Shaken, swizzled or blended
Glass
Tiki mug or hurricane glass
The 12 classics in this family
Jungle BirdRum · 12.1%MaiRum · 22%Pina ColadaRum · 13%ZombieRum · 18%Chartreuse Swizzle19.6%Don’s Special DaiquiriRum · 18%IBA TikiRum · 14%IllegalMezcal · 18%Missionary’s DownfallRum · 12%Pisco PunchPisco · 16%Planters PunchRum · 13.4%Three Dots and a DashRum · 22.2%
06

Fruity juicy and easy-drinking

Fruit leads the way through juices, purées or fruit liqueurs. Sweeter and softer than a sour.

Formula
Spirit + fruit
Method
Shaken or built
Glass
Varies
The 11 classics in this family
French MartiniVodka · 15.6%Porn Star MartiniVodka · 15%Sex on the BeachVodka · 10.7%Singapore SlingGin · 40%Tequila SunriseTequila · 12.3%Angel FaceGin · 24.5%Mary PickfordRum · 15%Monkey GlandGin · 21.1%ParadiseGin · 19.1%Sea BreezeVodka · 9.5%Sherry CobblerSherry · 11.9%
07

Creamy rich, velvety, dessert-like

Made with cream, egg, coffee or rich liqueurs. Thick, smooth and sweet.

Formula
Spirit + cream, egg or coffee
Method
Shaken or built
Glass
Coupe or rocks glass
The 9 classics in this family
Black RussianVodka · 29.4%Espresso MartiniVodka · 18.6%Grasshopper11.3%Irish CoffeeWhiskey · 6.8%White RussianVodka · 21%AlexanderCognac · 17%French ConnectionCognac · 28.4%Porto FlipBrandy · 15%StingerCognac · 26.2%
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