Top 15 Cocktails Bartenders Love
Great bartenders respect the classics. While trends come and go, certain drinks never leave the bar menu. These cocktails are loved by bartenders because they showcase balance, technique, and professionalism.
At ABC Bartending School in Phoenix, students learn not just what to pour, but how to make drinks the correct way.
Below are 15 top drinks bartenders love, along with the proper method to make each one.
1. Old Fashioned
A true test of balance and technique.
How to Make It:
• 2 oz bourbon or rye
• 1 sugar cube
• 2 to 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Splash of water
Muddle sugar, bitters, and water. Add ice and whiskey. Stir gently. Garnish with orange peel and cherry.
2. Margarita
Simple, clean, and always in demand.
How to Make It:
• 2 oz tequila
• 1 oz triple sec
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
Shake with ice. Strain into a salt rimmed glass over ice. Garnish with lime.
3. Martini
Precision matters here.
How to Make It:
• 2.5 oz gin or vodka
• 0.5 oz dry vermouth
Stir with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with olive or lemon twist.
4. Negroni
Bartenders love its bold balance.
How to Make It:
• 1 oz gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
Stir with ice. Serve over a large cube. Garnish with orange peel.
5. Manhattan
A classic whiskey cocktail.
How to Make It:
• 2 oz rye whiskey
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes bitters
Stir with ice. Strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with cherry.
6. Mojito
Refreshing and technique driven.
How to Make It:
• 2 oz white rum
• Fresh mint leaves
• 1 oz lime juice
• 2 tsp sugar
• Soda water
Muddle mint, sugar, and lime gently. Add rum and ice. Top with soda. Garnish with mint.
7. Whiskey Sour
Balanced and timeless.
How to Make It:
• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 0.75 oz simple syrup
• Optional egg white
Shake vigorously. Strain over ice. Garnish with cherry and orange.
8. Moscow Mule
Crisp and popular.
How to Make It:
• 2 oz vodka
• 0.5 oz lime juice
• Ginger beer
Build in a copper mug over ice. Stir lightly. Garnish with lime.
9. Daiquiri
Not frozen. Ever.
How to Make It:
• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz lime juice
• 0.75 oz simple syrup
Shake with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe.
10. Cosmopolitan
Clean and balanced when done right.
How to Make It:
• 1.5 oz vodka
• 1 oz triple sec
• 0.5 oz cranberry juice
• 0.5 oz lime juice
Shake with ice. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lime.
11. Aperol Spritz
Light and refreshing.
How to Make It:
• 3 oz prosecco
• 2 oz Aperol
• 1 oz soda water
Build over ice in a wine glass. Garnish with orange slice.
12. Paloma
A bartender favorite tequila drink.
How to Make It:
• 2 oz tequila
• Grapefruit soda
• Lime juice splash
Build over ice in a salt rimmed glass. Garnish with lime.
13. French 75
Elegant and classic.
How to Make It:
• 1 oz gin
• 0.5 oz lemon juice
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• Champagne
Shake gin, lemon, and syrup. Top with champagne. Garnish with lemon twist.
14. Espresso Martini
Popular and precise.
How to Make It:
• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz coffee liqueur
• 1 oz fresh espresso
Shake hard with ice. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with coffee beans.
15. Bloody Mary
A brunch essential.
How to Make It:
• 1.5 oz vodka
• Bloody Mary mix
• Worcestershire sauce
• Hot sauce
• Celery salt
Build over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with celery and lemon.
Why Learning the Correct Way Matters
Bartenders respect consistency and technique. Making drinks correctly builds confidence, earns trust, and increases tips. Employers notice when a bartender understands classic recipes and proper execution.
At ABC Bartending School in Phoenix, we teach students these drinks and many more in a hands-on environment so you graduate ready for real bar work.
Ready to Learn Like a Pro?
If you want to master the drinks bartenders love and get trained the right way, now is the time.
Call 480-777-2333 to enroll at ABC Bartending School in Phoenix and start your bartending journey today.
