Simple Cocktails

Mixing cocktails can be a complicated business, but it doesn’t need to be. Some of the simplest cocktails are also some of the most enduring (the Negroni, Manhattan, Martini—and on and on). Thirsty to get back to the basics? Check out this expansive list of simple cocktails, some classic and some contemporary, each mixed with four ingredients or less.

Brandy-Based Cocktails

American Pharoah
Bertram’s Cap
Brandy Crusta
Calvados & Tonic
Chicago Cocktail
Deauville Sidecar Royale
Improved Japanese Cocktail
Jack Rose
Japanese Cocktail
La Condesa
Loudspeaker
Newark
Prescription Julep
Sidecar
The Original New York Cocktail
Zinger

Gin/Genever-Based Cocktails

20th Century
Aviation
Bee’s Knees
Bijou
Clover Club
Fallen Angel
French 75
Genever Daisy
Gibson
Gimlet
Gin Fizz
Gin Rickey
Hanky Panky
Honeyed Coffee Gin & Tonic
Jasmine
Koffie & Tonic
Last Word
Martini
Negroni
Pegu Club
Red Light Negroni
Reverse Martini
Royal Hawaiian
Tom Collins
Tuxedo
Vesper
White Lady

Pisco Cocktails

El Capitán
Foreign National
Oro en Paz
The Peruvian
Pisco Martini

Rum- and Cachaça-Based Cocktails

Airmail
Anvil Daiquiri
Brazilian Vesper
Bob Roy
Brooklynite
Caipirinha
Cuba Libre
Daiquiri
Daiquiri Rebelde
Hemingway Daiquiri
Mojito
Painkiller
Piña Colada
Planter’s Punch
Por do Sol Negroni
Spanish Coffee

Tequila- and Mezcal-Based Cocktails

Bee Sting
Bitters & Smoke
El Diablo
El Camino
La Batanga
Last of the Oaxacans
Margarita
Naked & Famous
Oaxaca Mule
Paloma
Ranch Water
Sea of Cortez
Smokey Negroni
Tabbard Cocktail
Tequila Rickey
Tequila Sunrise

Vodka-Based Cocktails

Espresso Martini
Flame of Love
Gypsy Cocktail
Harvey Wallbanger
Kangaroo
Moscow Mule
Nancy’s Cosmo
White Russian

Whisk(e)y-Based Cocktails

Algonquin
Artichoke Hold
Blinker
Blood and Sand
Blood & Sand Redux
Bobby Burns
Boulevardier
Brown Derby
Churchill Manhattan
Frisco
Good Samaritan
Hot Toddy
Irish Coffee
Lindsey’s Lament
Lodge Negroni
Mamie Taylor
Manhattan
Mint Julep
New Toronto
Ode to Viceroy
Old Fashioned
Old Pal
Pendergast
Red Hook
Reverse Manhattan
Rob Roy
Rusty Nail
Sazerac
Scofflaw
Tipperary
Toronto
Walnut Old Fashioned
Ward Eight
Whiskey Sour

Amaro-, Aperitif- and Wine-Based Cocktails

Adonis
Americano
Appetizer à l’Italienne
Bitter Giuseppe
Bollicine
Champagne Cocktail
Chrysanthemum
Driftwood Spritz
La Sirena Clandestina’s Amaro Cocktail
Milano Torino
Mimosa
Negroni Sbagliato
Pimm’s Cup
Puttin’ on the Spritz
Sherry Cobbler
Vermut & Tonic
Waterproof Watch
Winter Spritz