If you've mastered basic classics, here are a few more advanced cocktails to make now.
Mixology is a constant feedback loop. The more ingredients you buy, the more cocktails you want to make, and the more cocktails you want to make, the more ingredients you want to buy. Once you've graduated from essential classics, the world of cocktails is a vast place to explore. If you've read my Intermediate Home Bar article, you have everything you need to make these drinks and dozens more. Here are 10 more advanced cocktails worth making today.
1. Sazerac
Ingredients
1.25 oz. rye
1.25 oz. cognac
1 sugar cube (or ½ oz simple syrup)
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
1 dashes Angostura bitters
Absinthe or Herbsaint, to rinse
Instructions
Rinse a chilled rocks glass with absinthe, discarding excess. In mixing glass, muddle sugar. Add rye and cognac, fill with ice, stir until chilled, and strain into prepared glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
2. Boulevardier
Ingredients
1.5 oz. 100 Proof Bourbon
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. Sweet vermouth
Instructions
Stir all ingredients in mixing glass with ice until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel and serve.
3. Jungle Bird
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Dark rum
0.75 oz. Campari
1.5 oz. Pineapple juice
0.5 oz. Lime juice
0.5 oz. Simple syrup
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with pineapple fronds.
4. Piña Colada
Ingredients
2 oz. Demerara Rum (or white rum)
1.5 oz. Pineapple juice
1 oz. Coco Lopez mix (3:1, Coco Lopez; coconut milk)
0.5 oz. Lime juice
0.5 oz. Rich Demerara syrup (2:1 sugar, water)
Instructions
Add all ingredients to shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Pour into hurricane glass and top with crushed ice. Garnish and serve.
5. Sidecar
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Cognac
0.75 oz. Cointreau
0.75 oz. Lemon juice
Instructions
Coat rim of coupe glass with sugar and set aside. Add all ingredients to shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into prepared glass and garnish with orange twist.
6. Penicillin
Ingredients
2 oz. Blended Scotch
0.75 oz. Honey-ginger syrup
0.75 oz. Lemon juice
0.25 oz. Islay single malt scotch
Instructions
Add all the ingredients besides Islay scotch into a shaker with ice, and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Tope with Islay scotch and garnish with candied ginger
7. Bees Knees
Ingredients
2 oz. Old Tom gin
0.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
1⁄2 oz. honey syrup
Instructions
Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
8. Martinez
Ingredients
1 1⁄2 oz. gin (preferably Old Tom style)
1 1⁄2 oz. Sweet vermouth
1/4 oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Instructions
Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
9. The Rosita
Ingredients
1.5 oz. reposado tequila
0.5 oz. sweet vermouth
0.5 oz. dry vermouth
0.5 oz. Campari
1 dash Angostura bitters
Instructions
Stir ingredients in a mixing tin with ice, strain into a glass filled with cracked ice and garnish.
10. Green Gin Giant
Ingredients
2 oz. Gin
0.5 oz. Elderflower liqueur
0.75 oz. Lemon juice
0.75 oz. Basil simple syrup
Club soda to top
Cucumbers
Instructions
Muddle 3 slices of cucumber with lemon juice in a shaker tin. Add remaining ingredients except club soda with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Top with club soda and garnish with a cucumber slice.