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    • Nov 13, 2020
    • 3 min read

8 Classic Cocktails to Perfect at Home this Winter

The days are getting shorter and we're spending more time at home, so why not perfect some classic cocktails?

With the energy of the holidays, the air getting more crisp, and the days getting shorter, this time of year is generally perfect for reflection, slowing down, and getting cozy.


This year, show up to your Zoom holiday meals with a gorgeous cocktail and impress your loved ones with your bartending skills. Here are 8 classic cocktails to perfect this winter:


The Manhattan

It wouldn't feel right to start this off without a classic Manhattan. There's something about a well-created manhattan that always turns heads at restaurants and dinner parties. If you prefer your drinks to be a little less "balanced" and more "spirit-forward", try your hand at making your Manhattan "perfect" by using 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth and 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth.


Ingredients

  • 2 oz Rye Whiskey

  • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth

  • 3 dashes Angostura bitters

  • 2-3 cocktail cherries

Instructions

  1. Fill a mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice

  2. Add Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, and bitters

  3. Stir for 90 seconds

  4. Strain into a martini glass. (A true Manhattan is *never* served on the rocks.)

  5. Garnish with cherries


The Bourbon Old Fashioned

While muddling fruit may feel like the original way to make an Old Fashioned, the classic technique is to only muddle together the sugar, bitters, and water in order to dissolve the sugar.


Ingredients

  • 1 sugar cube

  • 3 dashes bitters

  • 1 tsp water

  • 2 oz Bourbon

  • Garnish with an orange peel

Instructions

  1. Muddle the sugar cube and bitters with one bar spoon of water at the bottom of a chilled Old Fashioned rocks glass. Add Bourbon.

  2. Add a large ice cube and stir

  3. Express the oil of an orange peel over the glass and drop it in

The Negroni

Traditionally consumed before dinner, this classic Italian gin drink was first created for Count Camillo Negroni in 1919. While you may see this drink finished with lemon or orange peel these days, the classic Italian preparation is made over ice in a rocks glass, stirred, and finished with an orange slice.


Ingredients

  • 1 oz Campari

  • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth

  • Orange slice, for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a tumbler filled with ice, stir together the Campari, Gin, and Vermouth

  2. Strain over rocks into an Old Fashioned glass

  3. Garnish with an orange slice


The Boulevardier

The Boulevardier can be thought of as a Whiskey Negroni. While it can be made with both Bourbon and Rye Whiskey, we prefer ours with Bourbon. Don't get us wrong, we love Negronis all year long, but there's something about the Boulevardier that ease us into winter months with a little extra warmth.


Ingredients

  • 1 oz Campari

  • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth

  • Lemon peel for garnish

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled

  2. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice

  3. Garnish with a lemon peel


The Martini

We'll get into the enormous variations of martinis in another post. For now, and for simplicity sake, we'll move forward with the original martini recipe as being made with London Dry Gin.


Ingredients

  • 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth

  • Green olive or lemon twist for garnish

Instructions

  1. Fill a glass with ice

  2. Add ingredients, stir for about 30 seconds, then strain into a chilled martini glass

  3. Garnish with an olive or lemon twist


The Martinez

The perfect blend of Manhattan and Martini, the Martinez actually predates the classic Gin Martini. What you're left with is a sweeter and smooth Gin cocktail.


Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth

  • 1/4 oz Luxardo maraschino liqueur

  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters

  • Garnish: Orange twist

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled

  2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass

  3. Garnish with an orange twist


The Vesper

Feeling that James Bond kind of vibe? The Vesper is a classic gin and vodka martini that James Bond made famous with his classic preparation, "shaken, not stirred." But we think classic drinks should be made in their original manner, which is why we highly recommend stirring your Vesper instead of shaking it. Sorry, 007.


Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled

  2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

  3. Express the oils from a lemon twist over the drink, rub the twist along the rim of the glass and drop it into the cocktail


The Alaska

Part Martini, part Gin Old Fashioned, the Alaska balances between being a spirit-forward and citrus-forward cocktail.


Ingredients

  • 3/4 oz Yellow Chartreuse

  • 1 dash orange bitters

  • Lemon twist for garnish

Instructions

  1. Stir on ice for 20-30 seconds

  2. Strain off ice into a chilled coupe glass

  3. Garnish with a lemon twist


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