Nothing beats a classic cocktail.
A party isn’t a party without a menu of popular cocktail drinks. As time goes by, they get more refined and more flavorful. A sip or two can send all of your senses into a roller coaster ride of enjoyment, fun, and sophistication. A glass of liquor never disappoints.
Before the holidays begin, Village Warehouse Wine & Spirits shares thirst-quenching cocktails you can make right in the comfort of your home. Impress your guests (and even yourself) with your newfound knowledge of popular cocktails.
14 Most Popular Cocktails You Can Try
Now, let’s delve deeper into great cocktail recipes, trade secrets, and mixology tricks. Here are 14 popular cocktail drinks guaranteed to bring guests queuing in your home bar:
1. Long Island Iced Tea
Want something that never goes out of style? Try a glass of long island iced tea. This one is a fusion of triple sec, tequila, rum, gin, and vodka. Put a mixture of lemon juice and sweet and sour cola to top it off.
You might be wondering where the tea is in all of the ingredients. There’s no tea apart from the cola, which gives the flavor profile of the tea.
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce light rum
- ½ ounce triple sec
- ½ ounce gin
- ½ ounce vodka
- 6-ounce cola
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2. Pina Colada
One popular fruity cocktail drink is pina colada. Indeed, this classic is sure to catch anyone’s eye. It looks more like a smoothie than a cocktail. It has the perfect balance of pineapple juice, rum, and coconut milk. There’s no wonder why this one remains a crowd favorite for all seasons.
Ingredients:
- 6-ounce pina colada mix
- 2-ounce pineapple juice
- 1 Maraschino cherry
- 2-ounce Captain Morgan Original Spiced rum
- 1 pineapple slice, quartered
3. Apple Martini
Time to set the dry martini aside. It’s the apple martini or appletini’s time to shine. The base of this popular cocktail drink is vodka with an added sweet-sour twist from apple schnapps and is topped off with a squeeze of lemon juice and a slice of apple.
Ingredients:
- 2-ounce vodka
- 1 ½ ounce apple schnapps
- 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 slice of apple
4. Mint Julep
A glass of mint julep is sure to impress. It’s a classic, simple, and refined cocktail. This concoction combines granulated sugar, a little bit of water, bourbon, and mint. It’s no secret why it’s one of the most popular cocktails out there.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Kentucky bourbon
- 2 tablespoons of sliced mint leaves
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 sprigs of mint leaves for garnish
5. Cosmopolitan
If vodka is your firewater, then a glass of cosmopolitan should be on your list. This tangy drink is a fusion of cranberry juice, triple sec, lime juice, and vodka. The key to an unforgettable cosmopolitan is a Cointreau triple sec and a trusted brand of cranberry juice for some cranberry goodness.
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce cranberry juice
- 1 ounce Cointreau triple sec
- 2-ounce vodka
- ½ fresh sour mix
- A slice of lemon for garnish
6. Daiquiri
A daiquiri is always mistaken for a popular fruity cocktail. Contrary to that belief, a great glass of daiquiri combines lime juice, simple syrup, and white rum. If you’re looking for a refreshing and clean drink, you’ve got to try this one.
Ingredients:
- ¾ ounce sugar syrup
- 2-ounce white rum
- ¾ ounce lime juice
- A lime wedge for garnish
7. Manhattan
Undeniably a cocktail that’s difficult to put down. A glass of manhattan is made perfect with fine rye whiskey. Some say one glass is equal to class and sophistication. Make your guests feel like royalty with this one.
Ingredients:
- 2-ounce rye whiskey
- 1 cherry
- 2-3 dashes of bitters
- 1-ounce sweet vermouth
8. Espresso Martini
Do you love coffee with your liquor? This popular cocktail is a love affair between vodka and coffee. This sophisticated drink is perfect for caffeine lovers, complete with a frothy top layer — leaving anyone in awe.
Ingredients:
- 1-ounce coffee liquor
- 1-ounce cold coffee
- 2-ounce vodka
- .5 ounce sugar syrup
9. Negroni
Complete your cocktail menu for the holidays with this delicious and dark drink. A glass of classic negroni is a combination of vermouth, Campari, and gin. This slightly bitter drink has a punch to it.
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of bitter
- 1 shot gin
- 1 shot of sweet vermouth
10. Aperol Spritz
Want something of Italian descent? Let the Aperol spritz give you cool summer vibes. It’s a cocktail that speaks sunshine with its fusion of soda water, prosecco, and Aperol.
Ingredients:
- 1-ounce soda water
- 3-ounce prosecco
- 2-ounce Aperol
11. Mai Tai
Another popular fruity cocktail to serve is mai tai. This Polynesian-style cocktail has a tropical twist. If you want something sweet and vibrant, a glass of mai tai is sure to make you feel like you’re on an island.
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce almond syrup
- 1-ounce light rum
- ½ ounce Orange Curacao liquor
- 1-ounce gold rum
- 1-ounce dark rum
- ½ ounce lime juice
- 1 cherry, lime, and a sprig of mint leaves for garnish
12. Caipirinha
One of our most popular cocktails is Brazil’s best. Caipirinha is their national drink, a cocktail based on the cure for the Spanish Flu. This drink mixes lime juice, brown sugar, white vodka or rum, and cachaca.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 lime
- 2-ounce cachaca (spirit from sugarcane)
13. Dark ‘n Stormy
This one is a mash-up of three ingredients: lime, dark rum, and ginger beer. Its name may be intimidating, but dark ‘n stormy goes down a lot easier than you might think. This popular cocktail is simple and easy to make, but the taste will leave everyone wanting more.
Ingredients:
- 5 ounces ginger beer
- 2-ounce Gosling’s black seal rum
- ½ ounce lime juice
- A lime wedge for garnish
14. Rum Punch
Last but not least in our menu of popular cocktails is the rum punch. This classic Caribbean drink is perfect for weekend getaways. Rum punch is a cocktail of sunshine. With the proper dark or golden rum, this one’s sure to give you instant tropical vibes.
Ingredients:
- 5-ounce fresh orange juice
- 5-ounce dark or golden rum
- 1-ounce sugar syrup
- 2-ounce fresh lime juice
- A dash of Angostura bitters
- A pinch of grated nutmeg
- A dash of grenadine syrup
- Maraschino cherries and two orange slices for garnish
Village Warehouse Wine & Spirits Is Here for You
If you ever need any ingredients to make one of these popular cocktails, VWWS is here for you.
We are a trusted liquor store in Avon, Colorado. VWWS provides the finest wines, beers, and spirits. Our staff is more than willing to help you make the right choice. Drop by our store today! We’ll provide you with recommendations that are sure to make your next drink an enjoyable affair.
