Bartender's Guide to the Most Popular Bar Drinks

There are thousands of cocktail and mixed drink recipes you can choose from and mix up. A great place to start is with the most popular bar drinks. These basic recipes are perfect for bartenders who want to learn the drinks likely to be ordered. They're also essential if you want to mix up your favorite drinks in your bar or kitchen at home.

The list includes the highballs, lowballs, martinis, tropical drinks, and shots that have been favorites at bars for years. Most are easy to mix up and are the perfect way to get some practice behind the bar.

Tall, Refreshing Highball Drinks

Highballs are tall, simple mixed drinks that are easy to remember and make. They're the refreshing drinks that are a hit at happy hour and a perfect way to begin your bartending experience.

Generally, highballs are mixed in an ice-filled highball or Collins glass with a shot of a base spirit topped with a mixer or two, such as juice or soda. Essentially, these are "pour and serve" drinks.

Vodka Highballs

Vodka is the most used liquor in the bar and the star of recipes like the bloody mary, Moscow mule (ginger beer), and vodka tonic (tonic water).

It's also often mixed with a single fruit juice. The Cape Codder (cranberry juice—aka vodka cranberry), greyhound (grapefruit juice), and Screwdriver (orange juice) are three essential vodka drinks. Adding to the cranberry juice, bring in a second fruit to create the bay breeze (pineapple), madras (orange), and sea breeze (grapefruit).

To round off the vodka highball essentials, learn these recipes:

• Hairy Navel: This fruity highball is the perfect brunch cocktail. The refreshing peach schnapps and orange juice flavors pair nicely with most light foods.
• Melon Ball: Thanks to the melon liqueur (most often Midori) and pineapple juice, this is a tasty, tropical cocktail that's hard to resist
• Vodka Red Bull: One of the easiest vodka mixed drinks, pour a shot of vodka, fill the glass with ice and the energy drink, and enjoy.

Whiskey Highballs

Most of the volume of a highball drink is made up of a nonalcoholic mixer, creating drinks that are relatively light on the alcohol. This makes the highball style a great way to enjoy your whiskey without the heavy buzz, and soda is the most popular mixer for whiskey:

• Jack and Coke: There's no trick to this cocktail. Jack Danie's whiskey accentuates the caramel, licorice taste of Coca-Cola for a refreshingly fizzy drink.
• Lynchburg Lemonade:  Add triple sec, sour mix, and a lemon-lime soda to Jack Daniel's smokey whiskey for an easy, lazy summer afternoon or backyard barbeque quencher.
• Scotch and Soda: Still water to whisky opens the liquor's flavor, and club soda will do the same in this simple cocktail.
• Seven and Seven: If you're looking for a cheap and refreshing drink for happy hour that is incredibly easy to mix up, this Seagram's 7 Whiskey and 7-Up soda cocktail is for you.
• Whiskey and Ginger: The basic but delicious cocktail contains Irish whiskey and ginger ale to create a tall, refreshing drink, much like the whiskey tonic or classic highball
• Whiskey Highball: This recipe is one that every aspiring bartender should know, and it is quite simple, whiskey and ginger ale. 
• Collins: The collins family of drinks uses a simple highball drink formula. The whiskey version is the John Collins, a mix of bourbon, lemon, syrup, and club soda. You can also switch from whiskey to gin and have a Tom Collins or use any variety of liquor as the base.

Gin Highballs

The most common way to enjoy gin at most bars and restaurants is as a highball. Among these, the famous gin and tonic (G&T) take top honors. It's a nice, relaxing drink that's fantastic with any meal.

Building on the G&T's popularity, it's a good idea to be able to mix up these gin highballs:

• Gin Buck: The botanicals in the gin are a perfect foil for the ginger ale. The mixture is light, herbaceous, and not too sweet. 
• Gin Fizz: Nearly identical to the popular Tom Collins, the gin fizz has a very light, sour citrus flavor that allows the gin to shine against the soda's sparkle. 
• Gin Gin Mule: While it's often thought of as a Moscow mule with gin, it also has a bit of mojito influence. When you muddle in a little lime, syrup, and fresh mint, the drink's flavor offers a refreshing contrast.
• Gin Rickey: Designed to have a tart flavor profile, as it features zero sugar, it's an easy mixed drink recipe that requires just three ingredients; gin, fresh lime juice, and club soda.

Rum Highballs

Rum and Coke is among the most common drink orders. It's a very easy drink to make and a great option when you don't know what you want.

To add a little more spice to the rum-soda routine, give the Dark and Stormy a try. It replaces the cola with ginger beer and is rum's answer to the Moscow mule.

Tequila Highballs

Tequila makes an appearance in a handful of highballs. The best-known tequila drinks are the Tequila Sunrise (orange juice and grenadine) and the Paloma (lime and grapefruit soda).

Other Highballs

There are a few popular tall drinks that are a little more complicated but the key to rounding off your bartending knowledge in this category:

• Black and Tan: These two beers make perfect "black and tan" layers in the glass if poured correctly with a layer of Guinness Stout and pale ale beer.
• Long Island Iced Tea: Although it contains no tea, this cocktail is as refreshing as a tall glass of iced tea. It can pack a punch, and all that alcohol can quickly sneak up on you, so be careful!
• Smith and Kearns: Whether you take it with coffee or chocolate, the Smith & Kearns is a delicious beverage. It's light on the alcohol, so it makes a nice happy hour drink and the soda and cream combo gives it that ice cream float sort of feel.

Lowball Drinks

Just as easy to memorize, lowballs pair a liquor with one or two mixers. These short drinks are served in a lowball, rocks, or old-fashioned glass, and ice is almost always involved.

Lowballs include a liqueur, such as amaretto or coffee liqueur for extra flavor. Due to the lower volume and additional alcohol, you will also find these to be just a bit stronger, but it's not significant, and they're meant to be sipped slowly. 

Memorizing most of these drinks should be quite easy because many are related to one another. With a simple switch of ingredients or an addition here and there, a new drink is created.

Kahlua On the Rocks 

Kahlua is not the only coffee liqueur but it is the most popular in the bar. It is the brand many drinkers associate with drinks like the vodka-based black Russian and its creamy companion, the white Russian.

These two mixed drinks form the foundation for other recipes:

• Brandy Separator: If you replace the vodka of a black Russian with brandy you have this drink called a brandy separator. It's an equally pleasant drink and you can add cream to make a white brandy separator.
• Brave Bull: The Brave Bull is the tequila version of a Black Russian and if you enjoy that simple drink, you will find this one to be just as enjoyable.
• Colorado Bulldog:  This popular mixed drink is similar to a White Russian. The cola and coffee are natural flavor companions, and the creamy background makes it even more delicious.
• Mudslide: Blend into a boozy milkshake or serve on the rocks, this is a perfect sweet mix of vodka, cream, and coffee.

Amaretto On The Rocks

When it comes to delicious lowballs, amaretto falls right behind coffee liqueur comes amaretto in popularity. This collection begins with the toasted almond, a simple mix of amaretto and coffee liqueurs with cream; add vodka for a roasted, toasted almond.

Here are a few more variations for an equally delicious drink:

• French Connection: The Cognac adds warmth to the chilled drink, and the flavor mixes nicely with the nutty sweetness of amaretto for a slow-sipping cocktail.
• Godfather: The Godfather is an excellent happy hour cocktail and nightcap made with scotch and amaretto. It goes wonderfully with desserts such as tiramisu, cheesecake,
• Godmother: A softer version of The Godfather, switching that recipe's scotch to vodka and pairing it with amaretto makes this semi-sweet drink easy to make.

More Casual Lowballs

If you're looking for a delicious and easy mixed drink to serve on a moment's notice, the nutty Irishman is a fantastic option. It is a flavorful mix of Irish whiskey, Irish cream, and Frangelico, and there are a few ways to serve it.

For something considerably sweeter, the peppermint patty is a favorite. Should something fruity sound good, give the nuts and berries (Frangelico, Chambord, and cream) a try.

For drinkers who want something short and flavorful without the sweetness, the California surfer is an excellent choice. The mix of coconut rum, Jägermeister, and pineapple juice is always a hit.

Stick Drinks

In their own category, "stick drinks" requires a muddler to mix a few of the ingredients. It's a slightly more advanced bartending skill, though it's easy once you get the hang of it. These drinks are typically served over ice and can be either tall or short:

• Caipirinha: One of the most refreshing summertime cocktails, this is straightforward and requires only three ingredients: cachaça, lime, and sugar.
• Mint Julep: Stiff and thirst-quenching, there's nothing quite like an icy sweet bourbon and mint cocktail on a hot day.
• Mojito: The mojito is one of the world's most popular cocktails. It's a simple mixed drink of rum, mint, lime, sugar, and club soda, and a muddler and stirring spoon are the only tools required.
• Old-fashioned: A sugar cube soaked in bitters, a shot of whiskey, and an orange peel create a no-frill cocktail if you love a simple drink.

Shot Recipes

Party shots come and go, though a few remain favorites. This is where things get very crazy because shooter recipes can vary greatly for the same drinks, and there are many local favorites.

Tequila Shots

There are many ways to take a shot of tequila. You can drink it straight or do the customary tequila shot with salt and a lemon or lime. You might also want to serve up the two-part shot known as a sangrita, which can be made in two different ways.

Whiskey Shots

Whiskey shooters are often a bit more interactive than a straight shot of whiskey. Try a two-part drink like the popular pickleback (Jameson's Irish Whiskey, pickle juice), for instance. The dropped shots, such as the Irish slammer (formerly the Irish car bomb) or the boilermaker (blended whiskey, draft beer) are also quite popular.

The fun does not stop there, and if you're pouring whiskey, you should try some of these popular shots:

• Red Snapper: Juicy and balanced flavors from the Canadian whisky, amaretto, and cranberry juice that's perfectly sweet. Make two shots or very one large drink you can sip on all night.
• Snake Bite: Not a shot for someone who doesn't want a healthy buzz or a little shock to the taste buds. This simple shot is made of Yukon Jack and lime juice cordial.
• Three Wise Men: Mix together Johnnie Walker, Jim Beam, and Jack Daniels for a very strong shot of whiskey. 
• Washington Apple: A tasty whiskey cocktail that mixes Crown Royal, apple schnapps, and cranberry juice to create a deliciously fruity, sweet, and sour drink.

Vodka Shots

Vodka frequently makes it into a shot glass as well. Among the longtime favorites are the interactive lemon drop (lemon wedge, sugar) and mind eraser (coffee liqueur, soda).

You will also find requests for the tart kamikaze (orange liqueur, lime juice) and the surprising chocolate cake shooter (hazelnut liqueur, lemon). On the fruitier side, the melon ball (melon liqueur, pineapple juice) and raspberry gimlet shooter (black raspberry liqueur, lime juice) are hits as well.

Layered Shots

You can show off your bartending skills if you learn how to create layered shooters like the popular B-52 (coffee liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, orange liqueur). There's a bit of a trick to it, but it's definitely worth practicing, and it's all about the order of the pour. These recipes should give you plenty of practice:

• Butterball: A sweet and delicious shooter made with butterscotch schnapps and Irish cream liqueur, you'll definitely want to share this candy-like layered shooter with friends.
• Nutty Fix: Also known as a Russian qualude, this vodka, hazelnut liqueur, and Irish cream liqueur shooter can be layered or made into a tasty highball.

The Wacky Shots

Drinking alcohol is an adult pastime, so many shots come with names that are anything but PG. It was much worse a few decades ago when suggestive, rude, or otherwise offensive names were par for the course in the bar. Since then, many have been renamed, including the fuzzy Jäger cranberry (Jägermeister, peach schnapps, cranberry juice). Surprisingly (or not surprisingly), quite a few are tasty drinks, while others are simply a powerful mix.

• Girl Scout Cookie: Inspired by the famous Thin Mints cookies, coffee liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, and peppermint schnapps make a smooth and creamy drink as popular as the cookies.
• Jäger Bomb: You will either love it or hate it; there's not much middle ground with this potent shot made from Jägermeister a Red Bull
• Stone-Cold Stinger: More popularly known as liquid cocaine (and sometimes liquid crack), this shot lives up to its name because it is filled with Jägermeister, Goldschläger, and Rumple Minze.

On the Martini Menu

There are many cocktails that are generally accepted as "martinis" though it's also important to note that there is only one true martini (gin and dry vermouth). These are the drinks that you will spot on martini menus and require a bit more mixing and attention to presentation.

"Martinis"' (more appropriately, "up" drinks) are normally served in a chilled cocktail glass, yet some can be served on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass. They are shaken or stirred in a cocktail shaker and then strained into the serving glass. It's not that hard, it simply requires a few extra steps.

While these are considered essential for bartenders, the exact recipes do not always agree and many should be adapted to personal taste. However, these will give you a good idea of where to start.

The Complexity of Ordering a Martini 

Ordering or serving a gin or vodka martini is not as simple as other drinks. Everyone has their personal preference, and you must find out how the person you're mixing for likes theirs. \

Here are some things to consider when making a drink for someone:

1. Liquor preference (often specific brands)
2. Garnish preference (olives, lemon twist, etc.)
3. Shaken or Stirred
4. Dry, Dirty, or Perfect

Many people enjoy a perfect martini with equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, while others enjoy a dirty martini with a small amount of olive brine. You can even use cocktail onions to create a Gibson. Optionally, you can make the martinez (sweet vermouth, maraschino, bitters), the grandfather of the martini.

When it comes to gin-based martinis, you will find that these cocktails are nice to know as well:

• French Martini: The simple yet sumptuous French martini has just three ingredients that make a dynamite flavor combination: vodka, tart pineapple juice, and the sweet black raspberry liqueur Chambord.
• Gimlet: The two-ingredient recipe pairs gin with lime cordial, resulting in a sweet-tart taste simultaneously contrasted and complemented by gin's botanicals.
• Saketini: Using sake instead of vermouth is a great example of Sake’s mixability because of the simplicity of a well-made Martini. Use what you have on hand to suit your preferences.

Vodka Martinis

Vodka dominates the modern martini menu. Unlike gin, vodka martinis tend to be filled with a variety of flavors, from sweet chocolate martinis to fruity apple martinis. This is also where it gets complicated because there are many variations of the same drink.

The most famous vodka martini is the Cosmopolitan. Made with orange liqueur and cranberry juice, it's a cocktail that can be as sweet or dry as you like. From there, vodka martinis come in many flavors:

• Coconut Martini: You're sure to enjoy this frothy tropical cocktail made of vanilla vodka, coconut rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice.
• Espresso Martini: The sweet chocolate liqueur added gives the spiked coffee cocktail a mocha-like taste making it even more irresistible.
• Ginger Martini: A simple cocktail that features the spicy flavor of a ginger liqueur, such as Domaine de Canton. This snappy martini is a flavorful upgrade.
• Kamikaze: A sweet-tart drink that mixes lime juice and triple sec, it's one of the best-known vodka "martinis".
• Key Lime Pie Martini: It is a sweet, fruity mix of pineapple and lime backed up by vanilla vodka and triple sec. If you enjoy key lime pie, you will love this martini.
• Lemon Drop Martini: Named after the hard candy, this popular, lemony drink is easy to make for citrus lovers.
• Nutty Martini: The "nutty" aspect in this vodka martini comes from Frangelico, a hazelnut-flavored liqueur that also has hints of coffee, cocoa, and vanilla. You can rest assured that it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
• Woo Woo: a tasty indulgence that's hard to resist. Our easy recipe mixes peach schnapps and cranberry juice in minutes for a wonderful cocktail or aperitif.

Whiskey Manhattans

When you switch from gin to whiskey, you step from the world of martinis into the realm of the Manhattan. Again, this cocktail can be served dry or perfect, though sweet vermouth is the preference in the original recipe.

Building off of that whiskey drink, you can switch to brandy for a metropolitan or scotch for a Rob Roy. Add absinthe to that for the classic Robert Burns. Pour rye whiskey and keep the absinthe, and you will have a Waldorf.

Whiskey also gets some extra flavor at times, and you can mix up these popular cocktails as well:

• Algonquin: This cocktail features rye whiskey with dry vermouth and pineapple juice to create a refreshing, light cocktail that is a perfect way to during the heat of summer.
• Blood and Sand: A beautiful cocktail with a touch of sweet citrus. A cherry liqueur is a great substitution for the brandy because it has a more natural cherry flavor than many of today's cherry brandies. 
• Millionaire: Standing the test of time, this popular 1930s drink is a lovely mix of sloe gin, apricot brandy, and Jamaican rum with a hint of sweet and sour.

Classic Cocktails

Classic cocktails are often featured on today's cocktail menus, and some of the best don't fall into the "martini" category. A few are served "up" and others are on the rocks.

At the top of this class of drinks are bar icons like the rusty nail (scotch, Drambuie). It is often accompanied by the New Orleans fizz (gin, citrus, cream, egg), the Sazerac (rye whiskey, absinthe), and the Vieux Carré (rye whiskey, Cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine), all of which are New Orleans originals. 

Sour drinks like the whiskey sour (whiskey, lemon juice, syrup) have long been favorites as well. Add a red wine float, and it's a New York Sour. You might choose to sweeten it with grenadine in a Ward Eight or with Grand Marnier in the whiskey daisy. Then again, you can swap the liquor and mix up the popular pisco sour or easy-drinking gin sour.

Brandy doesn't make many appearances in the average bar, but it's a natural choice for simple and sophisticated drinks like the B&B, a snifter of brandy and Benedictine. The brandy Alexander (chocolate liqueur, cream) is also a favorite, as is the sidecar. 

Campari-based cocktails are also quite famous. They are best served before a meal and can often be found at high-end restaurants:

• Americano: Equal parts of Campari and sweet vermouth are poured over ice and topped with soda. It's about as refreshing as a Campari cocktail can get, and the bittersweet taste will delight your palate. 
• Campari Cocktail: An excellent choice to serve before dinner, the Campari Cocktail is the perfect aperitif made of Campari, bitters, and vodka.
• Negroni: A sophisticated aperitif featuring equal parts of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth that's so easy that anyone can mix it up.

Popular Tropical Cocktails and the Tiki Bar

Rum and tequila make up the majority of tropical cocktails. These are popular in bars and make great summertime drinks at home.

Margaritas, Daiquiris, and More

The truth is that neither the margarita nor the daiquiri are difficult to make from scratch. Each cocktail requires just three basic ingredients easily found in any bar, and they have inspired countless other cocktails that have taken on the names.

How easy are the margarita and daiquiri? It's as simple as shaking these ingredients:

• Daiquiri: It is also one of the freshest drinks you can make using rum, lime juice, syrup, and an essential rum cocktail everyone should know and taste. 
• Margarita: You'll love the refreshing lime flavor backed by your favorite tequila, and this classic recipe inspired every other margarita in the world.

From there, you can add any flavor you like to create the likes of a strawberry daiquiri or a pomegranate margarita. They can also be served on the rocks, straight, or blended, including a salt or sugar rim.

Once you have an understanding of those two cocktails, you can build on the tropical sour base. Mix up great cocktails like the cable car (Captain Morgan, curaçao, sour mix), Pegu Club cocktail (gin, orange liqueur, lime juice), and between the sheets (brandy, rum, triple sec, lemon juice).

Tropical Fruit Cocktails

The famous piña colada is another must-have. It's a delicious mix of rum, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut that can be blended or shaken.

You will also want to know the fruity vodka drink known as the bliss on the beach because it's perfect for those "I don't know what I want" moments. The New Orleans classic, hurricane, is a rum option that falls into this category as well.

Tiki Bar Cocktails

If you're ready to join the tiki bar scene, there are several famous tiki cocktails to explore. These recipes can become very complex and the ingredient lists quite long and you will rarely find two recipes that are the same.

• Bahama Mama: A fruity rum drink that's perfect for any summer occasion, it's made with dark and high-proof rums, coffee and coconut liqueurs, lemon and pineapple juices.
• Blue Hawaiian: Filled with rum, pineapple, and coconut, this is a fun tropical blue drink also nicknamed "swimming pool cocktail".
• Mai Tai: An iconic tropical rum cocktail and one of America's most popular cocktails. This mix of light and dark rums, curaçao, and orgeat is perfect for summer parties.
• Rum Runner: You can either shake or blend it, and no matter how you mix it up, the rum runner's always a delicious drink made with rum, blackberry brandy, banana liqueur, and orange juice.

Non-Alcoholic Bar Drinks

While the majority of people in the bar want to drink alcohol, not everyone will. It is important to have a few non-alcoholic mixed drinks (or mocktails) in your memory bank.

Mocktails are great for designated drivers, pregnant women, and other non-drinkers. You can also use these as an alternative suggestion for patrons who may need a break from alcohol. It's nice to offer one or two options if you're hosting a party as well.

Among the most popular drinks in this category are the Arnold Palmer (lemonade, iced tea) and the Shirley Temple (grenadine, ginger ale, lemon-lime soda). Every bartender and waitress should know these, and customers should be able to order them at any bar or restaurant.

For casual bar drinks, the lime and tonic (splash of lime juice topped with tonic water) and lime cola (lime juice, cola) are nice as well. The classic Roy Rogers (grenadine, cola) is sometimes called a homemade Cherry Coke, and every sports bar should know that a virgin Mary is a bloody mary without the liquor.