There is an association that has helped raise the standards of the industry and 77 official IBA cocktails. It has created an official list of drinks considered part of the 77 cocktails. Those who think of themselves as bartenders should be able to prepare for their customers.
There is something important that must be taken into account and that is that the creation and preparation of cocktails has been changing and evolving over time. With that said, it is true some of the most famous cocktails are still valid. In addition, there are some others that have disappeared over time. Adding to the list of the most popular cocktails.
On the other hand, there are variants to these lists of the most popular cocktails, since everything also depends on where in the world you are, in which continent, country and area you live, because not everywhere you can get all the ingredients that some cocktails carry, and that are exclusive.
Do keep in mind that there are thousands of cocktail recipes out there. Those cocktails are available at many bars in the world. However, the drinks that people know as universally essential for bartenders for hire to know are only 77.
We are going to expand the list of cocktails a bit, however, we are going to refer to the most important ones and we are only going to mention them. We are going to classify them between the Unforgettable and the classic contemporaries.
The unforgettable
The first on the list are the cocktails people consider unforgettable. Moreover, these timeless cocktails have been around for decades. In some cases for centuries and people, still consider them the best.
The Top 5 Unforgettable drinks:
Alexander
The Alexander cocktail is a mix of a lot of different drinks including colorless cocoa liqueur, cream and gin. Moreover, Alexander is the basis for other cocktail recipes, such as one that is very common, and we are talking about the Brandy Alexander.
Daiquiri
The Daiquiri is a very quick cocktail to make. In addition, it has only 3 principal ingredients, and the only thing you need to add, is ice. The trick is to master the shaker and of course, is important to use quality products.
The Daiquiri is a cocktail with Caribbean origins. With that said, the basis of the Daiquiri is always the Rum. In a combination like this, you have to use Cuban white rum, preferably but if not, any good Rum will be more than enough. There are different types of daiquiri, for example: Strawberry and daiquiri lemons.
Dry Martini
The dry martini is one of the best known cocktails and is definitely one of the most popular. In addition, it is among the Unforgettable, made up of gin and includes a little splash of vermouth. The Dry Martini is most of the time served in a cocktail glass. In addition, the garnishment is a crossed olive. However is important to know that there are lot variants of the famous martini, however, probably, the best known is the Vodka martini, in which, as its obvious, the vodka replaces the gin.
Manhattan
The Manhattan is a classic cocktail based on whiskey (rye or Canadian) and red vermouth. In most cases, this goes as an aperitif and not as a principal cocktail. Moreover, according to the International Bartenders Association), the Manhattan recipe consists of: A Rye of whiskey or Canadian whiskey, some red vermouth and a splash of angostura.
Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is another one of the most popular cocktails among the unforgettable, made with whiskey, sugar, bitters, and it comes garnished with a citrus twist. It is most of the time served in an Old Fashioned glass, which people know as a rock glass. This cocktail came to be in the 19th century, and it is a qualified official cocktail of the IBA.
- Other Unforgettable Cocktails:
- Americano
- Angel Face
- Aviation
- Bacardi
- Between The Sheets
- Casino
- Clover Club
- Derby
- Gin Fizz
- John Collins
- Mary Pickford
- Monkey Gland
- Negroni
- Paradise
- Planters Punch
- Porto Flip
- Ramos Gin Fizz
- Rusty Nail
- Sazerac
- Screwdriver
- Sidecar
- Stinger
- Tuxedo
- Whiskey Sour
- White Lady
Classic contemporaries cocktails
The next list is the one with the classic contemporary drinks and they have a much more recent origin, but they are classics because they will be likely to stand the test of time just like the unforgettable.
The Top 5 Contemporaries:
Bloody Mary
The Bloody Mary is an internationally famous cocktail and is definitely one of the most popular and favorite from the Contemporaries. A theory says that its creation is due to Fernand Petiot, who supposedly was the first one preparing this drink in 1921, at the famous Harry’s Bar in Paris.
The recipe includes: Vodka, tomato juice, a pinch of salt and black pepper, some drops of Worcestershire sauce and some drops of Tabasco sauce, grams of crushed ice and lemon or lime juice.
Cosmopolitan
A Cosmopolitan or also known as simple as a Cosmo, is a vodka cocktail which includes a hint of sour fruit. It is made triple sec, with vodka, freshly squeezed lime juice and cranberry juice. It is usually served in a cocktail glass, and also normally is garnished with lime peel.
Margarita
Margarita is a cocktail made up of triple sec, tequila, and lemon juice or a lime, if you canโt add a lemon. Served with salt on the rim of the glass. The drink is always going be shaked with the ice, without ice or mixed with ice, either way, is delicious and very refreshing.
Piรฑa Colada
A Piรฑa Colada is one of the favorite contemporary cocktails, and its key are Rum, fresh pineapple, cream and the last ingredient is the coconut syrup. The cocktail is served in a hurricane glass and also can include pineapple wedge skewered with a cherry and a gooseberry leaf and as garnish.
Sex on the beach
The last one, but not least important is another famous cocktail, Sex on the Beach. This cocktail has multiple variations. There are 2 different types of preparation for this cocktail, but according to International Bartenders Association, the ingredients that this cocktail must include are: Vodka, orange juice, peach liqueur, and blueberry juice.
- Classic margarita
- Bellini
- Black Russian
- Caipirinha
- Champagne Cocktail
- Cuba Libre
- French 75
- French Connection
- Godfather
- Godmother
- Golden Dream
- Grasshopper
- Harvey Wallbanger
- Hemingway Special
- Horses Neck
- Irish Coffee
- Kir
- Long Island Iced Tea
- Mai Tai
- Mimosa
- Mint Julep
- Mojito
- Moscow Mule
- Rose
- Sea Breeze
- Singapore Sling
- Tequila Sunrise
New Era
Last, but not least, we have the new era cocktails made in recent decades and seem to be gaining a lot of momentum and popularity in the bartending community.
- B 52
- Barracuda
- Bramble
- Dark N Stormy
- Dirty Martini
- Espresso Martini
- French Martini
- Kamikaze
- Lemon Drop Martini
- Pisco Sour
- Russian Spring Punch
- Spritz Veneziano
- Tommys Margarita
- Vampiro
- Vesper Martini
- Yellow Bird
Questions and Answers
These are the cocktails that are undoubtedly Unforgettable, since they are the ones that no matter how long it has been since they were created. In addition, today they are still valid but beyond that, they continue to position themselves among the most popular cocktails in the world and the most requested in bars. Unforgettable cocktails never go out of style, and rather generally, they are the most sought after.
These are super popular cocktails too, but their creation is a bit more recent compared to Unforgettable cocktails. The Contemporaries cocktails however, and despite being a bit more modern than the previous ones, will undoubtedly also become cocktails that no matter how much time passes, it remains something requested by millions of fans of cocktails around the world.
Although most of these cocktails have ingredients that are very likely to be easy to get anywhere in the world, it may be the case that one or more ingredients of these cocktails cannot be found everywhere, and in those cases, many times what is done is to find some other similar ingredient that can replace the original ingredient.
The preparation of cocktails is basic for any bartender. However, Cocktail making is an art that must be learned and carried out to perfection by anyone who wants to dedicate themselves to the profession of bartending.
Final thoughts
There are many drinks people invent all the time, but it takes a very specific kind of drink with a lot of popularity all over the world to be included in the IBA list. This list is very likely to keep growing, but it will take time for it to expand into hundreds of drinks.
Until then, you can be sure that the existing catalog is good enough to keep bar goers busy for a long time and you should make sure that even mobile bar service providers know how to make these drinks and to do it in a way that is fast and efficient.
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