Introduction

When you enter the bartending space for the first time, one of the things you’ll learn is how to make different types of cocktails efficiently. Right off the bat, that sounds intimidating; there are multiple types of cocktails, each with its own unique twist, and each containing a multitude of ingredients. But you need not worry; this is where we help you understand all the basics of cocktail making, from A to Z.

First, let’s look at what a cocktail is.

The etymology of the term “cocktail” isn’t quite clear, but we know that it is a mix of various spirits, flavoured syrups, tonic water, and other ingredients. Simply put, a cocktail is a mixed drink, and it is usually alcoholic. The non-alcoholic version is known as a Mocktail.

While certain types of cocktails are considered classics (we will get into the details soon), they can also be unique to certain regions. What makes the cocktail such a special drink is that it is adaptable to some extent. Different regions have different types of cocktails; some even add their own twist to the classics!

Your biggest, and possibly the most important, task as a bartender will be to make a splendid cocktail. It is a crucial part of your skill set, one that you must continually improve throughout your career. The style of cocktails you master is up to you, but you will be expected to know most of the popular recipes.

The classification of cocktails will help you meet your customers’ expectations, increase your credibility, climb the career ladder, enhance your menu & upsell, make you more adaptable, and improve efficiency & workflow.

This beginner-friendly guide carries you through 10 different types of cocktails. We cover everything from the unique style of cocktails to the specific classification of cocktails.

Types of Cocktails: What Every Bartender Should Know

When we say “types of cocktails,” what we mean is the distinct classification of cocktails. Cocktails are classified based on their base spirit, preparation style, serving glass, or function. This classification of cocktails lends to the creation of cocktail “families”, such as Sours, Highballs, Tropical, or Classics. We will delve into more detail for this classification of cocktails further on.

The “families” or types of cocktails determine the flavor profile, strength, and style of the drink, which are the main reasons customers order a cocktail according to their type. The different types of cocktails help customers align their order with personal preferences, mood, or occasion.

In a similar fashion, bars tend to organize their cocktail menus by the style of cocktails. Arranging the menu this way allows easier ordering and takes customers through a journey of different flavours. It enhances the experience, boosts sales, and helps customers make intuitive choices. Bars can also showcase their creativity by organizing their cocktail menus by the style of cocktails.

Different Types of Cocktails Based on Style

Let’s take a look at the classification of cocktails according to the style of cocktails. 

This classification happens according to flavor, feel, and how they’re served. It helps bartenders guide guests and structure their menus clearly. There are short drinks and long drinks. Then, there are Classics and Modern or Contemporary. Modern cocktails often see an overlap with Classics because they are a remake of the classic ones. Lastly, we have the Tropical kind.

Let’s jump into the details.

Short Drinks

This classification of cocktails is strong in taste. They are served in smaller glasses, typically under 100ml, with minimal mixers (mixers are the non-alcoholic ingredients used to make a cocktail). Short drinks are potent due to their high alcohol content.

These types of cocktails are stirred, which is yet another way to classify a cocktail! Typically, bartenders use high-proof spirits and liqueurs to make a more flavorful experience.

Examples:

• Manhattan

A truly American drink, the Manhattan features American whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. The drink is stirred and is either served in a Martini glass or on the rocks (with ice).

• Martini

A Martini is a versatile drink, adapting to different flavors easily. It is made with clear spirits like gin or vodka and dry vermouth. A classic Martini is garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. 

Long Drinks

This classification of cocktails serves one purpose: to cool down and quench thirst. Long cocktails have a larger volume. They are generally refreshing, made in tall glasses, and feature a generous amount of non-alcoholic mixers, like juice or soda. 

Long drinks are often made directly in the glass they are served in. Garnishes like mints and fruits are muddled to release their oils/juices. In a tall glass, you add ice, non-carbonated mixers & spirits, and carbonated mixers. The drink is stirred gently and garnished with fresh fruits, mints, or citrus.

Examples:

• Moscow Mule

A Moscow Mule is one of the long drink types of cocktails. It is made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. It is garnished with a lime wedge. A Moscow Mule is also called a vodka buck sometimes (a buck is a style of cocktails made with ginger ale or ginger beer, citrus juice, or some base liquors).

• Mai Tai

A Mai Tai is a style of cocktails that is made with rum, Curacao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice. The Mai Tai drink comes from the Tiki culture, which means you often find it in Tiki-themed restaurants. It became popular in the 1950s and 60s.

Classic Cocktails

Classic cocktails are the foundation of bartending. Every good bartender knows how to make the classics. This style of cocktails is simple and well-balanced, using spirits, sweeteners, and bitters/citrus. Classic cocktails are timeless.

Examples:

• Old Fashioned

An Old Fashioned is called the original cocktail. An absolute classic, the Old Fashioned is made with whiskey (either bourbon or rye), sugar, bitters, and a splash of water or ice. It is garnished with an orange slice and a cherry.

• Daiquiri

The Daiquiri style of cocktails is made of rum, citrus juice, and sugar or other sweeteners. It is typically prepared in a cocktail shaker and served in a chilled glass. The classic Daiquiri also comes with variations like the Strawberry Daiquiri or the Hemingway Daiquiri (inspired by Ernest Hemingway, where the simple syrup is swapped for maraschino liqueur and fresh grapefruit juice).

Modern Cocktails

The modern classification of cocktails is a diverse category of drinks, often called contemporary classics, where there is a contemporary twist on classic cocktails. Modern or contemporary cocktails are generally easier to make, use modern techniques and global ingredients, and feature an adventurous flavor profile.

Examples:

• Espresso Martini

An Espresso Martini is a modern remake of the classic Martini. It is made with cold espresso, coffee liqueur, and vodka. The classic gin contains gin and vermouth, two ingredients missing from the Espresson Martini. Nevertheless, it incorporates the term Martini in its name.

• Penicillin

Don’t confuse this style of cocktails with the medicine penicillin. Penicillin is a modern classic cocktail, made of blended Scotch whiskey, fresh lemon juice, honey-ginger syrup, and a float of smoky Islay single malt Scotch. This drink is garnished either with a piece of candied ginger or a lemon twist.

Tropical Cocktails

Tropical cocktails are vibrant, fruity, and often rum-based. Imagine relaxing on an island; that’s what you get in a tropical cocktail. It often features fruits like pineapple, coconut, mango, or any citrus flavor.

The taste of this style of cocktails is refreshing, and the drink is completed with a tiny umbrella and wedges of fresh fruit.

Examples:

• Mojito

Hailing from Cuba, this highball drink is a quintessential tropical cocktail. It is a refreshing mix of white rum, fresh mint, zesty lime juice, sugar, and sparkling soda. When made correctly, a Mojito beautifully balances the bitterness of the mint, the sourness of the lime juice, the sweetness of the sugar, and the fizzy freshness of the sparkling soda.

• Piña Colada

Among all the types of cocktails, a Piña Colada is a cocktail of pineapple, coconut, and white rum. It is shaken with crushed ice until smooth and served in a chilled glass. The garnish on top is a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry.

Classification of Cocktails: How Bartenders Categorize Drinks

Generally speaking, the classification of cocktails hinges on four primary pillars: base spirit, preparation style of cocktails, era, and flavor profile.

The Base Spirit Classification of Cocktails

This is a very common way to classify your cocktails as a professional bartender. The main spirit in the drink is the feature, especially in spirit-forward drinks.

Examples: Whiskey, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Vodka.

You can find these spirits in almost all of the most popular cocktails. In menus, you might see sections like “Gin Specialties” or “Bourbon Cocktails.”

Preparation Method of Classification of Cocktails

How a cocktail is mixed lends a lot to the final outcome. It dictates the taste, flavor profile, strength, smoothness, and more. Let’s take a quick peek at the different ways a cocktail can be prepared:

• Shaken: The types of cocktails that get shaken are generally the citrusy or creamy ones. Cocktails that contain egg whites are also shaken so the egg can aerate. Examples: Sours, Daiquiris, Margaritas.
• Stirred: The stirring method generally applies to spirit-forward, translucent drinks. With these types of cocktails, you want to avoid excess aeration or dilution. Examples: Martini, Manhattan, Negroni.
• Built: Here, cocktails are made by adding the ingredients directly to the serving glass, over ice. Examples: Old Fashioned, Aperol Spritz, Gin & Tonic.
• Muddled: The different types of cocktails that require fresh fruit or herbs are usually made using the muddling preparation method. Fresh fruits and herbs are muddled or crushed in the glass. Examples: Mojito, Mint Julep, Caipirinha.

Era as a Classification of Cocktails

Cocktails are sometimes categorized by their historical context, especially if that’s the theme of the bar or restaurant. It can help identify classic formulas and educate customers, adding to the whole experience. The classification of cocktails often starts in the 19th century, up to the modern revival era.

• Pre-prohibition or the classics: 19th-century drinks, which are often characterized by simplicity. An Old Fashioned is the perfect example of a classic cocktail.
• American Prohibition of the 1920s & 30s: Low-quality spirits were masked with juices to get past the prohibition laws in the United States. This era gave us drinks like the Bee’s Knees or the Gin Rickey.
• Tiki Era: Drinks were exotic, tropical, and sweet in flavor. Rum and vodka were important features in this era. Popular examples include the Bloody Mary or Pina Colada.
• The Dark Ages: Sugary pre-mixes and artificial ingredients took over. The colors of the cocktails were bright, the taste was sweet, and the preparation took as little effort as possible. Examples include Tequila Sunrise and Long Island Iced Tea.
• Modern Revival: Old and classic techniques returned to the cocktail scene. The focus was on fresh ingredients, homemade syrups, and craft spirits. Examples include Cosmopolitan and Espresso Martini.

Flavor as a Classification of Cocktails

Bartenders use this classification of cocktails to identify their “family” as per their formula. The flavors include Sours, Highballs, Spirit-forward, and Fixes. Sours are a combination of spirit, citrus, and sugar. Highballs are a combination of a spirit and a carbonated mixer. Spirit-forward includes a spirit, a modifier, and bitters. Fixes are short and strong drinks served over ice.

5 Classification of Cocktails (Bartender’s Perspective)

Spirit-Based Cocktails

Spirit-based cocktails feature distilled spirits, such as whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, tequila, or brandy. They are generally combined with liqueurs, bitters, or mixers. These cocktails are spirit-forward. The ingredients work towards enhancing the base spirit, rather than masking it. The types of cocktails that come under spirit-based cocktails are 

• Old Fashioned
• Negroni
• Tequila Sunrise
• Mojito
• Moscow Mule

Wine & Champagne Cocktails

Wine and champagne cocktails are most popular during brunches & lunches. They feature sparkling wine, like Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava. These are often mixed with spirits, liqueurs, fruit juices, or herbs. These types of cocktails are refreshing to the taste. Examples include:

• Mimosa
• Aperol Spritz
• White or Red Wine Spritzer
• Negroni Sbagliato
• Old Cuban

Beer Cocktails

Beer cocktails are a blend of beer and spirits, juices, sodas, or other mixers. Beer cocktails are refreshing, citrusy, and rich. They make good brunch drinks and add a twist to dessert concoctions that include coffee, ginger beer, tequila, or lime. Examples of these types of cocktails include:

• Shandy
• Mexican Michelada
• Beer Mojito
• Ginger Beer Cocktail
• Beer Margarita

Hot Cocktails

Hot cocktails are comforting and warm. They use spirits, spices, citrus, and sweeteners. Popular types of cocktails under this category include:

• Hot Toddy
• Irish Coffee
• Mulled Wine/Cider
• Peppermint Patty
• Hot Buttered Rum

Non-Alcoholic/Mocktails

Mocktails are non-alcoholic versions of different types of cocktails. They are made with a variety of juices, syrups, herbs, spices, and sparkling beverages. The result is an impactful flavor, making a sophisticated alternative for those who prefer to abstain from alcohol. Examples of this style of cocktails include:

• Shirley Temple
• Virgin Mojito
• Arnold Palmer
• Mango Mule
• Virgin Pina Colada

10 Types of Cocktails Every Bartending Student Must Learn

There are 10 types of cocktails that every bartending student must learn. These 10 types of cocktails are a must because they set the foundational techniques of bartending. You get a good grasp of the ingredients and how to pair them for exceptional flavor. Here are 10 types of cocktails that every bartending student must learn:

1. Highball Cocktails

A highball cocktail is a mix of a base spirit and a non-alcoholic mixer. Typically, this style of cocktails is served in longer serving bar glassware. It has a larger proportion of mixers compared to the alcoholic base spirit. Examples of highball types of cocktails include:

• Screwdriver
• Rum and Coke
• Gin and Tonic
• Tom Collins Cocktail
• Long Island Iced Tea

2. Sour Cocktails

Sour cocktails are a traditional family of mixed drinks, making them one of the originals. Sour cocktails are the style of cocktails that combine a base spirit, lime, or lemon juice, and a sweetener. They make for a very refreshing drink! Examples include:

• Whiskey Sour
• Daiquiri
• Gimlet
• Mojito
• Midori Sour

3. Fizz Cocktails

The fizz in Fizz cocktails comes from carbonated water or sparkling wine. There are three main ingredients in a Fizz cocktail. A base spirit, an acidic juice, and a carbonated mixer. Popular examples of these types of cocktails include:

• Aperol Spritz
• Gin Fizz
• French 75
• Mojito
• Negroni Sbagliato

4. Old Fashioned Style Cocktails

This classic among the 10 types of cocktails every bartending student should learn creates the foundation of so many other cocktails. An Old Fashioned is made with whiskey, sugar, bitters, and ice. Other inspired drinks include:

• Oaxaca Old Fashioned
• Maple Old Fashioned
• Brandy Old Fashioned
• Spiced Old Fashioned
• Irish Old Fashioned

5. Martini Style Cocktails

Martini style of cocktails are short drinks, elegant and boozy, typically served in a conical-shaped glass. They’re traditionally made with gin and dry vermouth. There are many variations of the classic.

• Dry Martini
• Dirty Martini
• 50/50 Martini
• Gibson
• Vesper

6. Tiki Cocktails

Tiki or tropical cocktails are fruity, exotic, and generally rum-based. They’re meant to invoke a romanticized feeling of the many tropical destinations by which they are inspired. Examples of this classification of cocktails include:

• Mai Tai
• Navy Grog
• Zombie
• Painkiller
• Pineapple Daiquiri

7. Creamy Cocktails

Creamy cocktails are dessert-like cocktails. They use any form of dairy, like egg whites, milk, cream, half-and-half, etc. Examples of these types of cocktails include:

• White Russian
• Pina Colada
• Mudslide
• Grasshopper
• Nutty Irishman

8. Frozen Cocktails

Frozen cocktails are alcoholic drinks with a slushy-type texture. They are semi-frozen, made by combining spirits, mixers, and crushed ice. The result is an icy, flavorful, and refreshing drink. Popular examples include:

• Miami Vice
• Frozen Margarita
• Saturn
• Bushwacker
• Sgroppino

9. Shooter/Shot Cocktails

Shooters or shot cocktails are small, potent, and very delicious. They are typically served in 40ml-60ml glasses. It is designed to be consumed in one gulp. Traditional shots are straight spirits, but shooters layer or mix multiple ingredients. Popular examples of these types of cocktails include:

• Boilermaker
• Jager Bomb
• Kamikaze
• Shamrock Shooter
• B-52

10. Signature/Craft Cocktails

Signature drinks are unique. Remember when we said cocktails are adaptable? Here is where that characteristic comes into play. Signature drinks are unique to the establishment in which they are served.

These are drinks that won’t be commonly found on every menu. Signature cocktails are those types of cocktails that either take a classic and give it a twist, or they are originally made by a skilled bartender and their creativity.

They elevate the drinking experience with their quality and attention to detail. Signature cocktails are about high-end ingredients, masterful technique, unique branding, and exclusivity.

Cocktail Family Chart: A Simple Way to Understand Cocktails

A cocktail family chart groups drinks based on structure rather than name. Families among the different types of cocktails include:

• Sours
• Fizzes
• Highballs
• Spirit-Forward
• Tropical Cocktails

Each of these families has been spoken about thoroughly in this blog, helping you gain a better insight into the flavors and textures. A cocktail family chart is a great way to learn about the ins and outs of cocktail-making. Bartending schools often use them for training and menu planning. Once you have a grasp on the different types of cocktails and their family chart, you can create innovative drinks, adjust flavors, and design menus with confidence.

Why Understanding Different Types of Cocktails Helps Your Bartending Career

• Meeting your customers’ expectations: People who drink cocktails know all the little details of what they’re ordering. So, there is an immediate expectation set in place when they arrive at your bar. Gathering the knowledge and practice you need to make different types of cocktails will help you meet those expectations before the customer even has a chance to take a sip.
• Credibility and climbing the career ladder: Knowing how to make cocktails and mastering the skill will set you apart from your peers. Since making cocktails is an important skill to have in the hospitality industry, it can demonstrate a bartender’s passion for their craft, thereby helping them climb the career ladder.
• Enhancing the menu & upselling: An extensive repertoire means a bartender can guide patrons through a curated menu. You’ll have more expertise to recommend drinks based on customer preferences and suggest premium spirits or more complex cocktails. With customers trusting your experience and taste, your check value also increases.
• Makes you more adaptable: The classic cocktails are fundamental, but knowing the classification of cocktails and how to make them gives you the power to adapt. You can get creative with the knowledge of how to pair ingredients; balancing the various sweet, sour, strong, and weak components of a cocktail can help you create a unique cocktail of your own.
• Improves efficiency and workflow: Knowing the recipes of different types of cocktails by heart means you waste little time once the order is placed. Customer satisfaction levels increase when you’re efficient at making various types of cocktails.

Conclusion

As a future bartending student, mastering the different types of cocktails will be the first big step you take. Once you have got the style of cocktails down to the last detail, you are set up for major success. All of this might seem like a lot of information to take on, but remember that practice makes perfect. Understand and master the classics first, as they are the foundation of all things cocktail. Learn the specific classification of cocktails before you let your creativity fly.

Once all these bases are covered, your creativity will flow naturally. Start simple, stay curious, and remember that great bartenders are not made out of thin air. They are trained one cocktail at a time.