Classic Cocktails

The classics endured because they work: a handful of ingredients in proportions that balance. This collection covers the canonical drinks — the Old Fashioned, the Martini, the Daiquiri, the Manhattan and their kin — with recipes you can pour tonight. Every spec lists ounces and milliliters side by side, names the glass and the ice, and explains why each step matters. Our editorial standard is internal consistency and historical honesty. Measurements always convert exactly (2 oz is 60 ml, every time), technique notes distinguish shaking from stirring for a reason, and when a cocktail's origin story is disputed — as many are — we say so rather than repeating bar-room legend as fact.