CLASSIC COCKTAILS

Margarita

Makes 1 drink

2 ounces blanco tequila

1 ounce fresh lime juice

½ ounce orange liqueur, such as Cointreau

½ ounce agave syrup

Kosher salt

Lime wheel, for garnish

Combine the tequila, lime juice, liqueur, and agave in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake until chilled. Rim a rocks glass with kosher salt, then fill with ice. Strain the drink into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and salt.

Manhattan

Makes 1 drink

2 ounces bourbon or rye

1 ounce sweet vermouth

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 dash orange bitters

Brandied cherry, for garnish

Combine the bourbon, vermouth, Angostura bitters, and orange bitters in an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a brandied cherry.

Whiskey Sour

Makes 1 drink

2 ounces bourbon

¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

½ ounce simple syrup (see here)

½ ounce egg white (optional)

Angostura bitters, for garnish

In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) and shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe or rocks glass and garnish with three dashes of Angostura bitters.

Sidecar

Makes 1 drink

Sugar, for rimming the glass

1½ ounces cognac

¾ ounce orange liqueur, such as Cointreau

¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

Orange twist, for garnish

Coat the rim of a coupe glass with sugar and set aside.

In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine the cognac, liqueur, and lemon juice and shake until chilled. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with an orange twist.

Classic Martini

Makes 1 drink

½ ounce dry vermouth

2 ounces vodka or gin

Olive or lemon twist, for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the vermouth. Stir to coat the ice, then strain the vermouth out and discard. Add the vodka to the shaker and stir well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an olive or lemon twist.

Dirty Martini

Makes 1 drink

2½ ounces vodka or gin

½ ounce dry vermouth

½ ounce olive brine

Green olives, for garnish

Combine the vodka, vermouth, and olive brine in an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with two olives, and serve.

Vodka Tonic

Makes 1 drink

2 ounces vodka

Tonic water, to top

Squeeze of lemon juice

Lemon peel, for garnish

In a collins glass, add the vodka and fill the glass with ice. Top with the tonic water and a squeeze of lemon juice. Garnish with a lemon peel.