There are always new drinks floating around that have the potential to become greats, but there are some cocktails that are an important staple in your restaurant. Although the creativity of the industry is what keeps it fun and people love finding and trying new drinks they can call their favorites– and they usually end up being tasty - there are some essential drinks that you need to offer at your restaurant.
Manhattan
Ingredients:
- Brandied cherry (garnish)
- Ice
- 2 dashes Angostura or orange bitters
- 2 ounces rye or bourbon whiskey
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
Add the brandied cherry garnish to a cocktail glass and fill a mixing glass with ice, bitters, whiskey, and vermouth. Stir for 20 seconds and then strain into the cocktail glass.
Negroni
Acquiring a taste for Negroni can be difficult, but once you do, you're addicted!
Ingredients:
- Ice
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce dry gin
- Twist of orange peel (garnish)
Fill a mixing glass with ice, Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin. Stir for 20 seconds and strain into the glass. Twist the orange peel over the drink and drop it in.
Gin and Tonic
A simple drink with only 2 ingredients!
Ingredients:
- Ice
- Lime wheels
- 2 ounces dry gin
- 3 or 4 ounces tonic water
Fill a glass with ice and layer with lime wheels. Add the gin and tonic and stir. Easy!
Margarita
A classic drink from the sours family!
Ingredients:
- Salt (for rim)
- Lime half
- Ice
- 1 ¾ ounces tequila
- ½ ounce Cointreau
- ¼ ounce agave nectar
Rim the glass with lime and salt. Add ice to the glass and fill a cocktail shaker with ice, lime juice, tequila, Cointreau, and agave nectar. Shake for 15 seconds and pour into glass.
All these drinks are classics! When walking into a bar, you expect to see at least a couple of these drinks around. Classics are necessary, but also don’t forget to spice up your drink menu with a few creative, new drinks.
