Being able to mix and serve a few classic cocktails is without a doubt a way for the modern gentleman to show his appreciation for tradition and timeless style. Here, we’ve gathered 10 iconic cocktails every modern gentleman should know how to make — along with 5 contemporary twists that are perfect for when you want to surprise your guests.
We’ll start in the present with 5 modern, alcohol-free options and then work our way back through history to explore
10 classic cocktails that every gentleman should know.
5 Modern Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
It all started when Gentlemen of Sweden visited a trade fair, where we had the pleasure of tasting kombucha — a fermented tea (and before you wrinkle your nose, hear us out) with a live bacterial culture, much like the yogurt, kefir, and other fermented foods we consume almost daily. The kombucha came from Källsjö Brewery
and we were more than pleasantly surprised. Over the course of the day, we probably sampled a couple of bottles each of Noble Crane Gran, a lightly sparkling drink with the flavors of the Swedish forests, and Noble Crane Senchá, bursting with red berry notes. Senchá makes a perfect stand-in for a refreshing rosé aperitif.
Edit: After publishing this, we realized it’s probably best to address the elephant in the room. You’re likely thinking that we at GoS are fully sponsored and get paid to write all this about Källsjö — but, hand on heart, they don’t even know this text exists. We simply enjoy their products and think it’s fun to treat our guests to something a little different every now and then.
Berry Mojito Mocktail
A Berry Mojito Mocktail is a fresh and lively alcohol-free drink that perfectly balances sweetness and tartness. With fresh berries like raspberries and strawberries, it delivers natural fruitiness and a beautiful pink-red hue that instantly screams summer. The mint leaves add a crisp, herbal note, while the lime and berry acidity provide a refreshing zing.
The drink is lightly carbonated, giving it a sparkling freshness, and is usually served over crushed ice to keep it ice-cold. The Berry Mojito Mocktail is a refreshing taste experience, perfect for warm days or as a stylish party drink — proving you don’t need alcohol to deliver both flavor and flair.
Ingredients:
- ½ dl fresh berries (raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries work well)
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1–2 tsp sugar or simple syrup (depending on how sweet you want the drink)
- A handful of fresh mint leaves, about 8–10 leaves
- Ice (preferably crushed)
- Noble Crane Senchá
- Extra berries and mint sprigs for garnish
How to make it:
Combine the tea with fresh mint, lime, and a little simple syrup. Lightly muddle the mint and lime before adding the tea and ice — a refreshing, invigorating drink with an extra berry twist!
Goji & Ginger Sparkle
The Goji & Ginger Sparkle is a refreshing and well-balanced mocktail that combines the exotic sweetness of goji berries with the spicy warmth of fresh ginger. The result is a drink that’s as invigorating as it is elegant. It has a soft pink hue from the goji berries, while the ginger adds a subtle heat that enhances the berries’ sweetness. The carbonation brings extra liveliness, creating a beautiful contrast to the gentle ginger flavor and achieving a perfect harmony of tartness, sweetness, and spice. The Goji & Ginger Sparkle is ideal for festive occasions or simply to add a little touch of luxury to your day.
Ingredients:
- Extra goji berries and a thin slice of ginger for garnish (optional)
- 1–2 dl Noble Crane Senchá
- 1 cm fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated (or 1 tsp ginger syrup for a milder flavor)
- 1–2 tsp honey or agave syrup (adjust to taste)
- Juice of half a lime
- Crushed ice
How to make it:
Blend the tea with a splash of ginger syrup or freshly pressed ginger juice. The ginger balances the sweet berry flavors, creating a spicier drink — perfect for cozy autumn evenings.
Forest Fizz
The Forest Fizz is a mocktail inspired by the Swedish forest. With a mix of sparkling citrus, fresh elderflower, and a subtle herbal note from rosemary, this drink captures the scent and feel of a tranquil woodland. It’s both refreshing and aromatic, with a gentle tartness and a hint of sweetness, making it perfect as a crisp aperitif.
Ingredients:
- 1–2 dl Noble Crane Gran
- 1 tsp elderflower cordial or elderflower syrup
- A sprig of fresh rosemary
- A slice of lemon
- Crushed ice
How to make it:
Mix the tea with a splash of elderflower cordial and a sprig of fresh rosemary. Serve over ice and garnish with a slice of lemon. The elderflower and rosemary enhance both the foresty and citrusy notes of the drink.
Nordic Mule
The Nordic Mule is a Scandinavian twist on the classic Moscow Mule. It combines the zesty freshness of lime and ginger with subtle forest and sea notes from a fermented tea base, inspired by the crisp air and natural landscapes of the Nordic region. With a perfect balance of acidity and minerality, this mocktail is both invigorating and aromatic — a unique drink that evokes the Nordic coastline.
Ingredients:
- 1–2 dl Noble Crane Gran
- 1 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tsp ginger syrup (or finely grated fresh ginger for a stronger kick)
- Crushed ice
- A lime wedge and a sprig of thyme for garnish
- Optional, a pinch of sea salt for an extra mineral touch
How to make it:
Mix the tea with fresh ginger syrup and lime juice. Serve over crushed ice, garnished with a sprig of pine or thyme. The ginger and lime balance the drink’s tartness while highlighting its foresty flavors.
Kelp Martini
The Kelp Martini is a sophisticated, sea-inspired mocktail that combines the bright freshness of citrus with the subtle minerality of sugar kelp. With a gentle hint of salt and crispness, it’s the perfect choice for anyone seeking a mocktail with an elegant, coastal character. This drink offers a unique, almost oceanic flavor profile, making it ideal to enjoy alongside seafood or on its own.
Ingredients:
- 1–2 dl Noble Crane Tång
- 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- A drop of cucumber extract (or 1 tsp cucumber juice for a milder flavor)
- Crushed ice
- Thinly sliced cucumber and, if available, a small piece of seaweed for garnish
How to make it:
Blend the tea with a splash of lemon juice and a drop of cucumber juice. Serve in a martini glass and garnish with a thin cucumber slice or a small piece of seaweed if available — adding a sophisticated, ocean-inspired touch.
10 Classic Cocktails
Cocktails are a lot like fashion — trends come and go, but just like certain wardrobe staples, some drinks stand the test of time. Here, we’ve listed the 10 essential cocktails every gentleman should know.
Martini
First up, the Martini is a classic and simple cocktail that symbolizes elegance and style. It can be made with gin or vodka depending on taste and personal preference and served with an olive or lemon peel.
Where and when the original Martini originated is a matter of debate, but the one we’re enjoying now is named after the Martini & Rossi vermouth. The modern Martini was developed in the early 1900s and immediately became a symbol of sophistication and style. It regularly appears in books and movies as an iconic drink for gentlemen and women of all ages.
How to make it:
To mix a classic Martini, start by chilling your glass with ice water. In a shaker, combine 75 ml of gin or vodka with 15 ml of dry vermouth. Fill the shaker with ice and stir gently in circular motions for about 30 seconds to chill and slightly dilute the drink. Discard the ice water from the glass, then strain the mixture into the chilled glass. For an olive Martini, garnish with an olive. For a twist Martini, squeeze a piece of lemon peel over the drink and drop it into the glass as garnish.
While we’re on the subject of Martini, it’s appropriate to say a few words about Dry Martini and the difference between the two so that no embarrassing mistakes are made.
A “Dry Martini” is a variation of the classic Martini cocktail described above. The difference lies in the proportion of vermouth to gin. In a Dry Martini, only a small amount of dry vermouth is used, resulting in a cocktail that is ‘drier’ in taste with a much more pronounced dominance of gin. Some variants of the Dry Martini actually involve just ‘looking’ at the bottle of vermouth, meaning that you wet the glass with vermouth and then pour it out before topping up with gin, all just to give a faint hint of the vermouth’s aroma.
Old Fashioned
In second place is the Old Fashioned which is one of the oldest cocktails containing bourbon, sugar cube, bitters and a dash of orange zest.
The Old Fashioned is considered to be one of the oldest cocktails in existence, dating as far back as the 19th century. When the cocktail was created it consisted of 4 parts, sugar, water, bitters and some form of liquor just like the Old Fashioned. The drink is a tribute to the earliest days of cocktails and represents a time when a gentleman ordered his drink without fuss.
How to make it:
To mix an Old Fashioned, start by muddling a sugar cube with a few dashes of Angostura bitters in a whiskey glass. Add ice, then pour in 75 ml of bourbon. Stir gently and garnish with a piece of orange zest — the outer peel without the white pith — or a cherry.
When you dredge a sugar cube in a cocktail, such as the Old Fashioned, you put the sugar cube in the bottom of the glass and use the muddler (a small stick) to squeeze and mix it with other ingredients such as bitters and possibly citrus zest. This dissolves the sugar and flavors the drink with the flavors released from the other ingredients.
Manhattan
In third place we find the Manhattan which is a sophisticated drink consisting of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and angostura bitters, the drink is usually garnished with cherries.
The Manhattan is said to have originated in the 1870s at the Manhattan Club in New York City. It was a favorite of club members and quickly spread across the country. Its sophisticated flavors and association with New York’s cultural center make it a symbol of urban sophistication and thus something the modern gentleman should know.
How to make it:
To mix a Manhattan, you’ll need a shaker and ice. Start by pouring 60 ml rye whiskey, 30 ml sweet vermouth, and a few dashes of Angostura bitters into a shaker with ice. Stir well, then strain the drink into a chilled martini or cocktail glass and finish with a cherry garnish.
Negroni
In fourth place we have an Italian based on gin, Campari and sweet vermouth.
The Negroni originated in Italy in the early 1900s when Count Camillo Negroni asked for his Americano cocktail (made with Campari, sweet vermouth and soda) to be enhanced with gin instead of soda water. The result speaks for itself, a balanced and complex drink that has become a favorite among cocktail lovers all over the world.
How to make it:
The Negroni is a simple cocktail: combine equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth (usually 30 ml of each) in a shaker with ice. Stir well, then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice or twist to balance the drink’s bitter and sweet flavors. A rocks glass — short for “on-the-rocks” glass — is a glass large enough to serve a drink over ice.
A classic Negroni uses London Dry Gin, which is a dry gin with a strong juniper flavor.
In fifth place we find the drink served in every beach bar around the world, the Daiquiri! A simple but elegant drink made with white rum, freshly squeezed lime juice and a dash of simple syrup.
Daiquiri
The Daiquirin originated in Cuba and is named after a mining town where American miners took their drinking break. Legend has it that the first version of the drink was created when miner Jennings Cox mixed rum, lime and sugar into a simple cocktail to quench his thirst. The daiquirin later became popular when it was introduced internationally in the early 20th century and has since been a symbol of relaxation and enjoyment.
How to make it:
To mix a classic Daiquiri, combine 60 ml white rum, 30 ml freshly squeezed lime juice, and 20 ml simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. In many holiday destinations, the drink is served over crushed ice or slush, making it a perfect way to both quench your thirst and cool down.
To make a simple syrup, heat equal parts water and sugar on the stove and stir until the sugar dissolves. Leave to cool and store in a jar/bottle with a tight-fitting lid in the fridge for up to a month.
Margarita
A refreshing cocktail made with tequila, freshly squeezed lime juice and orange liqueur, usually served with salt on the rim of the glass, the margarita is a drink well worthy of the sixth spot on our list.
The margarita has several alleged origins, but the most popular story is that it was created in the 1930s in Tijuana, Mexico, by bartender Carlos ‘Danny’ Herrera. When one of his customers, Marjorie King, asked for a drink that was salted on the rim and contained tequila instead of the strong smallpox vaccine she was allergic to. The result was the Margarita, which quickly became an iconic cocktail in the border region and then globally.
How to make it:
To mix a Margarita, combine 60 ml tequila, 30 ml freshly squeezed lime juice, and 20 ml orange liqueur (e.g., Triple Sec) in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a glass rimmed with salt and filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Whiskey Sour
The Whiskey Sour is, as the name suggests, a sour drink based on whiskey with freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar syrup. The seventh-place drink dates back to the 19th century and is one of the oldest sour cocktails. Its simple composition of whiskey, lemon and sugar created a balanced flavor profile that quickly became popular. The drink has survived the passage of time and remains a favorite among whiskey enthusiasts worldwide and should therefore be in every gentleman’s arsenal.
How to make it:
To mix a Whiskey Sour, combine 60 ml bourbon, 20 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 20 ml simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry or an orange slice.
Sazerac
In eighth place we find the classic New Orleans drink Sazerac which combines rye whiskey, sugar, Peychaud’s Bitters and absinthe.
The Sazerac, one of the oldest known cocktails, originated in New Orleans in the 19th century. Considered by many to be the first true cocktail, it began as a mixture of cognac and bitters from pharmacist Antoine Peychaud. The drink has a unique history and is a symbol of the cultural diversity and richness of New Orleans.
How to make it:
To mix a Sazerac, start by chilling a glass with ice water. In a separate glass, muddle a sugar cube with a few dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters. Add 75 ml rye whiskey and a few ice cubes. Discard the ice water from the chilled glass, rinse it with a few drops of absinthe, and pour in the drink. Squeeze a bit of lemon zest over the cocktail and drop the zest into the glass as a garnish.
Gin and Tonic
The Gin and Tonic, in ninth place, is a simple but elegant gin and tonic water drink that originated in colonial times when British colonists in India used quinine, a substance found in tonic water, as a remedy for malaria. To make the quinine more drinkable, they mixed it with gin and citrus. Hence, Gin and Tonic was born as a refreshing and medicinal drink. Today, it is a classic and one of the most beloved gin-based drinks.
How to make it:
To mix a Gin and Tonic, fill a highball glass with ice, add 60 ml gin, and top with tonic water. Stir gently and garnish with a slice of lime or lemon.
Sidecar
Last but certainly not least, there’s the seductive Sidecar drink, which contains cognac, orange liqueur and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
The origin of the sidecar is somewhat unclear, but it is thought to have originated in France or England in the early 1900s. The name comes from the motorcycle sidecar, which was popular with officers during the First World War. The drink combines the elegance of cognac with the fresh taste of citrus and is a firm favorite among cocktail connoisseurs.
How to make it:
To mix a Sidecar, start by moistening the rim of a cocktail glass and dipping it in sugar to create a sugared edge. In a shaker, combine 60 ml cognac, 20 ml orange liqueur, and 20 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice with ice. Shake well, then strain into the prepared glass.
You’ll need the following:
If you want to be able to mix all of the classic cocktails, you’ll need the following 15 ingredients in or near your home bar.
Alcohol
- Gin (Martini, Negroni, Gin and Tonic)
- Whiskey (Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour and Sazerac)
- Vermouth (dry and sweet) (Martini och Manhattan)
- Campari (Negroni)
- Rom (Daiquiri)
- Tequila (Margarita)
- Triple Sec/Cointreau (Margarita and Sidecar)
- Cognac (Sidecar)
- Rye Whiskey (Sazerac, if you would like to be picky but regular whiskey has been told to work as well)
Misc
- Sugar (or simple syrup) (for Old Fashioned, Daiquiri, Whiskey Sour, Sazerac)
- Bitters (Angostura bitters for Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, and Peychaud’s bitters for Sazerac)
- Lemon juice (freshly squeezed for Whiskey Sour, Sidecar)
- Lime juice (freshly squeezed for Daiquiri, Margarita)
- Tonic Water (for Gin and Tonic)
- Absinthe or absinthe-style spirit (for rinsing the glass for a Sazerac — optional but traditional)