Being able to mix some classic drinks is definitely a way for a contemporary modern gentleman to show his knowledge of the history and style of the gentleman. Here is a list of 10 iconic drinks that a modern gentleman could mix:

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.

Here’s how:
To mix a classic Martini, start by chilling glass by filling it with ice water. In a shaker, combine 7.5 cl of gin or vodka with 1.5 cl of dry vermouth. Fill the shaker with ice and stir gently in circles for about 30 seconds to chill and dilute the drink slightly. Knock the ice water out of the glass, then strain the mixed liquid into the chilled glass. For an olive martini, add an olive as a garnish. For a twist martini, squeeze a piece of lemon peel over the drink, then add the peel to the glass as a 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.

Here’s how:
To mix an Old Fashioned, start by muddling a sugar cube and a few dashes of angostura bitters in a whiskey glass. Then add ice and knock on 7.5 cl of bourbon. Stir gently and garnish with a piece of orange zest, which is the outer part of the peel without the white part underneath, 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.

Here’s how:
To mix a Manhattan, you need a shaker and ice. Start by pouring 6 cl of rye whiskey, 3 cl of sweet vermouth and a few dashes of angostura bitters into a shaker with ice. Stir well and then strain the drink into a chilled martini or cocktail glass and finish by garnishing with a cherry.

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.

Here’s how:
Negroni is a simple drink, combine equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth (usually 3 cl of each) in a shaker with ice. Stir well and then strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with an orange slice or orange zest to balance the bitter and sweet flavors of the drink. Rocks glass is an abbreviation of on-the-rocks glass, i.e. a glass large enough to serve a drink with ice.

A classic Negroni uses London Dry Gin, which is a dry gin with a strong juniper flavor.

Daiquiri

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.

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:
To make a classic Daiquiri, mix 6 cl white rum, 3 cl freshly squeezed lime juice and 2 cl simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. In many resorts, the drink is served in a glass filled with ice slush, which is 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.

Here’s how:
To make a Margarita, combine 6 cl tequila, 3 cl freshly squeezed lime juice and 2 cl orange liqueur (e.g. Triple Sec) in a shaker with ice. Shake well and then strain into a salted glass with fresh ice. Garnish the drink 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:
To make a Whiskey Sour, combine 6 cl bourbon, 2 cl freshly squeezed lemon juice and 2 cl simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a chilled rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a cherry or 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.

Here’s how:
To mix a Sazerac, start by chilling a glass by filling it with ice water. In a separate glass, muddle a sugar cube with a few splashes of Peychaud’s Bitters. Then add 7.5 cl of rye whiskey and a few ice cubes. Pour out the ice water from the chilled glass and rinse it with a few drops of absinthe and top up with the drink. Squeeze some lemon zest over the drink and then place the zest in 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.

Here’s how:
To make a Gin and Tonic, fill a highball glass with ice, add 6 cl of 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.

Here’s how:
To mix a Sidecar, start by moistening the rim of a cocktail glass and dipping it in sugar to create a sugar rim. In a shaker, combine 6 cl of cognac, 2 cl of orange liqueur and 2 cl of freshly squeezed lemon juice with ice. Shake well and then strain into the prepared glass.