Part of the fun of being a bartender is coming up with custom cocktails to wow your customers. But before you experiment, you have to know the basics.
We rounded up the 10 basic cocktails every bartender should know. With these recipes under your belt, you’ll make any bar proud.
1. Margarita
One oz Cointreau
Two oz Tequila
One oz Lime juice
2. Old-Fashioned
One and a half oz Bourbon or Rye whiskey
One Sugar cube
Two dashes Angostura bitters
Some dashes plain water

3. Negroni
One oz Gin
One oz Sweet red Vermouth
One oz Campari
4. Mojito
One and a Half oz White rum
Soda Water
Six leaves of Mint
One oz Fresh lime juice
Two teaspoons Sugar
5. Aperol Spritz
Two oz Prosecco
Splash of Soda water
One and a Quarter oz Aperol
6. Moscow Mule
Four oz Ginger beer
One and a Half oz Vodka
One Sixth oz Lime juice
7. Pina Colada
Three oz Pineapple juice
One oz Coconut cream
One oz White rum
8. Whiskey Sour
One and a Half oz Bourbon whiskey
One oz Fresh lemon juice
Half oz Gomme syrup
One dash egg white
9. Long Island Iced Tea
Half oz Tequila
Half oz Triple Sec
Half Vodka
Half oz Gin
Half oz White rum
Half oz Gomme syrup
One oz Lemon juice
Splash of Cola
10. Martini
Half oz Dry Vermouth
Three oz Gin
Want more inspiration? Check out this generator to come up with the perfect name for your cocktail. Also, make sure to follow WISK on Instagram to see some of our favorite cocktails from across the ‘gram, from the simple and classic to the uniquely complex.