Modern Classic Cocktails

The list of Classic Cocktails are those drinks which have been around for countless decades, if not centuries, and are well recognized the world over. Is it necessary however for a recipe to be decades old, with a history that is mostly forgotten, in order for it to be considered a "Classic"?

With new recipes regularly appearing in the repertoire of bartenders around the world, there is room for some of them to be considered a "Modern Classic". It is important to note however that such a designation is not one that can be attributed simply because the drink is currently popular, created by a notable individual, or being promoted in one way or another by somebody. The process of a drink being considered a "Modern Classic" is one that needs to happen organically, and over time.

The Rules

For a drink to be considered a "Classic", it should have the following attributes:

1. It needs to be delicious
2. It needs to be a recipe that most bartenders know how to make
3. It needs to be a drink that customers know to order
4. It needs to be made from ingredients that most bars have on hand

As an example of how NOT to do a Modern Classic, you can check out Liquor.com's list of cocktails which they have "tagged" as a Modern Classic. There are currently nearly 29 full pages, which at 50 drinks per page is over 1,400 recipes. While there are some on their list which could/should be considered as "Modern Classics", the vast majority of them should not, by any stretch of the imagination.

Possible Contenders

The following drinks are those that many may point to as deserving as being considered a "Modern Classic":

• Cosmopolitan (Cheryl Cook)
• Benton’s Old-Fashioned (Don Lee)
• Bramble (Dick Bradsell)
• Chartreuse Swizzle (Marco Dionysos)
• Dreamy Dorini Smoking Martini (Audrey Saunders)
• Espresso Martini (Dick Bradsell)
• French Pearl (Audrey Saunders)
• Gin Basil Smash (Joerg Meyer)
• Gin Gin Mule (Audrey Saunders)
• Jasmine (Paul Harrington)
• Juliet & Romeo (Toby Maloney)
• Little Italy (Audrey Saunders)
• Oaxacan Old Fashioned (Phil Ward)
• Old Cuban (Audrey Saunders)
• Penicillin (Sam Ross)
• Red Hook (Vincenzo Errico)
• Ritz Cocktail (Dale DeGroff)
• Tommy's Margarita (Julio Bermejo)
• Trident (Robert Hess)
• Whiskey Smash (Dale DeGroff)
• White Negroni (Wayne Collins)

External Links

• The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails 2019 (Drinks International)
• The Making of an Iconic Cocktail (PunchDrink.com)7