Here are 22 fancy cocktails that are elegant choices for an upscale cocktail party, wedding, or holiday gathering. This selection includes classic favorites and some unique blends that use a variety of liqueurs and mixers.
Using ingredients like Grand Marnier, Cognac, Champagne, elderflower liqueur (St-Germain), bitters, Campari, and fresh herbs elevates familiar drinks. Aim for balanced flavors with complementary sweet and sour notes.
What are the classiest traditional cocktails?
- Cosmopolitan – vodka, cranberry, lime, triple sec
- Manhattan – bourbon or rye, sweet vermouth, bitters
- Old Fashioned – bourbon or rye, bitters, sugar
- Dirty Martini – vodka or gin, olive brine, dry vermouth
- Boulevardier – whiskey, Campari, sweet vermouth
- Pisco Sour – pisco, lime, simple syrup, egg white
- French Martini – vodka, Chambord, pineapple
- French 75 – gin, lemon, Champagne
- Negroni – gin, Campari, sweet vermouth
1. The Cosmopolitan
Ingredients:
1½ ounces vodka
¾ ounce cranberry juice
½ ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce triple sec or Cointreau
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime twist.
2. Paper Plane
Ingredients:
1 ounce bourbon
1 ounce Aperol
1 ounce Amaro Nonino
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
3. Pisco Sour
Ingredients:
3 ounces pisco brandy
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
1 egg white (preferably organic)
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled glass and serve immediately.
4. Lavender Martini
Ingredients:
1½ cups lavender buds, lightly crushed
4 cups vodka
¼ cup honey
Instructions: Steep lavender buds in vodka for two weeks, shaking occasionally. Strain and sweeten with honey to taste. Serve chilled in a martini glass and garnish with a lavender sprig if desired.
5. Elderflower Collins
Ingredients:
1½ ounces gin
½ ounce St-Germain (elderflower liqueur)
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
Instructions: Add ingredients to a glass with ice, top with club soda, stir gently, and garnish with a lemon wedge.
6. Kir Royale
Ingredients:
1½ ounces crème de cassis
Champagne or sparkling wine, chilled
Instructions: Add crème de cassis to a flute and top with chilled Champagne. Stir gently and serve.
7. Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce espresso (or ½ shot cold brew)
¾ ounce coffee liqueur (Kahlúa)
½ ounce simple syrup (optional)
Instructions: Shake all ingredients with ice until chilled and foamy. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with three coffee beans.
8. Aperol Spritz
Ingredients:
3 ounces Prosecco
2 ounces Aperol
1 ounce club soda
Instructions: Build over ice in a wine glass: Prosecco, Aperol, and club soda. Garnish with an orange slice.
Need an upscale appetizer to pair with these cocktails? Try a savory pate or elegant canapés to complement the drinks.
9. Boulevardier
Ingredients:
2 ounces bourbon or rye
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce sweet vermouth
Instructions: Stir ingredients with ice until chilled, then strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist.
10. White Wine Spritzer
Ingredients:
2 ounces dry white wine
¾ ounce club soda
1 ounce sparkling mineral water or seltzer
Fresh fruit or herbs (optional)
Instructions: Combine over ice in a wine glass, garnish with citrus or mint, and serve immediately.
11. Negroni
Ingredients:
1½ ounces gin
1½ ounces Campari
1½ ounces sweet vermouth
Instructions: Stir ingredients with ice, strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and garnish with an orange twist.
If you enjoy fruity cocktails, consider adding a fruit-forward option to your menu.
12. Rosé Sangria
Ingredients:
3 ounces rosé wine
2 ounces brandy or Cognac
1 ounce club soda or sparkling water
½ cup raspberries or strawberries (optional)
Instructions: Combine ingredients in a pitcher with ice and fruit. Stir gently and serve in chilled glasses with a fruit garnish.
13. Spicy Negroni
Ingredients:
1½ ounces gin
1 ounce Aperol or Campari
1 ounce sweet vermouth
¼ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
Instructions: Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and garnish with a pinch of chili flakes for heat.
14. Blackberry Gin Fizz
Ingredients:
3 blackberries
1½ ounces gin
⅔ ounce simple syrup (to taste)
2 ounces club soda
Instructions: Muddle blackberries, add gin and syrup, shake with ice, and strain into a tall glass over ice. Top with club soda and garnish with berries.
15. Raspberry Mojito
Ingredients:
10 raspberries
6 mint leaves
1½ ounces white rum
⅔ ounce simple syrup
1 ounce fresh lime juice
Instructions: Muddle raspberries and mint, add rum, syrup and lime, shake with ice, and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with raspberries and mint.
16. Gin Aperol Sour
Ingredients:
1½ ounces Aperol
1½ ounces gin
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup
1 egg white (optional)
Instructions: Dry shake (no ice) with egg white if using, then add ice and shake again until chilled and frothy. Strain into a coupe and garnish with a lemon twist.
Planning a cocktail party? Prepare a few signature drinks and have ice and garnishes ready.
17. White Cosmopolitan
Ingredients:
1½ ounces vodka
1 ounce triple sec or Cointreau
⅔ ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce white cranberry juice (or plain)
Rosemary sprig (optional)
Instructions: Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with lime or rosemary.
18. French 75
Ingredients:
2 ounces gin
⅔ ounce lemon juice
¼ ounce simple syrup (optional)
1 ounce Champagne or sparkling wine
Instructions: Shake gin, lemon and syrup with ice, strain into a flute, then top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.
19. Pomegranate Martini
Ingredients:
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce pomegranate juice
⅓ ounce simple syrup (optional)
Splash of lime juice (optional)
Instructions: Shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge if desired.
Want more ideas? Add a few popular classics to please a variety of tastes.
20. Manhattan
Ingredients:
2 ounces bourbon or rye
¾ ounce sweet vermouth
1 dash Angostura bitters (optional)
Instructions: Stir with ice until chilled, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
21. Ginger Bourbon Cocktail
Ingredients:
3 ounces bourbon or rye
1½ ounces ginger syrup
Splash of lime juice (optional)
Instructions: Shake with ice, strain into a glass, and garnish with a lime wedge or candied ginger.
22. Summer Whiskey Smash
Ingredients:
Bourbon or brandy
Fresh lime juice
Simple syrup
Blackberries
Soda water or ginger beer
Instructions: Muddle blackberries with lime and simple syrup, add bourbon, shake with ice, strain into a lowball glass, and top with soda or ginger beer. Garnish with mint and berries.
Final Tips For Serving Upscale Cocktails:
- Have plenty of ice available to keep drinks cold.
- Garnish intentionally: fruit for fruity cocktails, edible flowers for floral drinks, and fresh herbs for lighter cocktails.
- Serve in chilled glassware for the best presentation and texture.
- Use quality spirits and mixers for balanced flavor.
- Choose attractive glassware to enhance the overall experience.
- Consider using colored or specialty gins (like Empress) for visually striking cocktails.
- Enjoy responsibly.
With these recipes and tips, you can craft an elegant drink menu that will impress guests and elevate any event. Cheers!
22 Fancy Cocktail Recipes – Pisco Sour
Ingredients
- 2 ounces pisco or other brandy
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup or to taste
- 1 egg white lightly beaten
Method
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In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled.
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Strain into a chilled glass and serve immediately. Garnish with a lime slice if desired.
Notes
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