The Six co*cktails You Need to Know to Understand All co*cktails Ever (2024)

To be an expert bartender you only need to know six classic co*cktails.

That’s the premise of “co*cktail Codex,” the James Beard Award-winning book by Death & Co.’s Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan, and Devon Tarby. Get a handle on those six drinks, the authors write, and you’ll be able to create innumerable variations.

They are the Old Fashioned, Martini, Daiquiri, Sidecar, Whiskey Highball, and Flip. In each drink, every ingredient falls into at least one category. Core is the primary flavor; balance enhances the core with sweetness, acidity, or both; and seasoning adds another dimension and complements or contrasts with the core.

Much like “Salt Fat Acid Heat,” Samin Nosrat’s best-selling cookbook-turned-Netflix series, “co*cktail Codex” advises readers to take a holistic, scientific approach to flavors. By understanding how elements like bright, tangy lemon juice balance a rich, heavy ingredient, you can then swap in other sources of acid — grapefruit juice, say, or yogurt — for infinite iterations.

Ready to start experimenting? This infographic illustrates the essential components of co*cktail Codex’s six root co*cktails, plus three variations on each.

Get your own copy here!

The Six co*cktails You Need to Know to Understand All co*cktails Ever (1)

Published: September 19, 2019

The Six co*cktails You Need to Know to Understand All co*cktails Ever (2024)

FAQs

The Six co*cktails You Need to Know to Understand All co*cktails Ever? ›

They are the Old Fashioned, Martini, Daiquiri, Sidecar, Whiskey Highball, and Flip. In each drink, every ingredient falls into at least one category. Core is the primary flavor; balance enhances the core with sweetness, acidity, or both; and seasoning adds another dimension and complements or contrasts with the core.

What are the basic 6 co*cktails? ›

Embury's six basic drinks are the Daiquiri, the Jack Rose, the Manhattan, the Martini, the Old Fashioned, and the Sidecar. Embury's preferred recipe for each is: Daiquiri.

What are the six basic drinks listed in David A Embury's The Fine Art of Mixing drinks? ›

In this book (which has often been touted as the 'Bible' of co*cktail making), David A. Embury lists the 6 basic drinks as the Manhattan, the Martini, the Sidecar, the Daiquiri, the Jack Rose, and the Old Fashioned. In this blog, we'll cover the basics of how to make each of these co*cktails, plus more!

What drink should every bartender know? ›

From classics like the Martini to modern creations like the Espresso Martini, there are a vast number of drinks that every bartender should know. The Margarita and the Old Fashion are the most popular co*cktails, with an honorable mention to the Mimosa, which is the most popular breakfast co*cktail.

How many co*cktails does a bartender need to know? ›

Some people wonder how many drinks a bartender needs to learn to make when they learn this profession. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) has an official list of 77 drinks. Those drinks are seen as the true drink selection that can be requested at a bar.

What are the 6 base spirits for co*cktail mixing? ›

Freelance writer and co*cktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks. Among the many distilled spirits available, there are just six base liquors: brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey.

What are the 6 types of liquors? ›

There are six primary liquors — whiskey, brandy, vodka, rum, gin and tequila. These beverages fall under the liquor category because they use a similar distilling method, but each has a distinct flavor that arises from using different ingredients and aging processes.

What's the hardest drink for a bartender to make? ›

Probably the most difficult co*cktail recipe to make and every bartender hates it - the RAMOS GIN FIZZ 🍸 60ml / 2oz Gin 15ml / 0.5oz Lemon Juice 15ml / 0.5oz Lime Juice 30ml / 1oz Heavy Cream 1 Dash Orange Blossom Water One Fresh Egg White Soda Water To Top - Shake all ingredients except soda water hard with one large ...

What are the five P's of a professional bartender? ›

5. What are the 5 P's of Bartending? Pride, passion, preparation, professionalism and presentation.

What is the most requested drink at the bar? ›

1. Margarita. The classic Margarita co*cktail has been one of the most popular co*cktails in America for years and still remains on top. While there are many variations, the traditional recipe consists of tequila, Triple Sec and lime juice.

What is the 50 rule in bartending? ›

50% rule. The proper time to serve customers the next co*cktail is once they've consumed 50% of their drink. This is an excellent marker to provide attentive service and avoid over-serving.

What are the 7 basic co*cktails? ›

The 7 essential co*cktails every drinker should know how to make
  • Martini.
  • Manhattan.
  • Negroni.
  • Old-Fashioned.
  • Gin and Tonic.
  • Daiquiri.
  • Margarita.
Sep 29, 2022

What is bartender checklist? ›

These bar checklists include the bar opening procedures and bartender closing duties that your staff needs to complete at the beginning of the day and before leaving each night, such as cleaning, restocking, storing, organizing, and locking up.

What are the base types of co*cktails? ›

Tippler's Taxonomy: A Guide To co*cktail Categories
  • Ancestrals.
  • Sours.
  • Spirit-Forward co*cktails.
  • Duos and Trios.
  • Champagne co*cktails.
  • Highballs, Collinses, and Fizzes.
  • Juleps and Smashes.
  • Hot Drinks.

What are the 4 main co*cktails? ›

These four drinks represent four essential co*cktail categories, clockwise from left: old pal (three-parter), gin buck (fizz), daiquiri (sour) and hanky-panky (Old-Fashioned/lowball).

What are the seven pillars of co*cktails? ›

Seven pillars refers to the seven mother recipes: Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sour, Daisy (Sour with a liqueur added), Collins, 75, and Stepladder (Negroni/Boulevardier). This creates balance and a variety of co*cktails. It's important to have something for everyone.

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