Spirit-Forward Cocktails
1089 recipes. Short, strong and stirred, with nothing to hide behind.
A spirit-forward cocktail is mostly alcohol by volume and by intent: no juice, usually no sugar beyond a modifier, and served short and cold. The Manhattan, the Martini, the Negroni and the Old Fashioned are the four corners of the category.
These are stirred, not shaken, because there is nothing in them that needs aerating and everything in them benefits from staying clear and heavy on the tongue. Stir for around thirty seconds over good ice and taste before you serve.
They are also the drinks where ingredient quality shows most. There is no citrus to hide behind, so a tired vermouth or a bottom-shelf spirit is exactly as obvious as it sounds.
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All 1089 recipes
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- Negroni Gin, Campari(R) Bitter, Cinzano(R) Rosso Vermouth
- Mint Julep Blended Bourbon Whiskey, Mint Sprigs, Confectioners' Sugar
- Sazerac Cognac, Absinthe, Sugar
- Sidecar Cognac, Bols(R) Triple Sec Liqueur, Lemon Juice
- Old Fashioned Blended Bourbon Whiskey, Sugar, Angostura(R) Bitters
- Aviation Gin, Luxardo(R) Maraschino Liqueur, Lemon Juice
- Gimlet Gin, Rose's(R) Lime Juice
- Black Russian Vodka, Coffee Liqueur
- Caipirinha Cachaça, Lime, Caster Sugar
- Whiskey Sour Blended Bourbon Whiskey, Lemon Juice, Sugar Syrup
- Manhattan Rye Whiskey, Cinzano(R) Rosso Vermouth, Angostura(R) Bitters
- Polonaise Brandy, Blackberry Brandy, Dry Sherry
- St. Petersburg Stoli(R) Vodka, Orange Bitters
- Ante Apple Brandy, Triple Sec Liqueur, Dubonnet(R) Rouge
- Averno Punt e Mes(R) Vermouth, Crème de Cassis Liqueur, Sweet Vermouth
- Blowfish Gin, Grand Marnier(R) Orange Liqueur, Lemon Juice
- Bobby Burns Cocktail Sweet Vermouth, Scotch, Bénédictine(R) Herbal Liqueur
- Brandied Egg Sour Egg, Brandy, Triple Sec Liqueur
- Bronx Terrace Cocktail Dry Vermouth, Gin, Lime Juice
- Celebration Aged Rum, Brandy, Triple Sec Liqueur
- Crystal Slipper Cocktail Gin, Blue Curaçao Liqueur, Orange Bitters
- Down the Hatch Whiskey, Blackberry Brandy, Orange Bitters
- Hawaiian Cocktail Gin, Triple Sec Liqueur, Pineapple Juice
- Hot Deck Blended Whiskey, Green Ginger Wine, Sweet Vermouth
- Prince Edward Martini Gin, Drambuie(R) Liqueur
- Snake in the grass Cointreau(R) Orange Liqueur, Gin, Vermouth
- The Captain's Martini Gin, Vermouth, Crème de Menthe Blanche Liqueur
- Honey Bee Cocktail Jamaican Dark Rum, Honey, Lemon Juice
- Mama's Martini Stoli(R) Vanil Vodka, Apricot Brandy, Angostura(R) Bitters
- Adam and Eve Forbidden Fruit(R) Liqueur, Gin, Brandy
- Bob Dandy Dubonnet(R) Rouge, Brandy
- Chapel Hill Bourbon, Triple Sec Liqueur, Lemon Juice
- Emerald Isle Gin, Crème de Menthe Verte Liqueur, Aromatic Bitters
- Knickerbocker Cocktail Dry Vermouth, Sweet Vermouth, Gin
- Love Me Tender Beefeater(R) London Dry Gin, Dry Sherry, Aperol(R) Aperitivo
- My Dear Aunt Ruby Bourbon, Cranberry Juice, Raspberry Puree
- Serpentine Light Rum, Brandy, Sweet Vermouth
- Trilby Cocktail Sweet Vermouth, Bourbon, Orange Bitters
- Yale Cocktail Dry Vermouth, Gin, Blue Curaçao Liqueur
- Brainstorm Scotch, Bénédictine(R) Herbal Liqueur, Sweet Vermouth
- Burnt Martini London Dry Gin, Scotch
- Martini (Sweet) Gin, Sweet Vermouth
- Seaboard Blended Whiskey, Gin, Lemon Juice
- Angler's Cocktail Gin, Grenadine, Aromatic Bitters
- Brantini Brandy, Dry Vermouth, Gin
- Cock-A-Bendy Scotch, Rosso Vermouth, Campari(R) Bitter
- Danish Martini Aquavit, Dry Vermouth
- Deauville Cocktail Apple Brandy, Brandy, Triple Sec Liqueur
