Rum, Whiskey, Gin & Beer Cocktail Recipes
6 classic cocktails across four spirits — step-by-step recipes, pro bartender tips, and the best bottles to use at every budget.
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Sex on the Beach
RumFruity, sweet, and bright orange with a peach aroma that transports guests somewhere warmer. A bar staple since the 1980s that has never left the menu because it just works. Approachable and crowd-friendly — absolutely perfect for poolside events, summer parties, and tropical-themed celebrations.
- 1½ oz white rum
- 1 oz peach schnapps
- 2 oz orange juice
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- Orange slice and maraschino cherry for garnish
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour rum and peach schnapps over the ice.
- Add orange juice and stir to combine.
- Gently pour cranberry juice over the back of a spoon to create a layered gradient effect.
- Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry. Serve with a straw and let guests enjoy the layers before stirring.
Venezuelan aged rum with rich notes of caramel, vanilla, and dried fruit. Makes any tropical drink feel truly special.
The world's most popular rum. Light, clean, and consistently good — the standard for tropical cocktail mixing.
Cuba Libre
RumMore than a rum and Coke — a cocktail with real history, born in Havana around 1900. The addition of fresh lime is what separates it from a simple mixed drink and makes it genuinely great. One of the world's most ordered cocktails for a reason: it is easy to make, familiar to everyone, and always satisfying.
- 2 oz light or dark rum
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- 4–5 oz Coca-Cola (always Coca-Cola — it matters)
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Fill a highball glass with ice all the way to the top.
- Squeeze in the fresh lime juice and drop the spent wedge into the glass.
- Pour in the rum.
- Gently top with cold Coca-Cola, pouring slowly down the side of the glass to preserve bubbles.
- Give one gentle stir from the bottom up. Garnish with a fresh lime wedge and serve immediately.
Oak-aged for a deeper, slightly caramel-forward flavor that marries beautifully with Coca-Cola and fresh lime.
Aged 2 years and filtered for a smooth, clean taste. Excellent mixing rum at one of the lowest prices on the market.
Pineapple Mojito
RumThe classic Mojito is already one of the most refreshing cocktails ever created — adding pineapple takes it to another level entirely. Tropical sweetness complements rum's natural sugarcane character while the mint keeps everything bright and fresh. It looks as good as it tastes.
- 2 oz white rum
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 8–10 fresh mint leaves
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Club soda to top
- Mint sprig and pineapple wedge for garnish
- Place mint leaves and simple syrup in the bottom of a highball glass. Muddle gently — light pressure only.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice.
- Add rum, pineapple juice, and fresh lime juice.
- Stir with a bar spoon to incorporate the mint throughout the drink.
- Top with club soda. Garnish with a slapped mint sprig and a fresh pineapple wedge. Serve with a straw.
Light and clean with a subtle sweetness — the classic choice for mojitos that bartenders worldwide trust.
Smooth, aged, and clean. Punches well above its price point — a reliable everyday mixing rum with real character.
Old Fashioned
WhiskeyThe original cocktail — a recipe so refined it has not needed an update since the 1800s. Spirit-forward, slightly sweet, and aromatic with orange oils and bitters. Guests who order an Old Fashioned are paying attention, and a well-made one earns immediate respect from everyone at the event.
- 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 sugar cube (or ½ tsp simple syrup)
- 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 dash orange bitters (optional but recommended)
- Large single ice cube or sphere
- Wide orange peel for garnish
- Place the sugar cube in a rocks glass. Add the bitters and a small splash of water. Muddle until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Add a large single ice cube to the glass.
- Pour the whiskey over the ice in a slow, steady stream.
- Stir gently with a bar spoon for 20–30 seconds to chill and slightly dilute.
- Hold a wide orange peel skin-side down over the glass. Squeeze firmly to express the citrus oils over the surface. Rub the peel around the rim and place it in the drink as garnish.
Kentucky straight bourbon with rich wheat sweetness, vanilla, and caramel. A crowd-pleasing classic that makes a stunning Old Fashioned.
One of the most acclaimed budget bourbons in the world. Complex, rich, and deeply satisfying — drinks well above its price.
Tom Collins
GinA gin-lover's summer afternoon in a glass. Bright, citrusy, and bubbly — a tall refreshing highball that has been quenching thirsts since the 1870s. One of the most approachable gin cocktails for guests who have not fully committed to the spirit yet, and a reliably excellent choice for outdoor events.
- 2 oz gin (London dry style)
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 3–4 oz club soda
- Lemon wheel and maraschino cherry for garnish
- Add gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake briefly — just 8 seconds. Let the soda add the bubbles, not the shaker.
- Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice.
- Top slowly with cold club soda, pouring gently to preserve carbonation.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and a maraschino cherry on a skewer. Serve with a straw.
Scottish gin with distinctive rose and cucumber notes that create a uniquely elegant Collins. A bottle guests always notice and comment on.
Crisp juniper-forward gin with a clean citrus bite — the gold standard London Dry for cocktail mixing at any volume.
Beer Michelada
BeerMexico's answer to the Bloody Mary — savory, spicy, citrusy, and deeply satisfying. A beer cocktail that transforms a simple cold lager into something complex and craveable. A staple at brunch events, Mexican-themed parties, and sporting events where guests want something bold and refreshing.
- 1 cold Mexican lager (Modelo, Tecate, or Pacifico)
- 1½ oz fresh lime juice
- 2 oz Clamato or tomato juice
- 4–5 dashes hot sauce (Tapatio or Valentina preferred)
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- Tajin and salt blend for rim
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of a large pint glass or mug and dip generously in a Tajin and salt mixture.
- Add fresh lime juice, Clamato, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce to the glass with some ice. Stir to combine.
- Open the cold beer and slowly pour over the mix, tilting the glass slightly to reduce foam.
- Stir once very gently from the bottom — just enough to combine without losing carbonation.
- Add a lime wedge to the rim. Serve immediately with an optional extra dash of hot sauce on top for presentation.
America's number one selling beer — crisp, clean, and slightly malty. Its light body absorbs the Michelada mix perfectly without getting muddy.
A traditional Mexican lager that has been the backbone of Micheladas for generations. Light, crisp, and dependably affordable.