Old Fashioned
This is a simple, strong drink best served in an old-fashioned tumbler. Straight to the point, this is a great cocktail to drink before, or after, a sophisticated evening meal.

Ingredients:
•    Sugar cube
•    Dash of Angosturra bitters
•    1 tsp water
•    2 measures bourbon (rye whisky can be used as an alternative)
•    4-6 cracked ice cubes
•    Lemon peel twist to decorate

Place the sugar cube into a small, chilled glass and dash the bitters over the cube.  Next, add the water and mash the mixture with a spoon. Make sure the sugar has completely dissolved before moving on to the next step. Now, pour the bourbon (or the rye whisky) into the glass and give the whole lot a thorough stir. Finally, add the cracked ice and garnish your glass with the lemon peel.

Classic Martini
The godfather of all cocktails, this is the ultimate in sophisticated drinking. Named after its inventor, Martini de Anna de Toggia, the original version uses equal measures of gin and vermouth for a knock-out concoction. The mix below is recommended, but you can change it to suit your taste - if you prefer an ultra-dry martini, merely rinse the glass with vermouth before adding your gin.

Ingredients:
•    4-6 cracked ice cubes
•    3 measures of gin
•    1 tsp dry vermouth (or more if vermouth is your tipple of choice)
•    Cocktail olive to decorate (of course!)

Put the cracked ice into a glass - don’t use your martini glass yet, this glass is just to mix your cocktail in! Next, pour the gin and vermouth over the ice, and give the mixture a thorough stir. Then, strain the drink into a pre-chilled cocktail glass, and decorate with the classic olive.

Rickey
This cocktail can be made using whisky, apple rum or kirsch - but the classic version is made using gin. Whatever spirit you choose, it’s a refreshing summer drink which makes a perfect accompaniment during the barbeque season.

Ingredients:
•    4-6 c racked ice cubes
•    2 measures gin
•    1 measure lime juice
•    Soda water
•    A slice of lemon

Put the cracked ice cubes into a glass, preferably a highball glass or a tumbler. Pour the gin and lime juice over the cracked ice, and top up your glass with soda water. Gently stir the drink till it’s mixed to perfection, and decorate using a lemon slice.

Mix It Up
Whatever you fancy making, all the cocktails on our list are easy to throw together and fairly cheap too - so you can spend more on top-quality ingredients for your delicious drinks. Sophisticated and surprisingly contemporary, these beverages will never go out of date - so dress in your best, invite some friends round, and try your hand at a few of our classic cocktails.