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!
Published: September 19, 2019
FAQs
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 6 main co*cktails? ›
Embury's six basic drinks are the Daiquiri, the Jack Rose, the Manhattan, the Martini, the Old Fashioned, and the Sidecar.
What are the 6 methods of co*cktails? ›
Below are the top techniques for making co*cktails as a bartender:
- Blending. Blending is a crucial part of making co*cktails that use heavier ingredients such as fruit, ice cream or ice. ...
- Straining. ...
- Shaking. ...
- Stirring. ...
- Muddling. ...
- Rolling. ...
- Building. ...
- Layering.
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 original 6 drinks? ›
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.
What is the big six co*cktail? ›
Blog 001 // The Big Six. Triple Sec, Dry Vermouth, Sweet Vermouth, Maraschino, Angostura Bitters, Absinthe.
What are the six main types of alcohol? ›
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 is the 50 rule in bartending? ›
What's the 50% rule in bartending? The proper time to serve customers the next co*cktail is once they've consumed 50% of their drink.
What are the 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.
What is the 3 count for bartending? ›
Using the four-count method, a 1.5-ounce pour is 3 counts using a pour spout. That means you'll start pouring and say “one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand” and stop.
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? ›
Everything from why you shake, when you muddle, to the practicalities of the job, and what we call the five 'P's of world class service: pride, passion, preparation, professionalism and presentation.
What are the 6 spirits in bartending? ›
Here are the 6 best liquors for a home bar...
- Vodka. Many may see vodka drinkers as those with unrefined palates, but this would be doing the spirit (and drinkers) a disservice. ...
- Gin. ...
- Rum. ...
- Tequila. ...
- Whiskey. ...
- Brandy.
What are the top 5 classic co*cktails? ›
The 10 World's Most Popular Classic co*cktails Guide
- Margarita. The classic Margarita co*cktail has been one of the most popular co*cktails in America for years and still remains on top. ...
- Cosmopolitan. ...
- Daiquiri. ...
- Gimlet. ...
- Manhattan. ...
- Negroni. ...
- Old Fashioned. ...
- Sex on the Beach.
What are the 6 essential 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 are the 6 base spirits for co*cktail mixing? ›
Among the many distilled spirits available, there are just six base liquors: brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey. While distilled using similar methods, each is unique in flavor, and there are distinct styles within each category.