Most sources say that the first cocktail was the Sazerac, invented in the mid-1800s. Ever since then, the idea of mixing and matching different spirits and ingredients has really caught on! Cocktails can be considered equal parts science and art, so it can definitely get confusing to understand which one comprises what. In case you want to understand the ‘anatomy’ of your cocktails, this cocktail categories guide can help you out. Read on!
1. Ancestral
Includes: Spirit + sweetener + bitters + water
Ancestral is one of the classic early-nineteenth-century-style cocktails featured in antique bar guides. You would’ve already tried most of them like Old Fashioned, the Sazerac, and the Improved Gin Cocktail.
These cocktails are made using a base spirit that has been mildly flavored with sugar. In some cases, the sweetener comes in the form of a dash or two of liqueur such as curacao or maraschino. Along with that, bitters and water is added. This mix can be drunk straight up or on the rocks. These cocktails are easy to make yet strong. When made right, they’re truly delicious.
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2. Champagne Cocktails
Includes: Champagne/sparkling wine + bitters + sweetener + citrus
Champagne cocktails are the party booze everyone loves downing, be it Mimosa, Bellini, or Old Cuban. There’s no fixed formula for making these cocktails, although any cocktail that has champagne or sparkling wine in it falls under this category.
The simple and plain way to go about this cocktail is to add the main ingredient (champagne/sparkling wine) along with bitters, sweet syrup, and some citrus juice. But if you’re feeling rebellious, add some rum and herbs to it.
3. Sours
Includes: Citrus + spirit + sweetener + bitters
As the name suggests, citrus juice plays a major role in sour cocktails. The juice is often lemon or lime, but it can also be grapefruit or orange juice. Some of the popular sours include margaritas, daiquiris, cosmopolitans, and whiskey sours.
These are primarily single-serving beverages that are shaken in a cocktail shaker and served straight up. They can be further subcategorized as simple and complex, with the former having sugar and egg as part of its ingredients. On the other hand, a complex sour cocktail replaces sugar with a sweetener like syrups, liqueurs, and/or fortified wines.
Also Read: Champagne Vs Prosecco: Everything You Need To Know
4. Punch
Includes: Water + Citrus + sugar + spice + spirits
Punches are the ‘life of the party’ kind of cocktails you’ll find at social gatherings in a bowl. Its name is derived from the Hindi term ‘paanch’ which means ‘five’, as the original recipe had five ingredients.
Unlike other cocktails, this is made in a large batch and, as the name suggests, has a nice punch to it. They can be served cold, hot, strong, or weak, depending on the crowd you’ll be hosting. The most common punches are Fish House Punch, Artillery Punch, Jamaican Rum Punch, and more.
5. Juleps
Includes: Mint + sweetener + spirit + crushed ice
Juleps are tall cocktails using mint as their highlighting flavor. They’re made with spirit (primarily bourbon), sweetener, wine, or fortified wine and are served over crushed ice. If julep tins are not available, they’re often served in Collins glasses with fresh mint.
The bourbon or rye whisky-based Mint Julep is by far the most well-known of its kind. Some of the commonly known julep cocktails are Whiskey Smashes, Mojitos, and Southside.
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6. Highball
Includes: Spirit + carbonated water
Traditionally made with just two primary ingredients, even a 3-year-old could make a highball cocktail (although we don’t recommend it!). All you need to do is top up a spirit with a carbonated beverage like soda, seltzer water, and the like. If you want to be a bit fancy about it, maybe add a dash of fruit juice to the cocktail. But to make it a legitimate highball, you have to serve it in a 10 oz highball glass.
Pimm’s Cup, Cuba Libre, Gin and Tonic, Salty Dog, and Screwdriver are some examples of highball cocktails. If you’d like a strong highball cocktail, keep a liquor-to-mixer ratio of 1:2.
7. Buck
Includes: Ginger beer + lime juice + spirit + ice
Despite the name, this cocktail category is pretty tame and won’t buck you off. The popular Moscow Mule comes under this category. Making a buck is quite simple too; it’s like a highball cocktail but you add ginger beer and lime juice instead of soda.
Originally they were made by cutting a large lemon into four sections, squeezing the juice of one into the drink, and dropping that wedge inside as well. You can also change the liquor to create a Kentucky Mule (using bourbon) or an Irish Mule (with Irish whiskey).
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8. Flips and Nogs
Includes: Spirit + egg + sugar + cream
It all boils down to whole eggs in Flips and Nogs. These egg-celent cocktails originated in 17th-century England when strong beverages were served hot! Don’t fret, they’re now more commonly served cold and over ice so you’ll not end up with any scrambled eggs in them.
Flips are made with alcohol, sugar, and eggs whereas nogs also have milk or cream in them. The Fort Washington Flip and the Colleen Bawn are two examples of flip cocktails. Nogs are simply flips but one that’s more popular; the classic example is the popular Christmas holiday Eggnog.
9. Pousse-cafes
Includes: Spirits + liqueur + syrup
Pousse Cafes are carefully crafted concoctions formed of liqueurs and syrups that were stacked for a unique look in the nineteenth century. These sweet, delicate cocktails have been out of the limelight for a while now. What’s so special about it? If you’ve come across a rainbow shot before, you already know the kind. It’s a colorful, layered cocktail where liqueurs and spirits are poured skillfully on top of each other without mixing them.
It’s got a lot to do with the specific gravities of the ingredients of these cocktails. Their recent heirs include the B-52, the Buttery Nipple, and the Dirty Leprechaun which come with additional liquor in it. They’re strong and attractive and have been the reason for many of you (okay, your friends) getting wasted.
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10. Hot Drinks/Toddy
Includes: Hot water + spirits + sweetener
These cocktails are served hot, obviously. There were variations of them available before central heating but now, we typically stick to only a few in the coldest months of the year. Some of them also have spices, lemon juice, and honey in them to remedy your cold.
This category includes anything from coffee-based cocktails like Irish Coffee to Hot Buttered Rum, Hot Toddy, and Tom & Jerry (which can additionally be classified as Flips and Nogs).
11. Swizzle
Includes: Spirit + sweetener + citrus + bitters + ice
If you know how to make chaas then this one’s going to be a breeze for you to make. The whole purpose is to churn the drink with a swizzle stick to make the glass frosted. They’re similar to punch cocktails excluding the spice.
This drink has originated from the West Indies and is a tall cocktail, traditionally rum-based. Originally these cocktails were used to beat the heat and one of its better versions, Rum Swizzle is Bermuda’s national drink too. Sailor’s Swizzle and Queen’s Park Swizzle are also some of the best-known swizzles out there.
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12. Cobblers
Includes: Spirit or wine base + sweetener + fruit
Cobblers, which date back to the early days of mixology, are your brunch cocktails or even double up as aperitifs. They’re made with a base liquor or fortified wine like sherry mixed with a little sugar. You’ll find them served in a glass filled with crushed ice and a bounty of fresh fruit. Yes, fresh fruits; isn’t that an excellent excuse to have a cocktail?
The more recent versions use a fruit syrup, such as raspberry or pineapple, or a liqueur for the sugar, and occasionally include muddled fruit. Jamaican Cobbler and Bourbon Peach Cobbler are two examples of cobblers.
13. Sangaree
Includes: Wine or port + spirit + sweetener + grated nutmeg
Sangaree is a vintage cocktail made of fortified wines enhanced with sugar and served with grated nutmeg. They date back to the 1700s and initially comprised fortified Spanish wines such as Jerez and Madeira. Don’t mix up Sangaree with Sangria though as that’s the modern version of it with quite some additions.
This cocktail got its name from the Spanish word ‘sangre’, which means ‘blood’, because the first version was mixed with red wine. However, now you can find multiple variations of it as mixologists have taken matters into their own hands. Some examples are Brandy Sangaree, Gin Sangaree, and Smoked Sangaree.
Also Read: Mixology Terms Every Alcohol Enthusiast Should Know
14. Posset
Includes: Milk or Cream + sherry or wine or beer + honey + spice
Posset is a winter holiday dessert cocktail and if by that you’ve guessed it then yes it’s a drink served hot. It consists of hot milk mixed with ale or wine along with spices and honey (egg is added sometimes as well).
The entire recipe takes a few hours as this traditional drink is made in a slow cooker, so it’s perfect as a set-it-and-forget-it beverage. Make a batch before your guests come, then spoon it into coffee mugs.
Also Read: Best Green Cocktails To Make At Home
15. Spirit-Forward Cocktails
Includes: Spirit + vermouth + bitters + liqueur or syrup
Around the 1880s, vermouth and fortified wines were added with Ancestrals to soften the alcohol’s taste and add flavor diversity. Spirit-Forward Cocktails are often made using base alcohol and a modifier of vermouth or fortified wine such as sherry or port.
These are often paired with other ingredients such as bitters or tiny dosages of liqueurs or syrups. These cocktails are properly mixed by stirring the mixture with ice rather than shaking it, and they’re served straight up or, less commonly, on the rocks. You must’ve tried some of them like Walnut Old Fashioned, The Manhattan, Negroni, and Dry Martini.
Summing Up
Now you know exactly what goes into your cocktail. Other cocktails have undoubtedly emerged in the books over the years, but they’re relatively similar or readily fit into one of the mentioned categories. With this list of categories, you can rest assured that you’ll rock the next cocktail trivia with your friends.
FAQs
What Are The Categories Of Cocktails?
There are many categories of cocktails like ancestral, champagne cocktails, sours, punches, juleps, swizzles, and cobblers.
What Are The 5 Components Of A Cocktail?
The five components of a cocktail are spirit, sweetener, sour, bitter, and water.
What Are The 5 Most Popular Cocktails?
The popularity of cocktails can vary depending on various factors and trends. The five most consistently popular cocktails are the Mojito, Margarita, Old Fashioned, Martini, and Cosmopolitan.
What Cocktail Has 5 Types Of Alcohol?
One cocktail that incorporates five types of alcohol is the Long Island Iced Tea. It has vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and triple sec, along with other ingredients like lemon juice, cola, and simple syrup.
What Are 3 Common Cocktails?
Three common cocktails that are widely enjoyed are the Margarita, Mojito, and Martini.
How Many Types Of Cocktail Methods Are There?
There are numerous cocktail methods, but they can be broadly categorized into three primary types: stirred, shaken, and built. Stirred cocktails involve gentle mixing using a stirring spoon while shaken cocktails require vigorous shaking with ice in a shaker. Built cocktails are assembled directly in the glass, usually over ice, without any shaking or stirring.
Who Is The Father Of Cocktails?
The father of cocktails is often attributed to Jerry Thomas, a legendary figure in the world of mixology.
What Is Cocktail In Alcohol?
In the context of alcohol, a cocktail refers to a mixed drink that combines multiple ingredients. They usually include one or more alcoholic spirits, along with other components such as mixers, sweeteners, bitters, fruit juices, or garnishes.
