25 Cocktails to Know - Cocktails Every Server & Bartender Should Know

Oct 13, 2026

A bartending reference list covering 25 cocktails and what servers should say when taking orders. Each entry summarizes the drink profile, common customer preferences, and suggested upsell angles, along with core ingredients and appropriate glassware. Several recipes also note variations and substitutions (e.g., swapping vodka or gin for rum, frozen vs rocks options, and add-ins like citrus or liqueurs). The guide emphasizes consistent service details such as specifying spice, rim options, and garnish choices.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Cocktails List

Aperol Spritz

Appletini

Bloody Mary

Boulevardier / Negroni

Cosmopolitan

Daiquiri / Gimlet

Espresso Martini

French 75

Hurricane

Irish Coffee

Kir Royale

Lemon Drop Martini

Long Island Iced Tea

Mai Tai

Manhattan

Margarita / Perfect Margarita

Martini

Mojito

Moscow Mule / Dark & Stormy / Horsefeather

Old Fashioned

25 COCKTAILS EVERY SERVER & BARTENDER SHOULD KNOW... 1. Aperol Spritz An Italian Aperitif, Bittersweet Taste, Stimulates Appetite, Good for a pre-dinner cocktail 2. Appletini 3. Bloody Mary Nick and Jake’s uses ‘Zing Zang’ as our bloody mary mix. This mix is already seasoned, but you should always ask if the guest wants it spicy or with salt. Ask if they want a premium vodka for the upsell! Ingredients: Aperol Prosecco Club Soda Ingredients: Apple Vodka Apple Pucker Sour Mix Ingredients: Vodka Zing Zang Add-ins: Whorchestershire Tobassco Salted Rim Glassware: Wine Glass Garnish: Orange Wedge Glassware: Martini Glass Garnish: Maraschino Cherry Glassware: Pint Glass Garnish: Olives Lime Wedge Celery Stick 4. Boulevardier / Negroni Ingredients: Bitter, Zesty, Citrus flavor Upsell on our premium liquors. The Boulevardier is made with bourbon or often rye whiskey. A negroni is made with gin. Negroni Sbagliato also has prosecco in it Campari Sweet Vermouth Boulevardier = Bourbon/Whiskey/ Rye Negroni = Gin 5. Cosmopolitan Ingredients: Upsell with a premium vodka or citrus vodka. Vodka Cranberry Triple Sec White Cosmo = White Cranberry Juice Glassware: Highball Garnish: Orange Peel Glassware: Martini Glass Garnish: Lemon Twist 6. Daiquiri / Gimlet Ingredients: A traditional daiquiri is shaken and served up or on the rocks. Many people will automatically assume a daiquiri is frozen. Be sure to specify what your guest is looking for. Flavors can be added to daiquiris via liqueurs and flavored syrups or purees. When you substiture gin for rum, it becomes a gimlet. Rum / Gin Lime Juice Simple Syrup Glassware: Coup Glass (Perfect Marg Glass) Garnish: Lime Wedge 7. Espresso Martini Espresso martinis can be made several ways. This is the Nick and Jake’s recipe because we do not have fresh espresso in house. This martini must be shaked vigooursouly (12 sec.) for froth. 8. French 75 9. Hurricane 10. Irish Coffee Some guests prefer bailey’s in their Irish Coffee. Always specify if they do before ringing it in. Jameson & Tullamore Dew are the most common Irish Whiskies for this drink. 11. Kir Royale Our Kir Royale will come with the house prsecco by the glass. Be sure to give the guest the remaining prosecco in the 187ml bottle. Chamboard is a raspberry liqueur. Ingredients: Vanilla Vodka Espresso Liqueur Cold Brew Glassware: Martini Glass Garnish: 3 Coffee Beans (Health, Wealth, Happiness) Ingredients: Gin Lemon Juice Simple Syrup Brut Glassware: Champagne Flute Garnish: Lemon Twist Ingredients: Southern Comfort Light Rum Dark Rum Orange Juice Pineapple Juice Grenedine Glassware: Pint Glass Garnish: Orange Wedge & Maraschino Cherry Ingredients: Sugar Irish Whiskey Coffee Ingredients: Chamboard Prosecco Glassware: Irish Coffee Mug Garnish: Ask if they want whipped cream or half & half Glassware: Champagne Flute Garnish: Raspberry or Strawberry 12. Lemon Drop Martini Different than lemondrop shot. The shot is just the citrus vodka chilled with a sugar coated lemon wedge on the side. Ingredients: Citron or Lemon Vodka Simple Syrup Lemonade Sugar Rim Glassware: Martini Glass Garnish: Lemon Twist 13. Long Island Iced Tea This drink does not contain any tea. Upsell opportunity by asking if they prefer top-shelf liquors. For a Long Beach Iced Tea, no coke, sub cranberry juice. There is only 1/4 oz of each liquor but these drinks will sneak up on your guest. Watch out for over serving. Ingredients: Vodka Gin Rum Tequila Triple Sec Sour Mix Cola Glassware: Pint Glass Garnish: Lemon Wedge 14. Mai Tai UPDATE RECIPE Ingredients: White Rum Orange Curacao Orgeat Pineapple & Orange Juice Dark Rum Floate

FAQs

Which cocktails in the guide include explicit upsell prompts?

Several drinks call out upselling premium liquors or options, such as Bloody Mary (spice level and premium vodka), Boulevardier/Negroni (premium liquors), Cosmopolitan (premium or citrus vodka), and Martini (premium liquors). Long Island Iced Tea also suggests asking about top-shelf liquors.

What service details does the guide emphasize when ordering Bloody Mary?

It uses a premixed “Zing Zang” mix, but instructs servers to ask whether the guest wants it spicy or with salt. It also advises offering a premium vodka for an upsell.

How does the guide distinguish daiquiri vs gimlet?

It states a traditional daiquiri is shaken and served up or on the rocks, and that daiquiris can take flavors via liqueurs or flavored syrups. It notes that substituting gin for rum makes it a gimlet.

Oct 13, 2026

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