Bottoms Up: These Pros Give Us 12 Cocktails Every Home Bartender Should Know

It's hard to get creative when making drinks at home — especially when you're entertaining friends or family. Most people will stick to what they know: a sugary margarita mix or simple vodka soda. While these work in a pinch, there are countless better cocktail options to impress your friends and improve your at-home bartending skills. 

We asked experts to advise on cocktail recipes that everybody should know how to make themselves. Martha Llamas is a bartender at Wax Rabbit in Las Vegas. Tom Bronock is an experienced drinks industry bartender and marketer with a focus on trends and cocktail culture. And Angelina Lopez, also a bartender in Las Vegas at Easy's Cocktail Lounge, gives us her first tip: "Keeping a few essential ingredients is key when creating cocktails at home." 

The drinks selected below were chosen because of their uniqueness or their simplicity of ingredients. Many of these can be made with ingredients you may already have at home, along with a liquor of your choosing. They range from simple and staple drinks to cocktails you may not have heard of. Cater to your taste as suggested, and try one or a number of these cocktails next time you're entertaining. 

Martinis are one of the simplest drinks to make, and typically contain the fewest ingredients. Usually crafted from just dry vermouth and gin, there are dozens of ways to personalize this classic cocktail with ingredients you have at home. 

No matter the season, martinis are always in style. For the summer months — or anytime you're feeling a bit zesty — bartender Angelina Lopez, Easy's Cocktail Lounge in Las Vegas, recommends to "add your favorite fruit to a lemon drop martini." This sweet and sour drink combines 1.5 ounces of vodka, 3/4 ounce lemon juice, ½ ounce simple syrup, and ½ ounce triple sec. Use quality ingredients for a really satisfying drink, including fresh lemon juice and a great vodka from your bar cart. Per Lopez's suggestion, throw in a few slices of strawberry or watermelon for added freshness. 

For the colder months, Lopez recommends a little pick-me-up with a popular drink at Easy's Cocktail Lounge — the espresso martini. To make one at home, mix 2 ounces of vodka with 1 ounce coffee liquor and 1 ounce cooled espresso. "Although you can never go wrong with the classic recipe, I like to get creative and add some more flavors, like banana or vanilla liqueur," Lopez says. 

Another incredibly easy drink to make — the margarita — has been the most popular cocktail in the United States since 2015. And the drink's popularity is only increasing. "The last 12 months have seen a major interest in tequila," says alcohol trends expert Tom Bronock. Margaritas come in a variety of sizes and flavors, but the classic recipe uses only tequila, lime juice, and triple sec. Our experts have their unique ways of crafting their own special margaritas, but all agree that it is a recipe every home bartender should know. 

To elevate your margarita, start with a quality brand tequila. For a bit of a kick, bartender Angelina Lopez suggests adding a few slices of jalapeño to make a spicy margarita. 

Martha Llamas, bartender at Wax Rabbit in Las Vegas, likes crafting hers as a mocktail — skipping the tequila altogether. She recommends the recipe of "2 ounces fresh lime, 1 ounce agave shaken, pour over crushed ice, top with a half ounce mango or passion fruit soda water." 

You know (and might love) the divisive Moscow Mule, originally made with 2 ounces of vodka, ½ ounce lime juice, and three ounces of ginger beer. Most often served in a copper mule mug, this customizable drink can be inspired by all four corners of the globe depending on the liquor base and ingredients. 

A popular drink at Wax Rabbit, Martha Llamas likes "a tropical twist" in her mules and suggests replacing the vodka with spiced rum and mixing with lemon, pineapple, and ginger beer. You'll still get that refreshing gingery taste, and the pineapple will add a bit of sweetness to the acidity of the drink. Spiced rum makes this inventive drink something between a mule and a mai tai. If a classic vodka mule sounds more appealing, amplify the flavors by adding cranberry and rosemary, as suggested by Angelina Lopez of Easy's Cocktail Lounge in Las Vegas. The fresh ingredients transform the simple drink from a Moscow Mule to more of a Canadian Mule.

Of course, the mule is another easy drink to hack into a mocktail. Most ginger beers you will find at a grocery store are already non-alcoholic, but double check if your brand is before pouring. Llamas's mule mocktail contains ginger beer poured over crushed ice, fresh lime juice, and agave. 

The mojito might be a bit labor intensive, but it's a simple drink made of five ingredients: 2 ounces of rum, ¾ ounce lime juice, 1 teaspoon sugar, club soda, and fresh mint. You might find most ingredients around the house — if not, a grocery store will have everything (minus the booze, in some cases). If you're looking to maximize your mojito, there are plenty of ways to adjust to your taste and preference.

Wax Rabbit's Martha Llamas agrees, saying that these simple cocktails are "great for any occasion, easy to make and customizable to suit different preferences." For example, if you don't have rum but do have vodka on hand, you can still craft a mojito. "For a twist on a vodka mojito, mix with fresh mint, cucumber and soda water," Llamas adds. Another option is to cut out the alcohol altogether, and craft a mocktail mojito. For this, she suggests muddling fresh mint yourself along with half of a lime. Top your greens with one part Sprite and one part soda water. Mix all this with ice for a refreshing, any-time-of-day drink that trend expert Tom Bronock sees often and calls the "Nojito." 

One mistake he sees often, though, is bartenders shaking their mojito instead of stirring. "Shaking mint in this way releases a bitter compound from the leaves that really distrubs the balance of the cocktail," he says, "exactly what you don't want in a mojito." 

This drink is as easy to make as it sounds, and as delicious as Angelina Lopez, bartender at Easy's Cocktail Lounge in Las Vegas, makes it seem. "Looking for something to keep you warm and take the edge off? Warm up some apple cider and add a shot of your favorite whiskey and a cinnamon stick for a little extra flavor." Simple and still elegant, you really can't go wrong with this fool-proof cocktail recipe. 

For something a bit more complex, you can mix apple cider, 1 ounce blood orange puree, and hot water. Instead of whiskey, try 1 ounce of an aged tequila. Mix in your spirit, along with a ½ ounce ginger puree and two star anise. This Hot Apple and Orange Toddy is fruity, nutty, and perfect for a cold evening with friends or loved ones. Alternatively, you can make either of these recipes iced. 

"Whisky cocktails have so much to offer and are surprisingly versatile," says Tom Bronock. While whiskey tends to have a distinct flavor in a cocktail, it is also easily influenced by other ingredients in your drink. 

Now that you know how to craft some basic, easy-to-make cocktails, it's time to get a little creative. Bartender Angelina Lopez, Easy's Cocktail Lounge, calls the corpse reviver "the perfect cocktail," which makes it a drink that every home bartender should know how to make. It doesn't take a lot of ingredients, but you need to know where to look to find them.

"The Corpse Reviver is a gin-based martini paired with an absinthe rinse, Lillet Blanc, Cointreau and lemon juice," says Lopez. "The gin in this cocktail complements the citrus and floral notes flawlessly." Luckily, this drink is incredibly easy to make despite its uncommon ingredients. That's because it's equal parts of everything besides the absinthe. To craft this cocktail, mix ¾ of an ounce of a dry gin, Lillet blanc, fresh lemon juice, and an orange liquor like Cointreau. Take your glass and rinse the inside with absinthe before discarding and pouring in your drink. Remnants of the high-proof alcohol will stick around in your glass, making for a stiff drink with a nose-scrunching aroma. It's not called The Corpse Reviver for nothing. 

This cocktail is as easy as it gets, but might not be for the feint of heart. The Tennessee Heat is recommended by bartender Martha Llamas, Wax Rabbit in Las Vegas — her "personal party drink" it's half Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire and half Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey. You won't need a mixer for this cocktail, but you might want a large glass of water handy. 

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire Whiskey is a spicy cinnamon flavored liqueur, which pairs nicely with the smoother, sweeter Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey. Both bottles can be found in several sizes at most stores that sell alcohol. Simply shake the two alcohols together with ice and garnish your glass with a sprig of rosemary, as Martha suggests. Other additives to consider are a bit of apple cider or a cinnamon stick. Alternatively, you can opt for a shot of this simple mixed drink. Tennessee Heat is another drink perfect for the holiday season, but can really be enjoyed whenever you're trying to spice things up all year round.  

If you haven't heard of the paper plane yet, that's because it's still a fairly new cocktail recipe. "The paper plane is for the bourbon lovers out there," says Angelina Lopez, bartender at Easy's Cocktail Lounge in Las Vegas, "crafted in 2008 by bartender Sam Ross, it's somewhat new and not often a guest's first choice until they try one." At home, the paper plane is the perfect drink to surprise and delight your friends at anything from a dinner to a pre-game celebration. 

The paper plane is "a delightful balance of sweet and bitter," according to Lopez. You'll want ¾ an ounce of a high-proof bourbon for this drink, along with equal parts Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice. Aperol has gained popularity over the past few years, and is handy in a number of drink recipes. Amaro Nonino is an Italian liquor mixed with a number of herbs, spices, and roots. The paper plane is "easy to remember for anyone, and another great option to make at home if you have the supplies," says Lopez.

From a new drink to a tried and true classic. The old fashioned, by one name or another, has been around since the early 1800s. Typically made with bitters, sugar, water, and whiskey or bourbon, the old fashioned is a simple and easy cocktail to learn to make at home. 

The four ingredient recipe can be manipulated any way that you prefer. For "a warm and spiced take on the old fashioned," suggests Martha Llamas, "use bitters, cinnamon, simple syrup, and large ice cubes." The large ice not only looks more elevated than regular ice cubes, but they also melt slower — allowing you to sip on your old fashioned whiskey cocktail for longer. Alternatively, Angelina Lopez proposes to "use a spiced syrup in the old fashioned for a little kick." 

This cocktail has withstood the test of time due to its simplicity. As more inventive cocktails hit bars across America, some people find themselves drawn to the classics. "Cocktails such as the old fashioned ... have had enduring popularity over many years and continue to be some of our most asked-for cocktails," says industry expert Tom Bronock. 

The Aperol spritz came back in a big way, becoming inescapable at bars and restaurants around the country largely due to its vibrant and recognizable color. "In the industry, some of the success of the Aperol spritz is put down to its stunning orange color which consumers love," says Tom Bronock, expert on trends in the alcohol industry. The color and name of the drink give away some of the ingredients, but how do you make this refreshing summer staple at home? 

For a mocktail twist on the Aperol Spritz, replace the Prosecco and Aperol with cream and orange soda respectively. The non-alcoholic concoction makes the perfect orange creamsicle mocktail to sip with friends. 

Like all good things, the gin forward gimlet was invented out of necessity. First crafted by British sailors out of lime rations, the drink traveled from coast to coast and rose in popularity around the world. Now, it is one of the easiest cocktails to make at home, according to alcohol expert Tom Bronock. 

Crafted simply from 2.5 ounces of gin, ½ ounce of lime juice and simple syrup, and a lime wedge, the gimlet is similar to a tequila-based margarita and can be made with ingredients that are essential in anyone's bar cart. Of course, this easy to make drink is one that can (and should) be evolved for even more enjoyment. "Muddle some basil with your gimlet," suggests Angelina Lopez, for an even more refreshing drink. 

It's not just what's in your glass that matters. "Presentation also counts for a lot, particularly with the trend for elevated at-home entertaining," says Bronock, "at home cocktail makers want to impress their guests with visually appealing cocktails — with color, glassware, or garnish all factors in aesthetically beautiful cocktails." 

Another whiskey based cocktail with a kick, the whiskey sour has a special trick to getting that sweet and sour flavor that may take a couple tries to perfect. Once you get it right, though, you won't want to pick up any other drink in its place. 

The whiskey sour consists of bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and an egg white. Place the ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice and shake for 10 seconds or slightly longer. Add ice and shake again before pouring into a glass. While typically up to your personal preference, shaking is a vital step for this drink according to expert Tom Bronock. "Sours should always be shaken," he says. "This is even more important if egg white is being used to add to the body. Don't shortcut on this as the drinks suffer unbelievably if not shaken." 

You can, of course, use a traditional whiskey instead, but the spirit substitution may cause the cocktail to come out different than expected, since whiskey and bourbon have more than a few differences.