The Art of Mixology: Classic Cocktail Recipes

You don't need a professional bar to make great cocktails. With a few basic tools — a shaker, a jigger, and a strainer — you can craft drinks that rival any high-end lounge.

Essential Equipment

• Cocktail shaker (cobbler or Boston)
• Jigger (measure)
• Bar spoon
• Strainer
• Muddler
• Ice cube tray

1. The Negroni

Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange twist. Bold, bitter, unforgettable.

2. Whiskey Sour

60ml bourbon, 30ml fresh lemon juice, 15ml simple syrup. Shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a glass. Optional: add an egg white before shaking for a silky foam.

3. Mojito

Muddle 8 mint leaves with 15ml sugar syrup. Add 60ml white rum, 30ml lime juice, and ice. Top with soda water. Stir gently — a Nigerian party staple.

4. Aperol Spritz

3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol, 1 splash of soda water. Build over ice in a large wine glass. Garnish with an orange slice. The perfect sundowner.

5. Old Fashioned

Muddle a sugar cube with 2 dashes Angostura bitters and a splash of water. Add 60ml bourbon or rye. Stir with ice. Strain over a large cube. Orange peel garnish.

Start with these five and you'll have a cocktail for every mood and occasion. Once comfortable, begin experimenting with ratios, garnishes, and spirit substitutions.