Here are 22 fancy cocktails that are very classy to serve at any upscale party or event like a cocktail party, wedding, or holiday party.
I have included some classic cocktails and also some unique cocktails made with multiple types of liquers and mixers.
Adding ingredients like Grand Marnier, Cognac, Champagne, Elderflower liqueur, St. Germaine, Bitters, Campari, fresh herbs and other aromatics will take any classic cocktail to the next level. It's important to make sure the flavors are well balanced and offer sweet and sour notes.
What are the classiest traditional cocktails?
- Cosmopolitan- made with vodka
- Manhattan- made with bourbon
- Old Fashioned- made with bourbon/rye
- Dirty Martini- made with vodka
- Boulevardier- mde with whiskey
- Pisco Sour- made with pisco (a type of brandy)
- French Martini- made with vodka and chamboard
- French 75- made with gin
- Negroni- made with gin, campari, vermouth
1. The Cosmopolitan
Ingredients:
1½ ounces vodka
¾ ounce cranberry juice
½ ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce triple sec or Cointreau
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime twist.
Check out this list of triple sec cocktails.
2. Paper Plane
Ingredients:
1 ounce bourbon
1 ounce Aperol
1 ounce Amaro Nonino
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lemon twist. Instructions: Combine gin, St Germain, and lemon juice in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon twist.
3. Pisco Sour
Ingredients:
1 egg white (preferably organic)
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
3 ounces pisco brandy
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and serve immediately.
4. Lavender Martini
Ingredients:
1½ cups organic lavender buds, lightly crushed
4 cups vodka
¼ cup honey
Instructions: Combine lavender buds and vodka in a jar. Cover and let steep for 2 weeks, shaking occasionally. Strain out the lavender buds and mix with honey to taste. Pour into a chilled martini glass and serve garnished with fresh sprigs of lavender if desired.
5. Elderflower Collins
Ingredients:
1½ ounces gin
½ ounce St. Germain liqueur
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
Instructions: Add all ingredients to a cocktail glass with ice. Stir well and garnish with a lemon wedge.
6. Kir Royale
Ingredients:
1½ ounces crème de cassis
Champagne or sparkling wine, chilled
Instructions: Combine the cassis and champagne in a cocktail glass and gently stir. Serve immediately.
7. Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce espresso (or ½ shot of cold brew)
¾ ounce Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
½ ounce simple syrup (optional)
Instructions: In a shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 3 coffee beans or a mini chocolate bar, if desired. Serve with my espresso cookies!!
8. Aperol Spritz
Ingredients:
3 ounces Prosecco
2 ounces Aperol
1 ounce club soda
Instructions: In a wine glass filled with ice, combine the prosecco, Aperol and club soda. Garnish with an orange slice, if desired. Serve immediately.
Need an upscale appetizer to serve with your fancy drinks? Make this easy, delicious pate recipe.
9. Boulevardier
Ingredients:
2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce sweet vermouth
Instructions: In a shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist, if desired.
10. White Wine Spritzer
Ingredients:
2 ounces dry white wine
¾ ounce club soda
1 ounce sparkling mineral water or seltzer
fresh fruit or herbs (*optional)
Instructions: In a wine glass filled with ice, combine all ingredients. Garnish with a lemon slice, orange wedge or fresh mint, if desired. Serve immediately.
11. Negroni
Ingredients:
1½ ounces gin
1½ ounces Campari
1½ ounces sweet vermouth
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist, if desired.
🍹Love fruity cocktails? Check out this awesome drink list!
12. Rosé Sangria
Ingredients:
3 ounces rosé wine
2 ounces brandy or Cognac
1 ounce club soda or sparkling water
½ cup frozen raspberries or strawberries, thawed (optional)
Instructions: In a pitcher filled with ice, mix together the wine, brandy, club soda and raspberries/strawberries (if using). You can also use strawberry syrup. Garnish each glass with a fresh raspberry or strawberry, if desired. Serve immediately.
13. Spicy Negroni
Ingredients:
1½ ounces gin
1 ounce Aperol or Campari
1 ounce sweet vermouth (such as Carpano Antica)
¼ teaspoon chili flakes, plus more for garnish (optional)
Instructions: In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine all ingredients and stir vigorously until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a few chili flakes, if desired.
Want to save this post?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
14. Blackberry Gin Fizz
Ingredients:
3 blackberries
1½ ounces gin
⅔ ounce simple syrup (or to taste)
2 ounces club soda
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice and garnish with the blackberries. Serve immediately.
15. Raspberry Mojito
Ingredients:
10 raspberries (plus more for garnish)
6 mint leaves, plus more for garnish
1½ ounces white rum
⅔ ounce simple syrup
1 ounce fresh lime juice
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker, muddle the raspberries and mint together until the berries are slightly crushed. Add the rum, simple syrup and lime juice and fill the shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled glass over fresh ice. Garnish with raspberries and mint leaves, if desired.
16. Gin Aperol Sour Cocktail
Ingredients:
1½ ounces Aperol
1½ ounces gin
¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup
1 egg white (about 2 tbsp) (*optional)
Instructions: Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add Aperol, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white. Shake for 30-45 seconds until fully chilled and frothy. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
🍹Read how to throw the best cocktail party for your friends!
17. White Cosmopolitan
Ingredients:
1½ ounces vodka
1 ounce triple sec or Cointreau
⅔ ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce white cranberry juice (or plain)
rosemary sprig optional
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge or rosemary sprig if desired.
18. French 75 Cocktail
Ingredients:
2 ounces gin (such as Beefeater)
⅔ ounce lemon juice
¼ ounce simple syrup (optional)
1 ounce Champagne or sparkling wine (optional)
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into a champagne flute or other glass and top with the Champagne, if using. Garnish with a lemon twist, if desired.
19. Pomegranate Martini
Ingredients:
2 ounces vodka
1 ounce pomegranate juice
⅓ ounce simple syrup (optional)
Splash of lime juice (optional)
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass or other glass. Garnish with a lime wedge, if desired.
🍸Looking for more drinks? Check out this list of the top 15 most popular cocktails!
20. Manhattan Cocktail
Ingredients:
2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
¾ ounce sweet vermouth
1 dash Angostura bitters (optional)
Instructions: In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine all ingredients and stir vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, if desired.
21. Ginger Bourbon Cocktail
Ingredients:
1½ ounces ginger syrup (such as Stirrings)
3 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
Splash of lime juice (optional)
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into glass and garnish with lime wedge.
22. Pisco Sour
Ingredients:
2 ounces pisco or other brandy
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup (or to taste)
1 egg white, lightly beaten
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and serve immediately. Garnish with the lime slice, if desired.
22. Summer Whiskey Smash
Ingredients:
Instructions: Muddle blackberries, lime, and simple syrup together. Transfer to a cocktail glass with bourbon and shake with ice. Strain into lowball glass and top with soda water. Click HERE for the full recipe!
Final Tips For Serving Upscale Cocktails:
- If serving cocktails at a party, be sure to have plenty of ice on hand to keep drinks chilled.
- Garnish with intention. All fruity cocktails should have a fruit, floral with edible flowers, lighter cocktails with fresh herbs.
- Serve in chilled glasses for a refreshing experience.
- Use high quality spirits and mixers for the best flavor.
- Serve upscale cocktails in pretty glassware for an elegant touch
- Consider replacing Empress gin for regular gin to make a beautiful purple cocktail.
- Enjoy responsibly!
Now that you know how to make some upscale cocktails, it's time to get mixing! These drinks are sure to impress your guests and make any event feel more special. Cheers!
What appetizers are you serving? Try one of these!
Prosciutto Melon & Mozzarella Skewers (w/ Balsamic Glaze)
Mini Canapé Toasts With Sweet Cheese
Creamy Spinach and Feta Phyllo Cup Bites
📽 If you love entertaining at home, subscribe tomy YouTube channel!!
📖 Recipe
22 Fancy Cocktail Recipes - Pisco Sour
Ingredients
- 2 ounces pisco or other brandy
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup (or to taste)
- 1 egg white (lightly beaten)
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined and chilled.
- Strain into a chilled glass and serve immediately. Garnish with the lime slice, if desired.
Comments
No Comments