Drink families
One classic and the variations that grew out of it.
- Martini cocktailsHow to make a Dry Martini, plus the Vesper, Dirty Martini, Martinez, Espresso Martini, Pornstar Martini and other martini-style drinks.11 recipes
- Margarita cocktailsHow to make a classic Margarita, plus Tommy's Margarita and the smoky Mezcal Margarita, with UK measures.7 recipes
- Sour cocktailsSour cocktail recipes: spirit, citrus and sugar, sometimes with egg white. Whisky Sour, Amaretto Sour, Pisco Sour, Clover Club and more.10 recipes
- Eggnog and creamy drinksHow to make eggnog, plus vegan and alcohol-free versions and other creamy cocktails: Snowball, White Russian, Brandy Alexander and more.7 recipes
What a cocktail family is
A cocktail family is a pattern shared by several drinks. Learn the pattern once and you can make the whole family, because swapping one ingredient gives you a new drink. A sour uses a spirit, citrus and a sweetener. Change the spirit and the Whisky sour becomes a Vodka Sour, a Pisco Sour or a Bee's Knees.
Families also help when you are stuck. If you like one drink, the others in its family are the safest guess for what to try next.
How to tell the families apart
Sour cocktails are shaken with fresh citrus juice and a sweetener, and sometimes egg white. Margarita cocktails are a branch of the sour, built on tequila, lime and an orange liqueur or agave syrup. The Margarita has its own page because it has so many variations, including Tommy's and the mezcal version.
Martini cocktails start with gin or vodka and vermouth, stirred and served in a chilled glass. Many modern shaken drinks use the glass and the name, such as the espresso martini, but they are different drinks. Eggnog and creamy drinks are rich, milk-based drinks, often served in small glasses, with eggs, cream or advocaat.
Shaken or stirred in each family
The rule is the same across families. Shake drinks that contain citrus juice, egg white or cream, and stir drinks made only from spirits and vermouth. Sours and Margaritas are shaken. A dry martini is stirred, and the espresso martini is shaken. Drinks that use only spirits, vermouth and bitters, such as the Manhattan and Negroni, follow the same stirred rule.
Stirring keeps a drink clear and silky, and shaking chills it quickly and mixes in the juice. Use plenty of fresh, hard ice either way.
Which family to learn first
Start with the sour. One formula covers the largest number of drinks, and the Whisky sour is forgiving if your measures are slightly off. If you like tequila, go straight to the Margarita, which is three ingredients and quick to make. Make each drink as written a few times before you change anything.
Choose the martini family if you like short, strong, dry drinks, and treat it as an occasional drink. Eggnog suits Christmas. It can be made the day before, so it is easy to prepare ahead, but if it uses raw egg it is not suitable for everyone.
Questions people ask
What is a cocktail family?
A cocktail family is a group of drinks built on the same pattern, such as a spirit, citrus and a sweetener for sours. Change one ingredient and you get a related drink. Knowing the pattern lets you make variations without needing a new recipe each time.
What makes a cocktail a sour?
A sour is a spirit shaken with fresh citrus juice and a sweetener. A common starting point is two parts spirit to one part juice and one part sweetener. Egg white is often added for a silky foam, but it is optional, and the drink is still a sour without it.
Is a Margarita a sour?
Yes. A Margarita follows the sour pattern, with tequila, lime juice and an orange liqueur such as Cointreau in place of sugar syrup. The Daiquiri and the Sidecar are in the same family. Each has a spirit, a citrus juice and something sweet.
Is an espresso martini a real martini?
Not in the traditional sense. A classic martini is gin or vodka with vermouth, stirred. An espresso martini is vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso, shaken to make a foam. It borrows the glass and the name, and belongs to the modern drinks named after the martini glass.
Which cocktail family is easiest for beginners?
The sour family is the best place to start, because one formula covers many drinks. The Whisky sour is forgiving, and the Bee's Knees has no egg white. Taste as you go and adjust with a little syrup if it is too sharp, or juice if it is too sweet.
What is eggnog made from?
Eggnog is eggs, sugar, milk and cream, usually with brandy, rum or both, and fresh nutmeg on top. Traditional versions use raw egg, so they are not suitable for pregnant women, young children or older people. A cooked custard version avoids the problem.