The IBA official cocktails are cocktails recognised by the International Bartenders Association (IBA) to be the most requested recipes. [1] The list was developed starting in 1960, and the first version was announced in 1961, comprising 50 cocktails. [1] It has since undergone periodic revisions, and as of 2023 comprises 89 cocktails in 3 categories; see § History for more.
As of 2021 [update] , there are 89 IBA official cocktails, divided into three categories: unforgettables, contemporary classics, and new era drinks.
33 drinks:
31 drinks:
25 drinks:
The following drinks were removed as of the 2020 update of the list:
A minor revision in 2021 removed the Southside, which had only been added in 2020:
After the initial 1961 list, there have been revisions in 1987, 1993, 2004, 2011, 2020, and 2021 (minor). [49]
The 1961 list consisted of 50 drinks: [50] Adonis, Affinity, Alaska, Alexander, Angel Face, Bacardi, Bamboo, Bentley, Between The Sheets, Block And Fall, Bloody Mary, Bobby Burns, Bombay, Bronx, Brooklyn, Caruso, Casino, Claridge, Clover Club, Czarina, Daiquiri, Derby, Diki-Diki, Duchess, Est-India, Gibson, Gin And It, Grand Slam, Grasshopper, Manhattan, Martini Dry, Martini Sweet, Mary Pickford, Mikado, Monkey Gland, Negroni, Old Fashioned, Old Pal, Orange Blossom, Oriental, Paradise, Parisian, Planters, Princeton, Rob Roy, Rose, Sidecar, Stinger, White Lady, Za-Za.
The 1987 list consisted of 73 drinks: [51] Alexander, Americano, Apotheke, Bacardi, Banana Bliss, Banana Daiquiri, B & B, Bellini, Black Russian, Bloody Mary, Blu Lagoon, Bronx, Buck’s Fizz, Bull Shot, Champagne Cocktail, Champagne Pick Me Up, Collins (Tom Collins), Coffes (Irish Whiskey), Daiquiri, Egg Nogs (Cognac), Fizzes (Gin), Florida, French Connection, Frozen Daiquiri, Garibaldi, Gibson, Gimlet (Gin O Vodka), Gin And French, Gin And It, Golden Cadillac, Golden Dream, God Father, God Mother, Grasshopper, Harvey Wallbanger, Horse’s Neck, King Alfonzo, Kir, Kir Imperial, Kir Royal, Mai Tai, Manhattan, Margarita, Martini, Negroni, Old Fashioned, Paradise, Pimm’s Cup N°1, Piña Colada, Planter’s Punch, Porto Flip, Prairie Oyster, Pussy Foot, Rob Roy, Rose, Rusty Nail, Salty Dog, Screwdriver, Shirley Temple, Sidecar, Singapore Sling, Snowball, Sours (Whiskey), Spritzer, Stinger, Strawberry Daiquiri, Tequila Sunrise, Tequini, Velvet Hammer, Vodkatini, White Lady, White Russian, White Spider
1987 changes: Adonis, Affinity, Alaska, Bamboo, Bentley, Block And Fall, Bobby Burns, Bombay, Brooklyn, Caruso, Claridge, Czarina, Diki-Diki, Duchess, Est-India, Grand Slam, Martini Sweet, Mikado, Old Pal, Orange Blossom, Oriental, Parisian, Princeton, Rob Roy, Za-Za.
The 1993 list consisted of 60 drinks: [52] Alexander, Americano, Bacardi, Banana Frozen Daiquiri, Bellini, Black Russian, Bloody Mary, Brandy Egg Nog, Bronx, Buck’s Fizz ( Mimosa ), Bull Shot, Champagne Cocktail, Daiquiri, Florida (non-alcoholic), French Connection, Frozen Daiquiri, Garibaldi, Gibson, Gin And French, Gin And It, Gin Fizz, Golden Cadillac, Golden Dream, God Father, God Mother, Grasshopper, Harvey Wallbanger, Horse’s Neck, Irish Coffe, John Collins, Kir, Kir Royal, Manhattan, Manhattan Dry, Manhattan Perfect, Margarita, Martini Dry, Martini Perfect, Martini Sweet, Martini Vodka, Negroni, Old Fashioned, Paradise, Parson’s Special (non-alcoholic), Piña Colada, Planter’s Punch, Porto Flip, Pussy Foot (non-alcoholic), Rob Roy, Rose, Rusty Nail, Screwdriver, Shirley Temple (non-alcoholic), Sidecar, Singapore Sling, Stinger, Tequila Sunrise, Whisky Sour, White Lady, White Russian
The 2004 list consisted of 66 drinks in 5 categories: [53]
The 2011 list consisted of 77 drinks in 3 categories: [49]
Unforgettables (30 drinks):
Alexander, Americano, Angel Face, Aviation, Bacardi, Between The Sheets, Casino, Clover Club, Daiquiri, Derby, Dry Martini, Gin Fizz, John Collins, Manhattan, Mary Pickford, Monkey Gland, Negroni, Old Fashioned, Paradise, Planters Punch, Porto Flip, Ramos Gin Fizz, Rusty Nail, Sazerac, Screwdriver, Sidecar, Stinger, Tuxedo, Whiskey Sour, White Lady
Contemporary classics (31 drinks):
Bellini, Black Russian, Bloody Mary, Caipirinha, Champagne Cocktail, Cosmopolitan, Cuba Libre, French 75, French Connection, Godfather, Godmother, Golden Dream, Grasshopper, Harvey Wallbanger, Hemingway Special, Horses Neck, Irish Coffee, Kir, Long Island Iced Tea, Mai Tai, Margarita, Mimosa, Mint Julep, Mojito, Moscow Mule, Pina Colada, Rose, Sea Breeze, Sex On The Beach, Singapore Sling, Tequila Sunrise
New era drinks (16):
B-52, Barracuda, Bramble, Dark N Stormy, Dirty Martini, Espresso Martini, French Martini, Kamikaze, Lemon Drop Martini, Pisco Sour, Russian Spring Punch, Spritz Veneziano, Tommy's Margarita, Vampiro, Vesper Martini, Yellow Bird
The IBA list was significantly updated in 2020, with 24 new drinks, 11 removed drinks, 2 movements between sections, and 1 renaming. [54]
The following 24 drinks were added in the 2020 update:
Other than additions or removals:
The following 11 drinks were removed as of the 2020 update of the list: B-52, Bacardi, Derby, Dirty martini, Godfather, Godmother, Harvey Wallbanger, Kamikaze, Rose, Screwdriver, Vampiro.
A minor revision in 2021 removed the Southside, which had only been added in 2020.
A Manhattan is a cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. While rye is the traditional whiskey of choice, other commonly used whiskies include Canadian whisky, bourbon, blended whiskey, and Tennessee whiskey. The cocktail is usually stirred with ice then strained into a chilled cocktail glass and garnished traditionally with a maraschino cherry. A Manhattan may also be served on the rocks in a lowball glass.
The old fashioned is a cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters and water, adding whiskey or sometimes brandy, and garnishing with an orange slice or zest and a cocktail cherry. It is traditionally served with ice in an old fashioned glass.
The Tom Collins is a Collins cocktail made from gin, lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water. This "gin and sparkling lemonade" drink is typically served in a Collins glass over ice with a cherry garnish. A non-alcoholic "Collins mix" mixer is produced, enjoyed by some as a soft drink.
The Long Island iced tea, or Long Island ice tea, is an IBA official cocktail, typically made with vodka, tequila, light rum, triple sec, gin, and a splash of cola. Despite its name, the cocktail does not typically contain iced tea, but is named for having the same amber hue as iced tea.
A margarita is a cocktail consisting of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Some margarita recipes include simple syrup as well and are often served with salt on the rim of the glass. Margaritas can be served either shaken with ice, without ice, or blended with ice. Most bars serve margaritas in a stepped-diameter variant of a cocktail glass or champagne coupe called a margarita glass. The margarita is one of the world's most popular cocktails and the most popular tequila-based cocktail.
The sidecar is a cocktail traditionally made with brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. It became popular in Paris and London in the early 1920s. Common modifications of the original recipe are a sugar rim, added sugar syrup, and an orange twist or lemon twist.
The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive and/or a lemon twist. Over the years, the martini has become one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages. A common variation, the vodka martini, uses vodka instead of gin for the cocktail's base spirit.
The daiquiri is a cocktail whose main ingredients are rum, citrus juice, and sugar or other sweetener.
The term punch refers to a wide assortment of drinks, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, generally containing fruits or fruit juice. The drink was introduced from the Indian subcontinent to England by employees of the East India Company in the late 17th century. Punch is usually served at parties in large, wide bowls, known as punch bowls.
A sour is a traditional family of mixed drinks. Sours belong to one of the old families of original cocktails and are described by Jerry Thomas in his 1862 book How to Mix Drinks.
The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks is a book about cocktails by David A. Embury, first published in 1948. The book is noteworthy for its witty, highly opinionated and conversational tone, as well as its categorization of cocktails into two main types: aromatic and sour; its categorization of ingredients into three categories: the base, modifying agents, and special flavorings and coloring agents; and its 1:2:8 ratio for sour type cocktails.
Cocktail garnishes are decorative ornaments that add character or style to a mixed drink, most notably to cocktails.
The brandy daisy is a cocktail which first gained popularity in the late 19th century. One of the earliest known recipes was published in 1876 in the second edition of Jerry Thomas's The Bartenders Guide or How To Mix Drinks: The Bon-Vivants Companion:
Fill glass half full of shaved ice. Shake well and strain into a glass, and fill up with Seltzer water from a syphon.
A "fizz" is a mixed drink variation on the older sours family of cocktail. Its defining features are an acidic juice and carbonated water. It typically includes gin or rum as its alcoholic ingredient.
A polar bear, After Eight or Peppermint Paddy is a mint chocolate cocktail that tastes like a York Peppermint Pattie or an After Eight mint. It is usually made from crème de cacao and peppermint schnapps, although crème de menthe is a popular substitute.
A sling is a drink historically made with sugar, hot or cold water, nutmeg, and a spirit such as gin, whiskey, rum, or brandy. In its modern form, it is made with gin and, varyingly, of ingredients such as sweet vermouth, lemon juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, and soda water. Some sources suggest the word sling comes from the German schlingen, meaning "to swallow fast". The Oxford English Dictionary says that the origin is uncertain.
A whiskey cocktail is a cocktail that includes whiskey. Although whiskey is often served neat or on the rocks, it is used in many classic cocktails such as the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Julep. Some specifically call for Scotch whisky or bourbon whiskey.
The Pendennis Club cocktail is a cocktail created at the private club of the same name, the Pendennis Club of Louisville, Kentucky, in or shortly before 1911. It experienced a minor revival in the 2010s, but as of 2024 it remains uncommon.
A longer standing cocktail is the spicy fifty – top of the list at The Donovan Bar at Brown's in Mayfair. Created in 2005 by master…
…there is no denying the deliciousness of its speciality cocktails, such as the Spicy Fifty with chillis, elderflower and honey syrup.