Cocktails have been a symbol of joy and remedy. These drinks are usually a stimulating mixture of alcohol, water, sugar, and other ingredients like spices, fruit juices or bitters, and citrus. With years of mixing legacy, there are over a thousand cocktails you can choose to serve your guests. That said, the classics still bring the spirit of the old times! Here are a few classic cocktail recipes that are perfect for entertaining guests:

1. Sazerac
Created in the famous Sazerac Coffee House during the mid-1800s, the Sazerac was originally made with absinthe, simple syrup, and Peychaud’s bitters. The modern version of this classic cocktail recipe is rye whiskey-based, and it is the official drink of New Orleans—perfect for entertaining guests!
Place three ice cubes in a glass (preferably an old-fashioned one) and let it cool the glass while you prepare the cocktail. Slowly place the sugar cube at the bottom of a mixing glass, pour three dashes of Peychaud’s bitters, and muddle the cube. Add three ounces of rye whiskey to the bitter sugar and stir well until the sugar dissolves. Discard the ice from the old-fashioned glass, rinse it with absinthe, and discard that as well. Pour the cocktail into the glass and gently squeeze a lemon twist over the cocktail. Let the twist rest on the rim of the glass, and raise a happy toast to New Orleans!

2. Mint Julep
Originally invented during the early 1800s, this favorite southerners’ drink has a strong minty flavor with a bourbon base, and it is still the Kentucky Derby’s official drink.
Place eight fresh mint leaves at the bottom of a Julep cup and muddle them with 1/4 ounce simple syrup. Add two ounces of bourbon and half fill the glass with crushed ice. Stir until water precipitates on the outside of the Julep cup, and then pour more crushed ice until it forms a mound on the Julep cup. Garnish with a mint sprig and three drops of Angostura bitters. Get ready to wow your guests with this classic cocktail.

3. Jack Rose
This classic cocktail is one of the six basic cocktails listed in The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by veteran mixologist David A. Embury, which was published in 1948. The Jack Rose gets its name from its two primary ingredients: applejack and grenadine.
Mix 2 ounces of applejack, 1/2 ounce of grenadine, and 1 ounce of lime juice in a shaker and shake until the vessel is cold. Strain the mixture carefully into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist. This is an absolutely simple yet classic cocktail recipe you can try at home to impress and entertain your guests at the next get-together you plan to host.