It may be the fall, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying a flavorful cocktail to pretend it's still summer (wink, wink). With the use of our 23 handy dandy printable cocktail recipe cards,

So many of the best and most favored cocktails derived from classic cocktails. Learning to create these 23 classic cocktails will help you in creating some of those great drinks.

I think it's appropriate to say that crafting delicious cocktails and mixed drinks is truly an art. However, there's no reason to be intimidated by the thought of making drinks in the comfort of your home. When you take away all the fancy smancy "accessories" (e.g. garnish), you're left with an undeniably simple drink!

Keep these helpful tips in mind the next time you're mixing cocktails or mix drinks.

Keep What's Simple—Simple

Try your hardest not to over complicate the process by over thinking. Most classic cocktails consist of only three very basic ingredients: a spirit, mixer & ice. A great cocktail can easily be created from just lime, sugar and liquor. See, isn't that super simple!?

Alcohol Last/Mixer First

Always poor your alcohol last and your mixer first. That way you won't waste any alcohol if the first two ingredients are poured incorrectly.

Maintain Balance

Cocktails should be neither just sweet or just sour. Great taste is found right smack dab in the middle of sweet and sour, allowing you to taste and enjoy all the ingredients.

To Shake or Stir

You need to know which drinks should be shaken or stirred. Mix drinks such as martini's are stirred and fruity drinks such as margarita's are shaken. The shaking helps release and distribute the sugar and citrus.

Whether you're shaking or stirring, it's important that in either case—it's done in a circular motion (the same as the motion of a tornado).

Less shaking or stirring is more. Too much of either will water down your drink.

Fancy Tools Need Not Apply

It doesn't take fancy or even many tools at that to create a cocktail. All you need is: a bar spoon, shaker, strainer, and jigger. Read on to find out how each tool is used.

Jigger-is a metal hourglass-shaped device used to measure and accurately pour the correct amount of alcohol. One end measures out one ounce of alcohol, the opposite end measure two ounces of alcohol.

Bar Spoon-A long and heavy spoon to stir cocktails or crush ice.

Shaker-This one's pretty self-explanatory for the most part. A shaker is made up of two pieces and consists of a 16 ounce pint glass and shaker (shaking).

Strainer-Used in conjunction with the shaker. The strainer slips on to the mouth of the shaker allowing you to pour cocktails without ice, fruit, or herbs pouring into the glass.

If you have any issues trying to download the cocktail recipe cards—pleasecontact us.

I was not able to fit all the files into one pdf, so I had to create two download links.

Bahama Mama

Ingredients:

Dark Rum-2 oz. (60ml)Light Rum-1 oz. (30ml)Orange Juice-2 oz. (60ml)Pineapple Juice-2 oz. (60ml)Coconut Rum-1 oz. (30ml)Lemon Juice-1/2 oz (15ml)Ice CubesOrange SliceRed Cherry

Bloody Mary

Ingredients:

Tomato Juice-4 oz. (120ml)Vodka-1.5 oz. (45ml)Ice CubesGround Black PepperSaltLemon SliceCelery Stick

Blue Hawaii

Ingredients:

Light Rum-1/2 oz. (15ml)Blue Curacao-1/2 oz. (15ml)Dark Rum-1/2 oz. (15ml)Pineapple Juice-1 oz. (30ml)Orange Juice-1 oz. (30ml)Sweet & Sour Mix-1 oz. (30ml)Ice CubesPineapple SliceRed Cherry

Blue Lagoon

Ingredients:

Vodka-5/6 oz. (25ml)Blue Curacao-5/6 oz. (25ml)Lemonade-5/6 oz. (25ml)Lemon Juice-2/3 oz. (20ml)Crushed IceLemon Slice

Blue Tahoe

Ingredients:

Blue Curacao-1 oz. (30ml)El Tesoro Platinum-Tequila 1.5 oz. (45ml)Champagne-2 oz. (60ml)Lemon Juice-1 oz. (30ml)Ice CubesLemon Slice

Caipirinha

Ingredients:

White Rum-2 oz. (60ml)Brown SugarHalf Lime Cut into QuartersIce Cubes

Cosmopolitan

Ingredients:

Vodka-1.5 oz. (45ml)Cranberry Juice-2 oz. (60ml)Triple Sec-1 oz. (30ml)Lemon TwistSugar Rim

Cuba Libre

Ingredients:

Cola-5 oz. (150ml)White Rum-2 oz. (60ml)Ice CubesMint LeafLime Slice

Dirty Martini

Ingredients:

Vodka or Gin-2.5 oz. (75ml)Olive Juice-.5 oz. (15ml)Vermouth-.5 oz. (15ml)Olive

Hiroshima

Ingredients:

Sambuca-2/3 oz. (20ml)Grenadine-2-3 dropsBailey's Irish Cream2/3 oz. (20ml)Xenta Absenta-2/3 oz. (20ml)

Kamikaze

Ingredients:

Vodka-1 oz. (30ml)Triple Sec.-1 oz. (30ml)Lime JuiceLime Slice

Long Island Iced Tea

Ingredients:

Splash of SodaTriple Sec.-1 oz. (30ml)Gin-1 oz. (30ml)White Rum-1 oz. (30ml)Tequila-1 oz. (30ml)Vodka-1 oz. (30ml)Sweet & Sour Mix-1.5 oz. (45ml)Ice CubesLemon Slice

Mai Tai

Ingredients:

Light Rum-1 oz. (30ml)Orange Juice1.5 oz. (45 ml)Dark Rum-.5 oz. (15ml)Pineapple Juice-1.5 oz. (45ml)Créme De Almond-1/4 oz. (5ml)Ice CubesRed CherryOrange Slice

Margarita

Ingredients:

Triple Sec.-1 oz. (30ml)Tequila-2 oz. (60ml)Lime Juice-2 oz. (60ml)2 Crushed Ice CubesLime SliceSalted Rim

Mint Julep

Ingredients:

Bourbon or Whiskey-2 oz. (60ml)4 Crushed Ice CubesBrown Sugar-1 tspMint LeavesWater

Mojito

Ingredients:

Light Rum-1.5 oz. (45ml)Simple Syrup-1 oz. (30ml)Soda Water-2 oz. (60ml)Ice CubesMint LeavesLime Slice

Piña Colada

Ingredients:

White Rum-1 oz. (30ml)Pineapple Juice-2 oz. (60ml)Coconut Cream-2 oz. (60ml)Brown Sugar-1 tspPineapple SliceRed Cherry

Pisco Sour

Ingredients:

Pisco-2 oz. (60ml)Fresh Lime Juice-1 oz. (30ml)Simple Syrup-5 oz. (150ml)1 Fresh Egg WhiteLemon Slice

Salty Dog

Ingredients

Vodka-1.5 oz. (45ml)Grapefruit JuiceIce CubesLime SliceSalted Rim

Screwdriver

Ingredients:

VodkaOrange Juice2 Ice CubesOrange Slice

Strawberry Daiquiri

Ingredients:

Light RumLime JuiceStrawberry PureeWhite SugarCrushed Ice CubesStrawberry

Strawberry Mojito

Ingredients:

Light RumSimple SyrupSoda WaterIce CubesStrawberry & Lime SlicesMint Leaves

Tequila Sunrise

Ingredients:

TequilaOrange JuiceGrenadineIce CubesRed CherryOrange Slice

So now that you have the basics, creating cocktails doesn't seem so intimidating anymore does it? What's you're favorite cocktail? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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