Manhattan

A Tom Collins is a classic cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and sparkling water. Combine the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a lemon wedge or cherry for the perfect finishing touch. To make a Tom Collins, you'll need a highball glass, shaker, measuring cup or jigger, and strainer. It's a refreshing and easy-to-make drink that's perfect for any occasion.

The Martini is, along with the Manhattan, probably the epitome of late 1800s classic cocktail-making. Wild myths of origins, simple preparation that highlights the bartender's craft, wonderful flavor and a healthy kick. Maybe it has its origin in a Martinez, maybe it has roots in a marketing campaign by vermouth company Martini. But it is certain it starts out being made with Italian (sweet) vermouth, and gin. In the early 1900s, it changes to French (dry) vermouth, which gets known as a dry martini. Then comes Churchill, Bond, and suddenly the 80's. The recipe stands for itself, but let us stress here that Espresso Martinis, Pornstar Martinis, and Breakfast Martinis are not martinis at all.

There once was a company in Milano called Campari, and they made (and still make) Campari. In Torino, a stone's throw south-westward, they have the first Italian laws around vermouth. So the classic mix of Campari and Vermouth is called a Milano-Torino. Add sparkling water and now it's an Americano. Replace soda with gin, and it's a negroni. Add sparkling wine in lieu af soda/gin, and it's a Negroni Sbagliato. Why Negroni? Nobody really knows. Maybe it's a rodeo clown claiming to be an Italian count, maybe it's a French brigadier general, maybe it's officers in North Africa shouting at local staff. As with so much cocktail history, it happened in bars, so they forgot to write it down.