Meredith and I have always loved experimenting with cocktail recipes that come across our radar, like the inventive speciality drinks on a bottle of Royal Rose, or those we read about online and in our favorite magazines, but we recently realized that it might be worthwhile to familiarize ourselves with a go-to set of essential cocktails that we could whip up – almost from memory – when hosting dinners with friends… or when faced with a well-equipped bar on a remote mountain top without cell service… So we sat down (over a drink of course), and did a little brainstorming while flipping through our collection of cookbooks and cocktail books. Our goal in creating the list below is to cover what we think of as some of the most quintessential drinks for a few of the more common types of alcohol.

For each cocktail on our top 10 list, we’ll do some research, ask some bartenders, and taste test our way through a number of recipes to find one that is approachable, tasty, and true to the history of the drink. We’ll then share what we find with you through an ongoing series here on Map & Menu. Please let us know what you think of our initial list – what we might be missing, what your favorites are, etc. – and stay tuned for some cocktail recipes!

1. Aperol Spritz
2. Aviation
3. French 75
4. Margarita
5. Martini
6. Mint Julep
7. Mojito
8. Old Fashioned
9. Pimm’s Cup
10. Whiskey Sour

Photo by Meredith Perdue for Portland Hunt & Alpine Club.