• 2 ounces blended whiskey
• 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
• 3 dashes bitters
• 1 maraschino cherry

In a mixing l glass half-filled with ice cubes, combine the whiskey, vermouth and bitters. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass.

Bloody Mary - The Bloody Mary was invented in Paris at Harry's New York Bar in the 1920s. Variations of the Bloody Mary include the Bloody Bull (made with lemon in place of the lime) and Clamato Cocktail.

• 2 1/2 ounces vodka
• 5 ounces tomato juice
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon celery seed
• 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1 dash Tabasco sauce
• 1 celery rib
• 1 lime wedge

In a shaker half filled with ice cubes, combine the vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, pepper, salt, celery seed, Worcestershire and Tabasco. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Garnish with the celery and the lemon wedge.

Tom Collins - A Tom Collins is named after Old Tom Gin which has been around since the early 18th century but the drink itself wasn't invested until the Civil War. Variations on the Tom Collins include the John Collins which is made with Bourbon and the Vodka Collins.

• 2 ounces gin
• 1 orange slice
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• 3 ounces club soda
• 1 maraschino cherry

In a shaker half filled with ice cubes, combine the gin, lemon juice and sugar. Shake well. Strain into a Collins glass almost filled with ice cubes. Add the club soda. Stir and garnish with cherry and the orange slice.

Martini - There are hundreds of different types of martinis including a Gimlet, Gibson, Cosmopolitan and a Rob Roy. This is the recipe for the classic martini.

• 2 1/2 ounces gin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dry vermouth
• 1 lemon twist or cocktail olive

In a shaker half filled with ice cubes, combine the gin and vermouth. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the olive.

Gimlet - Although the date is unknown, the Gimlet is a British drink originally made with Rose's line juice which, itself has an impressive history. The variations include a Rum Gimlet, Vodka Gimlet and a Tequila Gimlet.

• 2 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounce Rose's Lime juice
• 4 ounces tonic water

Pour the gin and lime juice int

Sidecar

• 2 ounces brandy
• 1/2 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
• 1 ounce lemon juice

In a shaker half filled with ice cubes, combine all the ingredients. Shake well. Strain into cocktail glass.

Gin & Tonic

• 2 ounces gin
• 1 lime wedge
• 5 ounces tonic water

Pour the gin and tonic water int

Rob Roy

• 2 1/2 ounces Scotch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sweet Vermouth
• 1 maraschino cherry

In a mixing glass half filled with ice cubes, combine the scotch and vermouth. Stir well. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherry.

Tequila Sunrise - This is a drink that has its origins in San Francisco. It may be an urban legend but the story goes that there was a bartender who stayed out late one night drinking with his friends. The boss walked in and demanded that the bartender explain what he was doing. The bartender explained that he wanted to stay in the bar to concoct a drink that looked like the sun rising. So came the birth of the Tequila Sunrise.

• 1 1/2 ounces of tequila
• 2 teaspoons grenadine
• 4 ounces orange juice

Pour the tequila and orange juice into a Collins glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Drop the grenadine into the centre of the drink.

Screwdriver

• 2 ounces vodka
• 5 ounces orange juice

Pour the vodka and orange juice into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well.

White Russian

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce light cream
• 1 ounce Kaluha

In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine all of the ingredients. Shake well. Strain into an old fashioned glass almost filled with ice cubes.

Whiskey Sour

• 2 ounces blended whiskey
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1 orange slice
• 1/2 teaspoon superfine sugar
• 1 maraschino cherry

In a shaker half filled with ice cubes, combine the whiskey, lemon juice and sugar. Shake well. Strain intoa sour glass. Garnish with the orange slice and the cherry.

Daiquiri - This should be the drink that cures all ailments. It was invented in Daiquiri, Cuba in 1898 to combat an outbreak of Malaria.

• 1 1/2 ounce light rum
• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• 1 ounce lime juice

In a shaker half filled with ice cubes, combine the rum, lime juice and sugar. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

Mai Tai

• 1 ounce light rum
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 1 ounce anejo rum
• 2 teaspoons orgeat syrup
• 1 ounce Cointreau
• 1 teaspoons grenadine
• Crushed ice
• 1 orchid or paper parasol

In a shaker half filled with ice cubes, combine the light rum, Anejorum, Cointreau, lime juice, orgeat syrup, and grenadine. Shake well. Strain into an old fashioned glass half-filled with crushed ice. Float the orchid or parasol on top. Serve with 4 short straws.