It’s World Cocktail Day! Mention the word “cocktail,” and the mind is flooded with flavours and emotions. Those thoughts are associated with happy people in engaging circumstances at amazing venues. Cocktails are the most fashionable drinks of the 21st century, and it takes some skill to mix them in the proper proportions. As in the food world, the taste of the drink is subject to interpretation.

The origin of the word cocktail is cloudy, and how it came to be applied to an alcoholic drink has experts scratching their heads to this day. It’s enough to drive a person to drink. A definition offered by Harry Croswell in 1806 aptly puts it as a stimulating liquor composed of several spirits that will ‘render the heart stout and bold while fuddling the head.’

Today, on World Cocktail Day (May 13), TheGlitz has curated a swish collection of chic cocktail concoctions to soothe, excite, indulge, and impress. Go pick your fancy—a short, sharp, fizzy shock with a twist of lime and covered in rime, something long and smooth, or a refreshing icy cooler in a frosted glass.

Negroni

Invented in the city of Florence, Negroni is indisputably the godfather of Campari cocktails. Pour 25 ml gin, 25 ml sweet vermouth, and 25 ml Campari into a mixing glass with ice. Stir well until the outside of the glass feels cold. Garnish with an orange peel. Serve it on the rocks, or up, in a coupe glass.

Gin Martini

Called the King of Cocktails, this classic gin martini contains three ingredients: 50 ml of dry gin, 1 teaspoon dry vermouth, ice, and a dash of orange bitters. Chill the Martini glass in the fridge for 10 minutes. Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes and stir with a mixing spoon until the outside of the glass feels cold. Strain the Martini into the chilled glass, and this quick and simple drink is ready to serve. It’s up to you: add or leave the orange bitters.

Margarita

This signature summer-green fun brings sun to the party without the heat. The key to the best margarita is the ratio and balance of the ingredients. 120 ml of Blanco Tequila, 60 ml of Triple Sec, 45 ml of fresh lime juice, 1 lime wedge for garnish, and kosher salt for rimming the glass are all that go into making it rich and indulgent. Chips and salsa play tango as sides.

Mimosa

This easy 2-ingredient magic is surely going to enthral all mothers this Mother’s Day. Bring it on with all the pampering for a Sunday brunch and lunch drink. To make a memorable mimosa, all you need is freshly squeezed orange juice and sparkling wine or champagne in equal parts. To add a little oomph and flavour, add triple sec. Say cheers to Mom!

Matcha Martini

Move over Espresso Martini; 2023 calls for a huge shout-out for the Matcha Martini. Making waves on TikTok and across bars around the world, this tea-infused cocktail is gaining traction in full action. Matcha, being the key ingredient, provides the eye-catching emerald hue, and the creamy consistency makes this drink feel like part cocktail, part dessert. Prep the game with 1 teaspoon matcha powder, 50 ml white chocolate liqueur, 25 ml vodka, 10 ml dry vermouth, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake, strain, and serve straight.

Mojito

A huge hit among Googlers as the most searched summer drink. Originated in Havana, Cuba, Mojito was popularised by Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s. To make it, simply muddle the mint, add the lime juice, white rum, and simple syrup, and shake it in a cocktail shaker. Top off the glass with club soda before serving. Sitting by the pool and sipping this elixir on a hot summer afternoon is pure bliss.

Old Fashioned

Touted as the best among the best cocktails, the Old Fashioned is one of the oldest invention born in the 19th century. Combine any 60-ml dark spirit (preferably Bourbon), 2 teaspoons simple syrup, and 3 dashes angostura bitters in a small tumbler. Fill the glass with ice and stir in the whiskey. Don’t forget to add the lemon and orange twist for a hint of citrus.