The best bartender cheat sheet with 45 important cocktails you need to master.
Want to learn some of the most popular cocktail recipes? This master cocktail list includes 45 of the most common bartending recipes. Think of this as your bartending cheat sheet with easy alcoholic drink recipes that you can make at home, for a party, or at the bar. You're going to step up your bartending 101 game with these classic recipes.

To grow from being a good bartender to a great bartender, you first have to master the classics. First off, so many people know, love, and order these classics cocktails (whether at a home or restaurant bar). Second, before you can play around with flavors, and put your own spin on the classics, you have to know how to make these basic drinks.
We'll talk through the bartender tools you need to have (and know how to use), as well as the bartender cheat sheet with 45 cocktail recipes.
Be sure to grab your bartender cheat sheet to get started!
What's Included in the Bartender Cheat Sheet?
This is the ULTIMATE cocktail list with 45 of the best cocktail recipes. This 11-page guide is filled with the complete recipes (you can see an example below) for many classic cocktails.
If you're training to be a bartender, or just want to step up your home bar game, this is the cheat sheet for you! Once you learn these bartending 101 recipes, you can begin to play around with flavors to create your very own custom cocktails.
Best Bartending Tools
In order to make the drinks on our master cocktail list, you'll need a few tools on hand. I want to walk you through how & why we need each of the tools below.
- Boston Shaker: This is a great versatile bar tool! It's a two piece cocktail shaker that can be used for shaken or stirred cocktails. Many professional bartenders prefer a Boston shaker with one side that's metal and the other that's glass.
- Jigger: A cocktail jigger is used to measure various ingredients. There are different types of jiggers (double jigger, Japanese jigger, stepped jigger, or precision liquor bottle pourers for busy bartenders). One shot is typically 1.5 ounces, which is equal to one standard jigger.
- Bar spoon: Bar spoons are used for many purposes, mainly for hand stirred drinks. However, they can also be used for measuring if a cocktail recipe calls for "1 bar spoon." One bar spoon is about .035 ounces (although not all spoons are created equal size, so double check this size). You can also use a bar spoon for laying drinks or adding in a garnish to the inside of a drink.
- Hawthrone Strainer: The Hawthorne strainer is used to stain cocktails from a shaker into the serving glass. Most commonly, it's used for fine straining shaken cocktails to keep the ice out of the serving glass for drinks like sours, martini, or margaritas.
- Julep Strainer: This was the OG strainer if you will. While some experts argue this is not a very useful strainer nowadays. However, it's mostly used to strain cocktails that are hand stirred such as the negroni or manhattan.
- Mesh Strainer: The mesh strainer helps ensure a smooth, almost velvety texture to your cocktail. It's usually used in conjunction with a Hawthorne strainer to double stain small bits of ice for a silky texture, like in a martini.
- Juicer: For all the freshly squeezed citrus you'll use in a cocktail, a juicer is necessary! Make sure you get one that is heavy duty and won't easily break!
RELATED POST: Lavender Lemon Pisco Sour Cocktail
Other Bartending 101 Resources
Make sure you check out my cocktail basics video series where I teach you the basics of liquor. The goal of this series is to get you more familiar with the basic in’s and out’s of common liquor (how it’s made, how to buy a bottle you’ll like, and how to make mixed drinks with it).
By the end of the series, you’ll be a pro at mixing up fun and inspiring drinks in your home bar. Here are some videos to get you started:
- Tequila Basics You Need to Know
- Learning to Pick a Bottle of Whiskey You'll Love
- Secrets to Finding the Best Bottle of Gin
- Vokda 101 | Best Vodka Types
- What's the Best Type of Rum to Buy
- Guide to Peruvian Pisco
- Creative Cocktail Garnish Ideas to Nail the Presentation of Your Next Drink
RELATED POST: Pomegranate & Blood Orange Gin Martini
Don't Forget Your Master Cocktail List
Don't forget to download your master cocktail list with 45 cocktail recipes that you need to know to be a great bartender!
Lauren Cowherd
hello! I have been trying to download this. I put in my email and info and have not received it! Please let me know.
Jessica Mode
Hey Lauren! Not quite sure what happened there. It says a copy but delivered, but we all know how fussy email can be! I just sent you a copy of the cheat sheet to the email linked with this comment. If you don't get it for some reason, please send me an email at homebodyeats@gmail.com and I will re-send it! Thanks for reaching out 🙂
Lex
I’m also having the same problem. I’ve put my email in multiple times but still haven’t gotten it 🙁
Jessica Mode
I'll forward you a copy from my personal email! 🙂
Ashley
I as well did not receive the cheat sheet and have tried several times but it is just not happening. I enjoy reading your articles they are very informative and easy to understand without a bunch of extra unnecessary explaining .
Thank you , Ashley
Jessica Mode
Hey Ashley! I just sent you a copy of it. Let me know if you still don't receive it. Thanks for the sweet message 🙂
Erica
I never received my copy can you please send it to me
Jessica Mode
Hey Erica! I just sent a copy your way!
Deanna
I put in my email 5 times but still haven’t received the cheat sheet. Is there anyway you can send it directly?
Thank you!
Jessica Mode
Hi Deanna! I sent you the cheat sheet! Let me know if you didn't receive it 🙂
KJ
Hey! Is it still possible to get a copy of this cheat sheet? I am a young new bartender and would love to use it as a reference/study guide.
Thank you!
Jessica Mode
Hey KJ! Of course, I'd love for you to grab the cheat sheet! You can sign up for it here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/600e26bb238f58ae914c14ba
Let me know if anything goes wrong and it doesn't send correctly 🙂
Elisabeth
I have also tried signing up for this a couple times. Can you email it to me as well? Thanks
Jessica Mode
Hey Elisabeth - I just sent it your way 🙂
Libby
Hi, are you able to email me this cheat sheet as well?
I figured I would just ask since everyone else has 🙂
Thanks!
Libby
Jessica Mode
The email sign-up should work 🙂 I've had thousands of people use it! If you don't get it after that, I'm happy to send it individually!
Rebecca Pellici
I tried to get this and it sent it sent but haven’t gotten it. Tried 5 times
Jessica Mode
I just sent it your way 🙂 Enjoy!
Jessica
I didn’t get an email either, can you please send to me?
Jessica Mode
Just sent it your way 🙂
Terra Chafins
Pretty! This has been an incredibly wonderful post. Thanks for supplying these details.