Want to know exactly what to order as a guy at a cocktail bar? We have curated the ultimate manly list of cocktails for your next boys night out or swanky gent’s get-together.
Ever been at a cocktail bar, scanning the menu, feeling a bit confused? Sure, asking the bartender is an option, but wouldn’t it be cool to walk up to that bar already knowing what you want?
That’s what this blog aims to help. We’re not trying to make you a cocktail expert overnight. It’s about being confident when picking a drink.
In this post, we’ve curated a list of 13 Man Approved Cocktails every guy must know.
The 13 Best Manly Cocktails to Order at a Bar
1. Old Fashioned
Flavour Profile: Rich, robust, and slightly sweet.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces whiskey (Bourbon or Rye)
- 1 teaspoon sugar or syrup
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 1 teaspoon water
- A twist of orange or lemon zest (Optional)
- Cherry for garnishing
Occasion: After a long day, during a casual get-together, or for a boys night out.
Mood: Unwinding.
Food Pairing: Savoury dishes, meals with smoky or spicy elements, or desserts with caramel or chocolate notes. Enjoy a cigar? Old Fashioned are also known for pairing well with a fine cigar.
Tip: When ordering, specify your preferred whiskey (Bourbon for a sweeter profile, Rye for a spicier kick).
2. Manhattan
Flavour Profile: Smooth and balanced with herbal undertones.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Rye or Canadian whiskey
- 1 ounce of sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Brandied cherry or lemon twist for garnishing
Occasion: For a classy night out or a sophisticated evening.
Mood: Feeling sophisticated.
Food Pairing: Savoury dishes.
Tips:
- Specify your preferred whiskey when ordering.
- Ask for the level of sweetness in your Manhattan. Some guys prefer it drier with less vermouth.
| 💡Knowledge to Flaunt: Manhattan and Old Fashioned share similar ingredients, yet different tastes. It’s because of their sweetening agents. Sugar or syrup in Old Fashioned makes the drink slightly sweeter. Manhattan has herbal undertones due to vermouth and wine-like flavour. It’s smoother and more balanced. |
3. Margarita
Flavour Profile: Tangy and slightly sweet with a salty edge.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces tequila (silver or blanco)
- 1 ounce lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- Half-ounce orange liqueur (triple sec or Cointreau)
- Half-ounce agave syrup (to adjust sweetness)
- Lime wheel or kosher salt for garnishing
Occasion: Ideal for beach days, poolside lounging, backyard barbecues, or even a lively night out with the hombres. It’s a go-to choice for warm weather.
Mood: Celebrating.
Food Pairing: Mexican cuisine and dishes with bold, spicy flavours.
Tip: Experiment with different tequila types.
4. Martini
Flavour Profile: Tastes the base (vodka or gin); has herbal undertones.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 ounces gin
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- 1 dash of orange bitters
- Twist of lemon or olive for garnishing
Occasion: Perfect for an evening in a swanky bar with friends or business gathering.
Mood: Feeling elegant.
Food Pairing: With delicate flavours and appetisers. Its clean and crisp profile serves as a palate cleanser.
Tips:
- Specify whether you’d like it shaken or stirred.
- Shaken Martini has a frothy texture and slightly altered flavour. It’s colder, diluted and slightly cloudy.
- Stirred Martini has a smooth texture. It’s clear, less diluted, and preserves original flavours.
- Experiment with different garnishes — a lemon twist makes the drink citrusy, whereas olive provides a savoury touch.
5. Negroni
Flavour Profile: Bitter, complex, and slightly sweet.
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce of gin
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce of sweet vermouth
- Orange peel for garnishing
Occasion: Perfect pre-dinner drink with the gents. It’s also a great choice for leisurely afternoons or evenings.
Mood: Feeling adventurous.
Food Pairing: Savoury and salty flavours. Its bitterness makes it an ideal apéritif.
Tips:
- Specify your preferred level of bitterness.
- Customise the flavour by experimenting with different types of gin and vermouth.
6. Long Island Iced Tea
Flavour Profile: Strong, sweet, and citrusy.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 ounce vodka
- 3/4 ounce white rum
- 3/4 ounce silver tequila
- 3/4 ounce gin
- 3/4 ounce triple sec
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- Cola, to top
- Lemon wedge for garnishing
Occasion: Lively parties or gatherings with the guys or summer barbecues.
Mood: In a social mood
Food Pairing: Hearty and savoury dishes.
Tip: Pace yourself, as it has a high alcohol content. It’s one of the strongest cocktails on a bar menu.
| 💡Knowledge to Flaunt: Why is Long Island Iced Tea named this way even where there’s no tea? Because it’s visually similar to a traditional iced tea. The name makes the drink seem more approachable. |
7. Tom Collins
Flavour Profile: Light, fizzy, and citrusy with a hint of sweetness.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces London dry gin
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- Half an ounce of simple syrup
- Club soda, to top
- Lemon wheel and Maraschino cherry for garnishing
Occasion: Daytime drinking or as a prelude to dinner.
Mood: Need refreshment.
Food Pairing: Light and refreshing dishes.
Tip: Specify your preferred level of sweetness.
8. Espresso Martini
Flavour Profile: Bold and slightly sweet with a smooth coffee kick.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces vodka
- Half an ounce of coffee liqueur (usually Kahlúa)
- 1 ounce freshly brewed espresso
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
- Coffee beans for garnishing
Occasion: An evening in a trendy cocktail bar, date night or a dinner party at home.
Mood: Needing a boost of energy, mood, or spirits.
Food Pairing: Desserts and sweet treats.
Tips:
- Specify whether you’d like a single or double shot of espresso in your Espresso Martini.
- Experiment with different types of coffee liqueur to find your favourite — some prefer a more chocolatey profile, while others enjoy a hint of vanilla or caramel.
9. Bloody Mary
Flavour Profile: Savoury, tangy and spicy with a hint of sweetness.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- 1 lemon wedge
- 2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes of Tabasco sauce
- Salt
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- Green olives, lime wedge or celery stalk for garnishing
Occasion: Recovery after a night out, mens brunch and daytime gatherings.
Mood: Hangover cure.
Food Pairing: Brunch dishes and appetisers.
Tip: Specify your preferred level of spiciness — whether you like it mild, or prefer a fiesty kick.
10. Caipirinha
Flavour Profile: Refreshing, tangy, and subtly sweet with a hint of citrus.
Ingredients:
- 1 fresh lime, cut into wedges
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 ounces cachaça (a Brazilian sugarcane spirit)
- Lime wheel for garnishing
Occasion: Warm, sunny days, beach party.
Mood: Lighthearted and fun-loving.
Food Pairing: Brazilian dishes and flavours.
Tips: Specify your preferred level of sweetness.
11. Old Cuban
Flavour Profile: Rich, aromatic, and subtly sweet with a hint of mint and citrus.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces aged rum
- 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 6 whole mint leaves
- 2 ounces chilled Champagne
- Mint sprig for garnishing
Occasion: In swanky bars and celebratory occasions like weddings, anniversaries, or upscale cocktail parties.
Mood: Celebrating elegantly.
Food Pairing: Seafood or appetisers.
Tip: Experiment with different rum types. Aged rums add depth and complexity to the cocktail, whereas lighter rums enable other ingredients to stand out.
12.Sidecar
Flavour Profile: Smooth, balanced, and slightly sweet with a hint of citrus.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces cognac (or brandy)
- 3/4 ounce orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- Orange twist or sugar rim for garnishing
Occasion: Sophisticated evenings out, intimate gatherings, or as a gentlemanly prelude to a special dinner.
Mood: Feeling nostalgic or unwinding.
Food Pairing: Sweetness or rich foods, and French cuisine.
Tips:
- Specify your preferred level of sweetness.
- Mention whether you like your Sidecar with a sugared rim.
- Try out types of cognac or brandy. Some prefer a smoother and milder cognac, while others enjoy a more robust and aged variety.
13. Whiskey Sour
Flavour Profile: Tart and slightly sweet.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Bourbon
- 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Half an ounce of simple syrup
- Half an ounce of egg white (optional)
- Angostura bitters for garnishing
Occasion: Casual gatherings, after unwinding after a long day or kicking off a weekend brunch with mates.
Mood: Craving relaxation.
Food Pairing: Spicy dishes. Its acidity helps cut through rich and fatty foods, while its sweetness balances out spicy or savoury flavours.
Tips:
- Specify your preferred type of whiskey.
- Mention whether you prefer the cocktail with or without egg white.
- Experiment with varying ratios of lemon juice to simple syrup to perfectly balance sweet and sour.
Gentlemanly Cocktails at Pinstripe Bar
Pinstripe Bar is a premier Bali cocktail bar. Nestled in Ubud’s soothing rice fields, we offer an exceptional cocktail experience.
Our 60-seat bar is located in a spacious standalone colonial-style building. It features affluent décor with elements made from marble, dark wood, and bronze. Dimly lit walls are adorned with authentic period photographs which create a 1930s speakeasy vibe.
In this captivating ambience, we serve excellent macho and gentlemanly cocktails made from top-notch ingredients and innovative techniques.
We’ve crafted a unique Cocktail Anthology menu, inspired by the 1920s and 1930s’ icons, culture evangelists, and figures. This menu features 10 concoctions — all of them headlined by Balinese native and Head Mixologist Panji Wisrawan. All of these cocktails narrate a story of this bygone era that was filled with rebellion.
We also offer evergreen classics like the Old Fashioned, Martini, Sidecar, and Manhattan. Get ready for an unmatched delight. Our cocktail experience will make your evening a memorable one.
