We who like to mix drinks at home do it for many reasons: First, it’s cheaper than drinking out. Second, it’s fun to mix your own drinks at home. Third, it’s even more fun to mix drinks for other people at home. Any self-respecting home bartender should have a mental Rolodex Excel spreadsheet of favorite classic cocktail recipes. Even if these aren’t fully memorized, you should be able to find the recipe in your home library at quick notice to serve them to your friends.

Today, I present the 5 essential drinks that I think everyone should be able to make. I’m not including any highballs here. If you can’t mix up a gin and tonic or a whiskey and soda without a recipe, you’re not ready for Cocktail 101. Take some remedial classes and get back to me.

 A Manhattan is a cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Commonly used whiskeys include rye, Canadian whisky, bourbon, blended whiskey, and Tennessee whiskey.

The Old Fashioned is a cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters, then adding alcohol, such as whiskey or brandy, and a twist of citrus rind.

Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Bourbon or Rye whiskey, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, 1 Sugar cube, Few dashes plain water

Preparation: Place sugar cube in old fashioned glass and saturate with bitters, add a dash of plain water. Muddle until dissolved. Fill the glass with ice cubes and add whiskey. Garnish with orange slice, and a cocktail cherry.