Whether you’re a seasoned cocktail vet or a newbie exploring the world of libations, you’ve probably heard of at least one of the cocktails on our list of Top 4 Easy Cocktails.  The best thing about these classic cocktails are how they look classy and sophisticated, yet are very easy to make. So, need a fancy cocktail to impress your friends or coworkers during the next get together?

Fret not, my friend. After you read this list of the Top 4 Easy Cocktails and learn not only how to make these drinks, but also the history behind them, everyone will think you're a cocktail master. 

Top 4 Easy Cocktails

1) Moscow Mule

The story of the Moscow Mule begins on a humble farm in Moscow, Russia. At the time, mule farmers in Russia had no source of alcohol and had to be creative to get smashed. 

Nah, that’s not true; the Moscow Mule wasn’t even invented in Russia. Instead, it was invented in Manhattan, New York in the 1940s. Although the exact inventor is debated, the drink came from Manhattan’s Chatham Bar as bartenders wanted to clear their basement of all the unused vodka and ginger beer, which are the two main ingredients of the drink. In this moment of ingenuity and desperation, the Moscow Mule was born, and it is always served in its iconic copper mug. Some claim that the original person who imported the mugs was a Russian immigrant, which explains the connection to Moscow. Once the drink landed into the hands of a few influential individuals, its popularity skyrocketed, ensuring its place on this list.

Can you mix a few liquids together over ice? Great, then you can follow this easy Moscow Mule recipe from Allrecipes.com:'

What you need

• 1.5 ounces of vodka.
• 0.5 ounce lime juice.
• 0.5 cup ginger beer.
• Ice cubes.
• Copper Mug.
• Lime Wedge (Garnish).

What to do

• Combine all liquids into a copper mug filled with ice. Stir to combine.
• Garnish with lime wedge.

2) Gin & Tonic

If an image of a British man comes to your mind when you think of gin, then you’re on the right track as the history of Gin and Tonic lies heavily within the history of the British Empire.

In 1857, the British had taken over India, and gin was already one of the most popular drinks for British gentlemen at that time. As more Brits began to immigrate or visit India, the newest British colony, they began to struggle with malaria and scurvy. Fortunately, Brits at the time had tonic water as a cure as it was infused with quinine, an extract that helped stop fever and chills. However, tonic water at the time was an awful tasting beverage that had people retching from the taste.

What’s the solution? Add in alcohol and sugar, of course! The Brits started adding gin, sugar, citrus, and ice to the tonic water and the gin and tonic was born! So the next time somebody sees you drinking a gin and tonic, tell them that you’re just fighting against malaria.

Thirsty? Then try this Gin and Tonic recipe from Allrecipes.com:

What you need

• 2 ounces gin.
• 4 ounces tonic water.
• 1 tablespoon of lime juice.
• 1 lime wedge.
• Ice cubes.

What to do

• Pour all liquids over the ice cube. Stir to combine.

3) Old Fashioned

This drink was long forgotten before Don Draper and the rest of the Mad Men Tv show brought it back in style. The show represented an era when most men went to work in suits and drinking at work as an everyday occurrence. Often on Mad Men, audiences saw Don Draper and his coworkers sipping on Old Fashioned while they tried to think of their next advertising campaign.

Loyal to its name, the Old Fashioned is a drink that has been around for a very long time. It is believed that the drink was created around 1881 at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The hallmark of the drink is its simplicity as it only involves muddling sugar with bitters and mixing that with whisky or bourbon. The drink was popular when it came out, but it eventually faded into the background as other more exciting drinks were invented.

Yet, when AMC released the widely popular TV show Mad Men, the drink’s popularity skyrocketed. Although the show has been off the air for a few years, the Old Fashioned is still one of the most popular yet easiest cocktails around.

Honour a classic and try our recipe for an Old Fashioned:

What you need

• 2 ounces bourdon whisky.
• Half teaspoon of water.
• Cane sugar.
• Dried Orange Zest.
• Aromatic Bitters.
• Orange or Grapefruit Bitters

What to do

• Place a sugar cube in a glass. Add 3–4 dashes of Aromatic
  Bitters, 3–4 dashes of Orange Bitters or Grapefruit Bitters
  and add water.
• Using a muddler, crush the sugar
  until mostly dissolved.
• Drop the orange peel in the drink and muddle it to release
  the oils.
• Place ice cubes (or one large cube) in the glass and stir 20
  times clockwise and counterclockwise. Add the bourbon
  and stir 20 times each way.
• Place glass on your linen coaster and wait for 2 minutes
  for the flavors to be released. Stir once more and enjoy.

4) Champagne Cocktail

Another classic and easy cocktail is the champagne cocktail (or the sparkling wine cocktail if you're too cheap to buy champagne). Since this is a classic cocktail that has existed since the mid 1800s, its history is muddled. Its appearance is first recorded in writings by Robert Tomes that were published in 1855. While this may be the first recorded account of the champagne cocktail, Tomes's words suggested that the drink was made far before his writing's publication.

The champagne cocktail appears in many early cocktail books, which only speaks to its popularity. While there are many different variations to this cocktail, the champagne cocktail must always be served in a champagne flute. Why? Because it looks a hell of a lot better than drinking a champagne cocktail out of a tumbler or mug.

Follow our own champagne cocktail recipe and embrace the class:

What you need

• 6 ounces champagne or sparkling wine.
• Aromatic Bitters.
• Lemon or Lavender Bitters.
• Cane Sugar.
• Dried Lemon Zest.

What to do

• Place one sugar cube and one piece of lemon zest at the
  bottom of the glass. Add 3-4 dashes of Aromatic Bitters,
  3-4 dashes of Lemon Bitters or Lavender Bitters to soak
  sugar cube and zest.
• Slowly top a champagne flute or wine glass with
  champagne or sparkling wine.
• Once bubbling has subsided, stir 5 times clockwise and
  counterclockwise.

Alright, after reading this list of the Top 4 Easy Cocktails, you have no excuse to not put this information to use. Grab some clean glasses, always make sure to have ice on hand, and stay thirsty.