Top 100 European Cocktails

Contrary to its name, this cocktail does not have much in common with a classic Martini. Porn Star is a version that combines vanilla-flavored vodka, passion fruit liqueur, lime juice, and passion fruit purée, while a shot of Champagne (sometimes Prosecco) is served on the side. To prepare it, all the ingredients, except sparkling wine, are poured in a shaker filled with ice and are shaken, and then strained into a chilled glass. The cocktail was created in the early 2000s by Douglas Ankrah at The Townhouse bar. Ankrah initially named it Maverick but decided to change it as the drink reminded him of something a porn star would drink. Soon after its invention, this luscious cocktail became a staple at UK bars. In 2018, it was supposedly the most popular cocktail in Great Britain. This cocktail is usually served in a coupe or a martini glass and comes garnished with a half of fresh passion fruit. Sparkling wine is served in a shot glass, and the drinks should be sipped alternatively. Expand

Szarlotka (or Tatanka) is a Polish cocktail that combines apple juice and Żubrówka, popular Polish vodka flavored with bison grass. The ratio is 2:1 in favor of apple juice. To assemble it, a shot of vodka is poured into a glass filled with ice, and apple juice is added next. The drink is usually served in a highball glass. It can be made with clear or cloudy apple juice, while the variations sometimes include lemon or lime juice. Also, it can be dusted with cinnamon.

Szarlotka is a Polish term for an apple cake. In this cocktail, it is used as a reference to apple juice. Expand

Espresso Martini is a rich and creamy cocktail made with a combination of vodka, espresso, sugar syrup, and coffee liqueur. All ingredients are first mixed in a shaker with ice, and then strained into a Martini glass. There should be a nice froth on top, which is usually garnished with a few coffee beans. This cocktail was invented by Dick Bradsell, a bartending guru, who first named it Vodka Espresso, and then Pharmaceutical Stimulant. He first prepared it at Fred’s Club in the late 1980s for a young model who is now world-famous. Apparently, she wanted something that would "wake her up, and then fuck her up," and what we know today as Espresso Martini was the answer.Expand

Bombardino is the ultimate Italian winter cocktail made with a combination of brandy, VOV egg liqueur, whipped cream, and cinnamon. In order to prepare it, brandy and warm egg liqueur should be poured into a glass mug, and the combination is then generously topped with whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon. It is believed that the drink is named Bombardino after the fact that one of the first people to try it exclaimed that "it’s like a bomb" after noting its high alcohol content and hot temperature. Although the cocktail originated in Livigno, nowadays it is a staple of numerous Italian ski resorts.Expand

White Russian cocktail is made with a combination of vodka, cream, and coffee liqueur. To prepare it, vodka and coffee liqueur are poured into an old-fashioned glass over ice. Cream is then floated on top, and the whole combination is gently stirred with a straw. The drink is named after its key ingredient, vodka, which is typically associated with Russia. The drink was invented in Belgium by Gustave Tops, who also invented its sister cocktail Black Russian. White Russian gained huge popularity in 1998, when the cult classic The Big Lebowski was released - the main character in the movie, called The Dude, drinks White Russians throughout the movie.Expand

Gimlet is a simple yet classic cocktail that originated in England. The cocktail is named after Sir Thomas Gimlette, who supposedly invented it at the end of the 19th century. In the past, Gimlet was made with equal parts gin and lime cordial (typically Rose's lime juice), but modern versions are usually less sweet and made with one part lime cordial and two parts gin. The ingredients should be well stirred with ice in a mixing glass and served with a lime wheel garnish.Expand

French 75 is a classic cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and champagne. To prepare it, gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup are shaken with ice, strained into a glass, then topped with champagne and garnished with lemon peel. It is believed that the cocktail was invented by Scott Harry McElhone, the owner of Harry’s American Bar in Paris in 1926, who named it after a strong artillery gun used by the French military. Shortly after, American soldiers fell in love with the cocktail and brought it back to the United States, where it was a huge hit, especially at New York City’s famous Stork Club. Although it is said that French 75 was made with cognac instead of gin in its early history, nowadays there are countless ways to prepare variations of this refreshing classic. An interesting fact for movie lovers: French 75 appears in one of the most beloved classics, Michael Curtiz's Casablanca.Expand

Tom Collins is a classic cocktail hailing from London. It's made with a combination of gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and soda water poured into an ice-filled glass. It is believed that this refreshing drink was created by the head waiter at a London restaurant, and the drink was named after him. Although it was originally made with jenever, these days the cocktail should ideally be made with Old Tom Gin, which is a bit sweeter than London Dry Gin used for John Collins. The first recipe for Tom Collins was printed in Jerry Thomas' book The Bartender's Guide in 1876. If desired, garnish it with a lemon slice or a maraschino cherry.Expand

Pink Gin is an English cocktail made with a combination of Angostura bitters and Plymouth gin, hence its other name, Pink Plymouth. To prepare it, a cocktail glass is first chilled, then coated with bitters. Chilled gin is then added to the glass, which is traditionally garnished with a lemon rind. A few ice cubes can also be added to the cocktail, if desired. It is believed that Pink Gin was invented by members of the Royal Navy, who wanted to make Angostura bitters more enjoyable by combining them with the sweet Plymouth gin (as opposed to dry London gin). They brought the drink to English bars, and by the 1870s, Pink Gin became quite popular throughout the country.Expand

Sbagliato is a variation on the classic Negroni cocktail originating from Milan. It's made with a combination of sweet vermouth, Campari, and prosecco or any dry sparkling wine. The ingredients are poured into an ice-filled glass, then gently stirred, and the drink is often garnished with an orange peel. The name sbagliato means mistake, and the cocktail created in the 1980s by Mirko Stocchetti at Bar Basso. He wanted to make a Negroni, but mistakenly used a bottle of spumante instead of gin, and Negroni sbagliato was created.Expand

58 and CO is a distillery based in East London, known for producing premium gin, vodka, and bottled cocktails, with a strong focus on sustainability and social responsibility. It was founded by Carmen O’Neal with a clear philosophy that quality is built patiently - their London Dry Gin went through 58 recipe iterations before its official release.

The portfolio includes classic and flavored gins, such as apple and hibiscus expressions, as well as a bolder Navy Strength style, complemented by ready-to-drink cocktails designed for both modern bar settings and home consumption. Beyond production, 58 and CO places strong emphasis on education through tastings, workshops, and masterclasses held at the distillery.

The brand is widely recognized as a representative of contemporary craft distillation, combining technical precision, clear provenance, and a responsible approach to the spirits industry.Expand

Black Lines is a London-based drinks brand specialising in high-quality ready-to-serve cocktails, created to deliver bar-level consistency without the need for mixing. The company focuses on classic cocktail recipes, carefully balancing spirits, bitters and modifiers to preserve structure, freshness and depth of flavour in bottled and on-tap formats.

Its range includes well-known serves such as Negroni, Aperitivo Spritz, Espresso Martini and Margarita-style cocktails, all designed to be poured and enjoyed with minimal preparation. Black Lines places strong emphasis on ingredient quality and precise formulation, aiming to replicate the experience of a professionally made cocktail rather than a simplified alternative.

Alongside bottled products, the brand has developed a distinctive “cocktails on tap” concept, reinforcing its roots in hospitality and high-volume service environments. With a clean visual identity and a practical, flavour-led approach, Black Lines has positioned itself at the intersection of craft spirits culture and modern convenience.Expand