Top 67 British 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

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

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

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

Mudslide is a popular American cocktail made with a combination of vodka, coffee liqueur (e.g. Kahlua), and cream liqueur (e.g. Baileys). In order to prepare it, all ingredients are shaken with ice, then strained into a glass filled with ice cubes. Alternatively, all ingredients can be blended together until smooth, poured into a glass, then drizzled with chocolate syrup or sprinkled with cinnamon, if desired. It is believed that the first Mudslide was prepared during the 1950s at the Wreck Bar in the Cayman Islands. The cocktail is especially popular in the United States, where it's typically served blended with ice cream and garnished with chocolate shavings or syrups.Expand

Painkiller is a rum-based tropical cocktail first made at the Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands. It was created in 1971 by Daphne Henderson, and sometime in the 1980s, Pusser's Rum went to trademark the recipe. Painkiller combines dark or navy rum, most recipes will use Pusser's Rum, fresh pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut. The ingredients are shaken with ice, and the combination is then strained into chilled glasses. This cocktail is served in tiki glasses or optionally in a tall collins glass filled with ice. It is usually garnished with a pineapple wedge and freshly grated nutmeg. Expand

Bramble is a spring cocktail that was created by Dick Bradsell in 1984 in London. The cocktail consists of dry gin, lemon juice, sweet blackberry liqueur, sugary syrup, and crushed ice. It is named after blackberry bushes which are commonly referred to as brambles. This refreshing cocktail has a strong aroma of fresh berries such as blackberries or raspberries. It is prepared by stirring ingredients with crushed ice in an old-fashioned glass, then pouring blackberry liqueur over the combination in order to create a marbling effect. Before serving, Bramble is typically garnished with blackberries and a slice of lemon.Expand

Corpse Reviver #2 is one of the more popular cocktails in the group of Corpse Revivers, made with a combination of gin, lemon juice, Cointreau, Kina Lillet, and absinthe. To prepare it, all ingredients are shaken with ice, then strained into a chilled cocktail glass. Absinthe can be added to the combination before shaking, but it can also be moved around the glass before shaking to give the drink a subtle flavor and aroma of absinthe. The most popular recipe for Corpse Reviver #2 can be found in Harry Craddock’s famous Savoy Cocktail Book from 1930, where he wrote that "Four of these taken in quick succession will unrevive the corpse again."Expand

John Collins is an English cocktail made with a combination of dry gin, sugar, lemon juice, and carbonated water. To prepare it, all ingredients are poured into a highball glass filled with ice, then stirred and garnished with a lemon slice and a maraschino cherry. However, there are also many references where John Collins is made with bourbon instead of gin. It is believed that the cocktail was invented in the 19th century by a headwaiter at Limmer’s Old House, a popular London hotel at the time.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