The International Bartenders Association (IBA) is the premier professional organization for beverage industry professionals worldwide. The IBA is the international authority on bartending. It advocates for maintaining high standards in the industry. There are three categories of cocktails that each include an official list of cocktails recognized by the IBA. These include the unforgettable, contemporary classic, and new era cocktails. Get to know the ultimate guide to the best craft cocktails in the world. 

What is the International Bartenders Association?

The IBA is a non-profit global professional organization for beverage industry professionals. Founded in 1951, the IBA was established in Torquay, UK. There were seven founding country members: Denmark, France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. By 1973, the IBA grew by 23 members for a total of 20 country members. Today, the IBA boasts 67 country members and another eight observing countries. 

What Does the IBA Do? 

The IBA is a worldwide community of bartenders. This professional organization encourages the collaboration and engagement of professionals in order to share knowledge and innovation. The IBA’s community network supports fellow members in career advancement. 

Academy

As part of the IBA’s efforts to maintain standards, it has established an academy. Bartenders can expand their knowledge and refine their skills by taking a series of courses. Beginners and experienced bartenders can benefit from a series of courses tailored to their needs. Course materials can then be used as a reference guide for practical application and philosophy. 

Courses cover all areas of bartending and working in the beverage industry. For example, attendees to the most recent academy took courses titled Beer, Spirits, Bar Control, Breakeven, Procedures for Responsible Service of Alcohol, Bar Management, Bar Marketing, Drinking Trends, Wines of the World, and International Cocktails. 

Unforgettable Cocktails

The first category of cocktails is the unforgettable cocktails. These are the long-standing classics that are the origins of cocktail making. The best craft cocktails have stood the test of time because of their perfect balance and simplicity and have appealed to drinkers’ palates throughout time. 

While cocktail trends come and go, these unforgettable cocktails seem to always find a way to come back in vogue. Take the Negroni, for example. This classic cocktail dates back to 1919. However, it has seen a noticeable resurgence in popularity recently. You can easily find it as the start on many a bar or restaurant cocktail menu. 

These cocktails tend to have limited ingredients and rely heavily on the spirit for the flavor profile. You will find that these cocktails use fruit juice, soda water, or cream for the mixer. This is the complete list of unforgettable cocktails, according to the IBA. 

• Alexander
• Americano
• Angel Face
• Aviation
• Boulevardier
• Between The Sheets
• Brandy Crusta
• Casino
• Clover Club
• Daiquiri
• Dry Martini
• Gin Fizz
• Hanky Panky
• John Collins
• Last Word
• Manhattan
• Martinez
• Mary Pickford
• Monkey Gland
• Negroni
• Old Fashioned
• Paradise
• Planters Punch
• Porto Flip
• Ramos Gin Fizz
• Rusty Nail
• Sazerac
• Sidecar
• Stinger
• Tuxedo
• Vieux Carre
• Whiskey Sour
• White Lady

Contemporary Classic Cocktails

The list of contemporary classic cocktails includes creations that are newer than the true classics but still have been around long enough to prove their worth. Their appeal has garnered them worldwide. This list tends to evolve a bit more than the unforgettable cocktail list. As time goes by, some cocktails on the list fade into obscurity while others hold their popularity. 

A perfect example of this is the Moscow mule. This American cocktail originated in the 1940s. This makes it younger than the majority of the unforgettable cocktails. However, similar to the previously mentioned Negroni, it has recently experienced a significant rise in popularity. While it may not be the hot trending cocktail currently, it’s still one of the best craft cocktails on modern menus. 

Because these cocktails have their origins in more modern times, you will see greater variety in the ingredients. This would include sparkling cocktails and long drinks. This is also the cocktails list that experiences the most change as new cocktails are invented and become popular. According to the IBA, this is the complete list of contemporary classic cocktails. 

• Bellini
• Black Russian
• Bloody Mary
• Caipirinha
• Champagne Cocktail
• Corpse Reviver #2
• Cosmopolitan
• Cuba Libre
• French 75
• French Connection
• Golden Dream
• Grasshopper
• Hemingway Special
• Horse’s Neck
• Irish Coffee
• Kir
• Long Island Iced Tea
• Mai Tai
• Margarita
• Mimosa
• Mint Julep
• Mojito
• Moscow Mule
• Pina Colada
• Pisco Sour
• Sea Breeze
• Sex On The Beach
• Singapore Sling
• Tequila Sunrise
• Vesper
• Zombie

New Era Cocktails

The new era cocktails are the newest and best cocktail creations. These cocktails represent the future of the beverage industry. This list is the most creative and innovative, and bartenders throughout the world test their skills. Modern cocktails tend to reflect the preferences of modern palates. This can be seen with the Paloma. This refreshing citrus cocktail is similar to a margarita. However, instead of lime juice, it uses grapefruit juice. 

They also embrace unique and innovative craft spirits that were not in existence when classic and contemporary classic cocktails were invented. New era cocktails tend to have more extensive ingredient lists with more complicated preparation methods. This is the complete list of new era cocktails according to the IBA.

• Barracuda
• Bee’s Knees
• Bramble
• Canchanchara
• Dark N Stormy
• Espresso Martini
• Fernandito
• French Martini
• Illegal
• Lemon Drop Martini
• Naked and Famous
• New York Sour
• Old Cuban
• Paloma
• Paper Plane
• Penicillin
• Russian Spring Punch
• Spicy Fifty
• Spritz
• Suffering Bastard
• Tipperary
• Tommys Margarita
• Trinidad Sour
• VE.N.TO
• Yellow Bird

FAQs About the Best Craft Cocktails

1. What is the perfect cocktail?

The perfect cocktail uses the Golden Ratio. This ratio creates the perfect balanced flavor so that a cocktail has the right amount of alcohol and mixer. The Golden Ratio is 2:1:1. Using the ratio, a cocktail will have two parts spirit, one part sour, and one part sweet. 

2. What is a true cocktail?

A cocktail is any beverage that contains an alcoholic liquid. Typically, they will include a spirit and a mixer, but they could also be just the spirit. Cocktails are typically served socially. 

3. What is the secret to a good cocktail?

The key to making a good cocktail is in the measurements. Cocktails rely on proportion to achieve a balanced flavor. Too much spirit and the alcohol override the other flavors. Too much bitter or sweet, and the cocktail feels unbalanced. 

4. When did cocktails become popular?

Cocktails became popular in the United States during Prohibition. This is when beer and wine became hard to find. In contrast, illegal spirits were readily served in underground speakeasies. People would drink cocktails that would use these often harsh spirits mixed with more palatable mixers.

Learn how to make the cocktails on the IBA’s official list by checking out Distillery Nearby.