5 of Britain’s Favourite Cocktails: Recipes, Stories and Experiences
From the first citrus sip of a Margarita to a perfectly chilled Martini, a great cocktail rewards a little curiosity. Discover the stories and recipes behind five favourites, then find a Red Letter Days cocktail experience worth making an occasion of…
Key Takeaways
Explore five cocktail favourites, from bittersweet Aperol Spritz to rich Espresso Martini.
Discover their origins, with a little folklore alongside the documented history.
Recreate each drink with a recipe for one, clear instructions and a useful serving tip.
Find your kind of cocktail experience, from hands-on masterclasses to drinks with afternoon tea.
Britain’s Favourite Cocktails at a Glance
Aperol Spritz: Bittersweet, citrusy and sparkling. Our Pick: Cocktail or Prosecco Afternoon Tea at Slug & Lettuce.
Espresso Martini: Rich coffee flavour with a smooth, foamy finish. Our Pick: Gordon Ramsay Cocktail Masterclass for Two.
Margarita: Bright lime, orange notes and distinctive tequila character. Our Pick: Cocktails and Bar Snacks at bbar.
Mojito: Fresh mint and lime with white rum and soda. Our Pick: Cocktail Class with Mixology Events for Two.
Classic Martini: Crisp, botanical and spirit-led. Our Pick: Martini Masterclass at Egerton House Hotel.
Experience menus vary; check whether your preferred cocktail is included before booking
Why These Made Our List
These five bring something different to the glass: sparkling bitterness, rich coffee, bright citrus, fresh mint and botanical elegance.
This is our choice of familiar favourites, rather than a ranked UK top five. We’ve picked out experiences that bring something extra, from expert tips behind the bar to a lovely setting for your next catch-up.
5 of Britain’s Favourite Cocktails
Recipes follow International Bartenders Association specifications, with methods explained for home mixing.
1. Aperol Spritz
The story: Few cocktails announce themselves quite like an Aperol Spritz. That vivid orange colour belongs to an Italian aperitivo created by brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri in 1919. The familiar Spritz followed later, bringing Aperol together with prosecco and soda for a sparkling, bittersweet serve.
Its appeal has travelled well beyond Italy’s terraces. NIQ’s March 2026 analysis named Aperol Spritz Britain’s most popular cocktail, following its rise to the top in volume terms in the third quarter of 2025. We’d choose it for readers who enjoy citrus flavours with a pleasantly bitter edge.
Ingredients (makes one cocktail):
90ml prosecco
60ml Aperol
A splash of soda water
Ice cubes
An orange slice, to garnish
The method: Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add the prosecco, Aperol and soda water, stir gently and finish with an orange slice.
Top tip: Chill the prosecco and soda beforehand and stir gently to preserve the bubbles. A Spritz needs a light touch.
Where to enjoy cocktails with Red Letter Days: Make a leisurely afternoon of it with Slug and Lettuce Cocktail or Prosecco Afternoon Tea for Two. Sweet and savoury bites, plus scones with clotted cream and jam, come with a choice of cocktails, mocktails or prosecco.
Ask your chosen venue whether an Aperol Spritz is among the included options. For another sparkling take on the afternoon tea tradition, explore our champagne afternoon tea experiences, with distinctive settings for a celebration or an unhurried catch-up.
Perfect For: A sociable afternoon with someone who appreciates a little sparkle.
2. Espresso Martini
The story: Despite its name and elegant glass, this modern classic has little in common with a traditional gin Martini. Its story begins in London in the 1980s, when bartender Dick Bradsell created the Vodka Espresso, the drink that developed into today’s Espresso Martini.
The combination is wonderfully direct: vodka provides the backbone, coffee liqueur brings sweetness and espresso delivers that unmistakable roasted flavour. The foam is part of its appeal, giving the first sip a soft texture before the coffee comes through. We’d choose it for someone whose idea of a good finish usually involves an espresso.
Ingredients (makes one cocktail):
50ml vodka
30ml Kahlúa
10ml sugar syrup
1 strong espresso
Ice cubes
3 coffee beans, to garnish
Recipe note: To make a simple syrup, dissolve equal weights of sugar and water, then cool.
The method: Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, sugar syrup and espresso to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with three coffee beans.
Top tip: Give this one a proper shake. Vigorous shaking helps create the foam that makes an Espresso Martini so distinctive.
Where to explore cocktail making with Red Letter Days: Turn an interest in cocktails into a new skill with a Gordon Ramsay Cocktail Masterclass for Two. The 90-minute experience includes a welcome house cocktail, expert instruction and a sharing platter.
Ask about the class menu if mastering an Espresso Martini is your priority. If the Gordon Ramsay name has caught your attention, our guide to exceptional celebrity chef experiences offers more inspiration for your next memorable meal out.
Perfect For: Coffee lovers who would enjoy learning the technique behind the glass.
3. Margarita
The story: The Margarita has inspired almost as many origin stories as variations. One account, championed by Cointreau, credits American socialite Margaret Sames with mixing tequila, Cointreau and lime in Acapulco in 1948. It’s one of several competing stories behind this much-loved classic.
What’s in the glass is less mysterious. Tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime create a bright, citrus-led cocktail, with an optional salt rim adding another dimension. For us, its appeal lies in that balance: a short ingredient list with each component earning its place.
Ingredients (makes one cocktail):
50ml 100% agave tequila
20ml triple sec, such as Cointreau
15ml freshly squeezed lime juice
Ice cubes
Fine salt for half the rim, optional
The method: If using salt, moisten half the rim of a chilled cocktail glass with lime and gently dip it into the salt. Shake the tequila, triple sec and lime juice with ice, then strain into the glass.
Top tip: Salt only half the rim. You can then alternate between sips with and without it, finding the balance you prefer.
Where to enjoy cocktails with Red Letter Days: Leave the shaker in expert hands with Cocktails and Bar Snacks at bbar in London for Two.
Two cocktails each and a selection of bar snacks make this an appealing choice for an unhurried catch-up in South African-inspired surroundings. Confirm whether a Margarita is included in the available selection.
Perfect For: A relaxed date where the conversation matters as much as the cocktails.
Planning your next evening together? Discover immersive date ideas for two, from The Traitors to live shows and dinner with a theatrical twist.
4. Mojito
The story: The Mojito belongs to Cuba’s rich cocktail-making tradition, alongside the Daiquiri and Cuba Libre. Cuban bartenders helped establish rum as the foundation of these enduring classics, although the Mojito’s precise beginnings remain debated.
Its appeal is easy to understand. White rum, lime, mint and soda create a long, refreshing drink with sweetness to balance the citrus. We’d choose a Mojito for someone who likes a fresh, aromatic cocktail and enjoys a drink that takes its time.
Ingredients (makes one cocktail):
45ml white Cuban rum
20ml freshly squeezed lime juice
6 small mint sprigs, plus extra to garnish
2 teaspoons white cane sugar
Soda water, to top up
Ice cubes
A lime slice, to garnish
The method: In a tall glass, gently press the mint with the sugar and lime juice. Add a splash of soda and stir to help dissolve the sugar. Fill with ice, add the rum and top with soda water. Stir gently and garnish with mint and a lime slice.
Top tip: Press the mint gently rather than shredding it. You want its fresh aroma without filling the drink with tiny pieces of leaf.
Where to explore cocktail making with Red Letter Days: Take your curiosity behind the bar with a Cocktail Class with Mixology Events for Two.
Enjoy a welcome cocktail before creating four drinks each during a two-hour class in Covent Garden or Shoreditch. Expert guidance and a friendly cocktail-making competition add to the occasion. If a Mojito is top of your list, check the class menu before booking.
Perfect For: Friends or couples who enjoy a lively atmosphere and getting involved.
5. Classic Martini
The story: The Martini’s beginnings are less clear-cut than its minimalist appearance suggests. It is widely thought to have evolved from the Martinez, and an early recipe appeared in Harry Johnson’s 1888 bartender’s manual. That version was sweeter and more elaborate than the dry gin-and-vermouth serve familiar today.
Today, its simplicity is precisely the attraction. With so few ingredients, the gin, vermouth, temperature and garnish all make themselves known. We’d choose it for someone drawn to botanical flavours and the small details that turn a good drink into a personal favourite.
Ingredients (makes one cocktail):
60ml gin
10ml dry vermouth
Ice cubes
A strip of lemon peel or a green olive, to garnish
The method: Pour the gin and dry vermouth into a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until well chilled, then strain into a chilled Martini glass. Express the lemon peel over the surface to release its oils, or garnish with a green olive.
Top tip: Chill your serving glass before you begin. A Martini is served without ice, so a cold glass helps preserve its character.
Where to enjoy a Classic Martini with Red Letter Days: For the most direct match to this classic, choose the Martini Masterclass at Egerton House Hotel for Two.
Explore gin and vodka through guided tastings, learn how temperature affects the spirits and enjoy a crafted Martini serve with three canapés each. We’d pick this for someone who wants to understand their drink as well as enjoy it.
Perfect For: Martini enthusiasts and thoughtful gifts with a refined touch.
We Say: Find Your Signature Serve
Found a new favourite? Get to know your Martini at Egerton House, try your hand behind the bar with Mixology Events or settle in for a catch-up at bbar.
However you like to spend your time, Red Letter Days cocktail experiences give you a lovely excuse to get together.
FAQs
Answering your questions
Choose by flavour: Aperol Spritz for bittersweet bubbles, Mojito for mint and lime, or Margarita for bright citrus. Espresso Martini suits coffee lovers, while a classic Martini puts gin’s botanical character centre stage.
A measuring jigger, cocktail shaker, strainer and long spoon cover the essentials. The Aperol Spritz and Mojito are built directly in the glass, making them useful starting points if you don’t own a shaker.
A classic Martini combines gin and dry vermouth, although vodka versions are also popular. An Espresso Martini uses vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and sugar syrup. They share a style of serving glass, but have very different flavours.
Yes. Many are designed to introduce the techniques as you go. The Gordon Ramsay experience welcomes newcomers as well as enthusiasts, making it a good option for learning together without previous cocktail-making experience.
Think about how they’d enjoy spending time together. Egerton House is a lovely choice for Martini fans, while Gordon Ramsay or Mixology Events suit couples who’d enjoy learning a few tricks behind the bar. For a leisurely catch-up, try cocktails at bbar or afternoon tea at Slug & Lettuce.
Richard Marsh
Content Writer