8 Manly Cocktails That You Should Be Drinking

The drink you order says a lot about you. Cheap, heavy beer like a Bud, says, "I don't change my bed sheets." Wine says "I think I'm fancy, but I probably have no clue what this is." Shots tell everyone, "My role model is Jersey Shore's Paulie D." But a cocktail can say much more. It can tell the world you're a nuanced gentleman, or that you've seen one episode of Mad Men. Order up these eight underrated cocktails and you'll immediately up your manliness.

1. Boilermaker

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This is a list about cocktails, but I'm starting you off slow and simple. You probably already like beer and shots of whiskey. The Boilermaker is a super simple "cocktail" that involves one shot of whiskey mixed into one beer. If you really want to get sloshed, don't look like an unrefined d-bag by ordering a round of shots. Get a boilermaker. The combo makes the beer a bit sweeter and it's easy to make at home.

How to Make It

1 shot of whiskey

1 beer

1. Pour whiskey into beer

2. Gimlet

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While we're on two ingredient drinks, let's talk about the gimlet. Accorrding to author Raymond Chandler, "a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's lime juice and nothing else." We like this simple recipe, but a gimlet on the rocks, garnished with a lime, makes this classic even better.

How to Make It

1 shot of gin

1 shot of Rose's lime juice

1. Pour gin over ice

2. Pour in lime juice

3. Stir and garnish with a lime

If you don't like gin, just order a vodka gimlet.

3. Daiquiri

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I know what you're thinking. Why would I order a daiquiri? Those fruity concoctions are for ladies and Caribbean vacations. Wrong. The Daiquiri is a classic rum drink, variants of which exist in cultures across the world. Plus it was Ernest Hemingway's drink of choice, though he was diabetic and got it without sugar.

How to Make It

1 shot of rum

1/2 shot of lime juice

1 teaspoon of simple syrup OR 2 teaspoons sugar

1. Put all ingredients in a vessel with ice

2. Shake it up or stir together

3. Pour into a martini glass (or if you prefer, in an old fashioned glass)

The Caipirinha, a Brazilian cocktail, is essentially the same drink, but made with cachaça (sugarcane liquor) instead of rum, fresh limes instead of lime juice, and brown sugar instead of simple syrup. The Pisco Sour is another similar drink, but it's made with pisco (a type of brandy) and lemon juice, and topped with an egg white foam.

4. Negroni

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The Negroni is an Italian drink, that's beginning to make a comeback in the US. It's made with equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth—all alcohol, but it's not harsh. The tangy Campari and sweet vermouth balance the piny flavor of gin, so even if you're not fond of gin, you ought to try this cocktail. Garnish with an orange to complete this drink.

How to Make It

1/2 shot gin

1/2 shot Campari

1/2 shot sweet vermouth

1. Pour gin, then Campari, then vermouth over ice

2. Stir together

3. Garnish with an orange

5. Mint Julep

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This refreshing bourbon drink is great for a summer day. It's traditionally served in a silver cup, but we don't mess around with that. Just use a regular glass and serve it over ice.

How to Make It

1 shot of bourbon whiskey, plus a dash more

1 teaspoon sugar (prefeably powdered sugar)

A few mint leaves

A spritz of water or seltzer

1. Muddle the mint, sugar, and water

2. Fill the glass with ice, then pour the bourbon in

3. Stir, and garnish with some more mint

6. Sidecar

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When it comes to liquors, cognac is one of the manliest ones out there. The classiest dudes on earth enjoy few things in life, one of them being a glass of cognac and a cigar. But who really enjoys the straight up taste of cognac? Have it in this cocktail instead.

The sidecar, named after the motorcycle sidecar, comes from Europe so you know it's elegant. Cognac has a rich, complex taste, and coupled with the acidity of lemon juice, and the orange sweetness of triple sec, this is a well balanced cocktail.

How to Make It

1 shot of cognac

1/2 shot of triple sec (preferably cointreau)

1/2 shot of lemon juice

1. Put all ingredients in a vessel with ice

2. Shake it up or stir together

3. Strain into a martini glass (be sure not to pour any ice into the glass)

4. Garnish with an orange slice

7. Sazerac

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The Sazerac comes from New Orleans, and the flavors of this cocktail are non-traditional, like the city of its origin. The base of the cocktail can be made with either cognac or rye whiskey. The addition of absinthe or pastis adds an intriguing licorice flavor to this drink.

How to Make It

1 shot of cognac

a tad of pastis or absinthe

one sugar cube

2 dashes of bitters

1. Coat an old fashioned glass with absinthe/pastis, and pour out the excess

2. In another glass with ice, stir the cognac, sugar cube, and bitters

3. Strain the cognac and other ingredients into the first glass, without ice

4. Garnish with a lemon peel

8. Martini

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There are, give or take, one million types of martinis. Concerning traditional martinis, it's one of the strongest tasting drinks out there.

Just don't get one of those flavored martinis. That means no Appletinis—sorry JD from scrubs. You're a man, remember? If you don't like a strong drink, get something else. You're not here to impress anyone.

The martini is traditionally a gin cocktail, not a vodka cocktail, but nowadays they are both equally popular. If you want to be like James Bond, you get a dry vodka martini, shaken not stirred. And sometimes he messes around with a lemon peel. A dry martini is one made with dry white vermouth.

A dirty martini has the addition of olive brine, and then it's garnished with an olive. A Gibson is a martini garnished with an onion.

The martini is all about simplicity. There are only a few ingredients, but it's a meticulous process that takes skill. Try to make one at home, or head to a good bar to get a good one.

How to Make It

1.5 shots of gin

a tad of dry vermouth

1. Coat a martini glass with Vermouth

2. Stir the gin with ice

3. Strain into the glass, stir again

4. Add your choice of garnish