IBA Recognised Cocktails

The List of Cocktails on this page are all Officially Recognised by the International Bartenders Association (IBA).

For over 50 years the International Bartenders Association (IBA) have been the world authority on bartendering, raising the standards of professional bartenders world-wide. Of the thousands of different cocktail recipes available online & in bars around the world, the IBA only officially recognise a few. The IBA list of cocktails are therefore a good place to start if you want to broaden your palate & knowledge of cocktails - on this page you'll find an up-to-date list of IBA cocktails.

The International Bartenders Association (IBA) have three categories of cocktails that they recognise:

Despite that there are thousands of cocktail recipes online, there are only actually 77 IBA recognised cocktails that are selected for use in the annual World Cocktail Competition (WCC) for bar-tending. In this up-to-date IBA cocktails list, you'll also find links to the cocktail recipes available on thebarcabinet.com.

Unforgettable Cocktails

The Unforgettables are IBA cocktails that have stood the test of time & continue to satisfy today's palates. The tend to be boozy, & many are suitable pre-dinner cocktails. The unforgettable long drink mixers stick exclusively to fresh fruit juice, soda water or cream. Here is a list of the IBA Unforgettable Cocktails:

  • Alexander
  • Americano
  • Angel Face
  • Aviation
  • Bacardi
  • Between The Sheets
  • Casino
  • Clover Club
  • Daiquiri
  • Derby
  • Dry Martini
  • Gin Fizz
  • John Collins
  • Manhattan
  • Mary Pickford
  • Monkey Gland

Contemporary Classic Cocktails

The Contemporary IBA Classic cocktails have more modern origins, & include more sparkling cocktails & long drinks than the Unforgettable Cocktails. Here is a list of the IBA Contemporary Classic Cocktails:

  • Bellini
  • Black Russian
  • Bloody Mary
  • Caipirinha
  • Champagne Cocktail
  • Cosmopolitan
  • Cuba Libre
  • French 75
  • French Connection
  • Godfather
  • Godmother
  • Golden Dream
  • Grasshopper
  • Harvey Wallbanger
  • Hemingway Special
  • Horses Neck
  • Irish Coffee
  • Kir
  • Long Island Iced Tea
  • Mai Tai
  • Margarita
  • Mimosa
  • Mint Julep
  • Mojito

New Era Cocktails

The New Era IBA cocktails are modern cocktail recipes, that are perhaps more suited to today's palates & offer something different to the flavour palate than the modern classic or unforgettable cocktails. Here's a list of IBA New Era Cocktails:

  • B 52
  • Barracuda
  • Bramble
  • Dark N Stormy
  • Lemon Drop Martini
  • Pisco Sour
  • Russian Spring Punch
  • Spritz Veneziano

What is the Internation Bartenders Association?

The International Bartenders association is a not-for-profit organisation that consists of 65 different National bartender associations, & is today's world wide authority on the professional bartending industry. According to the IBA:

Our mission is to engage and educate bartenders all over the world to a high professional standardard so that they can show their skills and creativity at the World Cocktail Championships (WCC). IBA Association - World Cocktail Championships 2018 - Associate Members Proposal

How did the IBA start?

The International Bartenders Association (IBA) was founded on the 24th February 1951, at a meeting of international delegates in the Saloon of the Grand Hotel in Torquay (United Kingdom). The delegates, representing a total of 7 different National guilds, agreed to found an International Organisation to represent & showcase the best bartenders in the world. Today, the IBA host the World Cocktail Championships.

What are the World Cocktail Championships (WCC)?

The World Cocktail Championships is a yearly competition gathering the best bartenders from the 65 different national associations. The annual event typically consist of six different Cocktail Competitions - five Classic Mixing Competitions & one Flairtending Competition.

The possible classic Mixing Competition categories include:

  • Before-Dinner Cocktails
  • Sparkling Cocktails
  • Short Drinks
  • Long Drinks
  • After Dinner Cocktails
  • Bartender's Choice

In general, the rules are quite strict for competitors, for instance only 6 ingredients or less may be used, you may only used sponsored ingredients & you cannot use heated, homemade or pre-mage ingredients; except for the Bartender's Choice competition where the rules are somewhat relaxed.

In the flairtending competition can make any cocktail in the classic mixing categories except for Bartender's Choice. In flairtendering it is not all about the appearance, aroma & flavour of a cocktail for the competitors. Here it is also about appearance, presentation & flair involved in making the cocktail & typically involves music, bottles & shakers being juggled through the air - think Tom Cruise in the film "Cocktail" - but better.

For more information on the Internation Bar Association visit the IBA-World Website.

Guide To The Iba