Every man needs a go-to drink. Nothing is worse than arriving at a bar, getting distracted by new people, trying to look cool, capturing the bartender’s attention, and accidentally ordering the frilliest cocktail in town once you realized you didn’t actually know what you wanted to drink. Don’t worry, we at ManScore now present you with these totally acceptable, manly cocktails that will never disappoint you in your moment of need. They’re also great.

Old Fashioned
So obviously we start with the Old Fashioned. It’s the most iconic masculine cocktail thanks to the copious number of these whiskey-based drinks Don Draper knocked back over 7 seasons of Mad Men. Composed of whiskey, club soda, bitters, a sugar cube and a fruit peel of choice, the Old Fashioned bespeaks an older masculine energy of suits, cigars, dim New York bars - and hipsters that want to affect that imagery. It’s actually believed to be the first drink ever called a “cocktail” (hence the name) and it’s nearly impossible to go wrong with this one.

Martini
Ahh, the Martini. The preferred drink of everyone’s favorite secret agent and, with only two real ingredients (gin or vodka and vermouth), proof that there can be power and style in simplicity. Test out both varieties for preference and try not to be “snooty” about how the bartender makes it. Martini’s are best to drink at upscale bars, dinner parties and fancy social occasions since the martini glass is the emblem of classy drinks (second only to the champagne flute). Probably not a great fit for your local dive bar, though.

Manhattan
I recommend this for those of you who want the upscale look of the martini glass, but are also rough-and-tumble enough to put a hit out on your enemy at any moment. The unofficial drink of the Mafia, the Manhattan is one of the few drinks to make it both in and out of Prohibition virtually unchanged. It’s even become the favorite drink of the North Frisian island of Föhr thanks to NYC-visiting fishermen who took the drink back with them to their hometown. Personally, I think Manhattans taste like an Old Fashioned if you mixed in a little nail polish remover, since the recipe is similar to the Old Fashioned but with the sugar cube swapped out for sweet vermouth. But that’s just me; lot’s of burlier men than I love them.

Tom Collins
The Tom Collins is the perfect summer cocktail. Whether it’s a warm evening out on the porch or a quick drink after a round of golf, the Tom Collins is sure to refresh with its combination of gin, lemon juice, sugar and sparkling water - all topped with a maraschino cherry and a lemon wedge. It’s named after the famous Tom Collins Hoax of 1874 and is served in its own “Collins” glass - much like a highball glass, but taller. As long as it isn’t winter in Alaska, you’ll be good going with this highly-regarded staple.

Sidecar
You wouldn’t think the Sidecar would be considered a traditionally masculine drink with its ingredients of cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice served in a cocktail glass -- but the droves of WWI soldiers that had to be driven home in sidecars after inventing and consuming it would beg to differ. The city of London and the Ritz Hotel in Paris both claim the cocktail was birthed on their grounds, but one thing’s for sure: it’s the perfect drink for a wayward soldier looking for love in Europe’s best (or worst) places.

Rusty Nail
Nobody can question your virility when you’re drinking something with a name like that. The Rusty Nail is about the least frilly cocktail around. It’s made up of scotch and Drambuie which, put together, makes for a sweet-tasting drink while maintaining the integrity of the traditional scotch bite. According to cocktail authority Dale DeGroff, the Rat Pack was “enamored” with this drink which helped cement it as a classic cocktail of the 1960’s. Thankfully nowadays, it’s no longer served with a rusty nail at the bottom of the drink...

Snakebite
No wait, I lied. This is the least frilly cocktail around. I’m actually not entirely sure how it counts as a cocktail since it’s really just a shot of Canadian whiskey and lime juice. Nevertheless, it merits consideration in your mental catalogue of cocktails for its combination of simplicity, quality and general badassery.

That’s it! Obviously there are more manly cocktails than the ones listed here, but these are great choices to keep stored away in your noggin so you’ll always have your “go-to” cocktail order on hand.