There are many cocktails and mixed drinks that you can make, but there are a handful that are necessary to building a true, classic cocktail experience. I am making a distinction in this list between cocktails and mixed drinks. Cocktails by definition are "composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters" and are typically served neat or short and on the rocks. That is, for the most part, what you will find below and many of them are classic cocktails that have been served for a century or more.