The 10 Best Cocktails for a Dinner with Friends

The perfect welcome: gin, lemon and Champagne in a Champagne flute. Festive but not heavy – just right while the last guests are still arriving.

The light aperitif classic from Italy: Campari, vermouth and soda. Bittersweet and appetizing, ideal with olives and antipasti.

For anyone who likes it stronger: three ingredients, equal parts, big impact. The Negroni gets the palate perfectly ready for the meal.

Fresh, lightly sweet and with a delicate honey note: the Bee’s Knees goes wonderfully with appetizers and light dishes with fish or vegetables.

Raspberry pink with a silky crown of foam – an elegant drink that makes an impression at the table and pairs beautifully with poultry or salads.

For the curious ones at the table: gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino and lime in equal parts. Herbal, complex – and a guaranteed conversation starter.

After the main course, it’s time for depth: rye whiskey, vermouth and bitters, stirred cold. The Manhattan is the classic for the cozy part of the evening.

Dessert and coffee in one: fresh espresso with vodka and coffee liqueur. Revives everyone after the meal and stretches any evening.

A liquid dessert: Cognac, crème de cacao and cream with fresh nutmeg. Velvety and sweet – instead of dessert or alongside it.

The quiet finale: Scotch and amaretto on the rocks. A digestif with a marzipan note for the last round, when the candles have already burned down.