What is the IBA cocktail list?

The IBA (International Bartenders Association) maintains a list of official cocktails grouped into three categories — The Unforgettables, Contemporary Classics, and New Era Drinks. The list is updated every few years and is the closest thing to a global canonical cocktail registry.

The IBA is the trade body for professional bartenders, founded in 1951. Its primary public-facing document is the IBA Official Cocktail List, which standardizes recipes for the most internationally recognized cocktails. Three categories: (1) The Unforgettables — pre-1940s classics that defined the era: Negroni, Manhattan, Martini, Old Fashioned, Sidecar, Daiquiri, Sazerac, Vieux Carré, Aviation, Tom Collins. (2) Contemporary Classics — mid-1900s through 1990s: Cosmopolitan, Espresso Martini, French 75, Margarita, Mojito, Moscow Mule, Whiskey Sour, Aperol Spritz, Pisco Sour. (3) New Era Drinks — 21st century: Paper Plane, Naked and Famous, Penicillin, Old Cuban, Bramble. The IBA list is useful for two reasons: it establishes canonical specs (when bartenders argue about how much vermouth goes in a Negroni, the IBA spec settles it as equal parts), and it serves as a curriculum for cocktail education. Not on the IBA list does not mean a cocktail is not classic — many great drinks (Hanky Panky, Hemingway Daiquiri, Bee's Knees) are not listed but are widely recognized. The list is a reference, not a verdict.