The foundational cocktail template. Two parts spirit, one part citrus, one part sweetener. This is the ratio that launched a thousand drinks — from the Whiskey Sour to the Margarita. It delivers a bold, spirit-forward profile with balanced sweet-tart interplay.

The contemporary craft-bar house standard — spirit-forward without being austere. By pulling sweetener back to ¾ oz while keeping citrus at 1 oz, the drink stays bright and lively without cloying. Associated with the Death & Co / Cocktail Codex lineage; this is the shape their root Daiquiri takes.

The driest of the sour trio — equal ¾-oz measures of sweetener and citrus give the base spirit maximum presence without losing balance. Associated with the Milk & Honey / Sasha Petraske lineage, and often nicknamed the "golden ratio" in popular usage (though the term's usage varies across the industry).

The sour template for drinks whose sweetener is a liqueur, not a syrup. Because the liqueur brings its own ABV and less concentrated sugar than simple syrup, the syrup-sour math doesn't transfer directly — you typically need a heavier pour of the sweetener side and slightly less base spirit. Sidecar, Margarita, White Lady all live here.

The easiest ratio to remember: everything in equal parts. When each component brings its own distinct character — a spirit, a liqueur, a citrus, and sometimes an additional modifier — the result is a harmonious blend where no single element dominates. The Last Word is the most famous example.