Liquor That Starts With M

July 23, 2026

From the Martini to the Mudslide, the letter M has a surprisingly strong hold on the cocktail menu. And, each one has a backstory worth knowing. Here is a rundown of some of the most well-known drink options that start with M.

Related:

Table of Contents

Martini

The Martini is made with two ingredients: gin and dry vermouth, which are stirred with ice and then poured into a chilled glass. However, some recipes call for a dash of orange bitters, while others add teaspoons of olive brine (Dirty Martini) or coffee liqueur and espresso (Espresso Martini)

Fun Fact: If you come across a ‘wet’ Martini, this just means that it has more vermouth. The higher content gives the drink a sweeter profile than its ‘dry’ version, which has more gin.

Mojito

Mojito, a Cuban drink, is made of white rum, fresh lime juice, sugar, mint, and soda water. The origin of the name is still debated, with some tracing it to “mojo,” a Cuban citrus-based seasoning, and others linking it to “mojadito,” the Spanish word for “a little wet.”

Margarita

An authentic Margarita is made with tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice. And of course, it is served in a glass featuring a salted rim. But why add salt? Well, it has a specific chemical purpose – sodium suppresses the tongue’s perception of bitterness, and, simultaneously, enhances the bright, sour notes of the fresh citrus juice.

Manhattan

This classic drink combines rye or bourbon whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters, stirred and topped with a maraschino cherry. So, should you use rye or bourbon? Well, that depends on your preferences.

For a spicier edge, use rye. But if you want a smoother, sweeter option, go with bourbon.

Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule pairs vodka with ginger beer and fresh lime juice, poured over ice in a copper mug. So, why not in a regular cup? Well, the copper mug keeps the drink colder longer and slightly amplifies the carbonation.

The cocktail was created around 1940 or 1941 at the Cock ‘n’ Bull bar in Los Angeles, where Smirnoff executive John G. Martin and bar owner Jack Morgan combined their two slow-selling products: vodka and house-made ginger beer.

Mai Tai

Mai Tai comes from the Tahitian word for “good.” It uses aged Jamaican rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, and orgeat syrup (an almond-flavored sweetener). Where did it come from? uses aged Jamaican rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, and orgeat syrup (an almond-flavored sweetener).

Mimosa

A Mimosa is equal parts chilled Champagne and fresh orange juice – yes, it is just a 2-ingredient drink! The drink was supposedly created at the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1925, though a similar drink called the Buck’s Fizz had already appeared in London a few years earlier.

Mudslide

The Mudslide is a dessert-style cocktail made with vodka, Kahlua, and Baileys Irish Cream, blended or served on the rocks. So, where does the drink come from? Well, in the 1970s, bartenders at the Rum Point Club’s Wreck Bar in Grand Cayman substituted heavy cream with Irish cream because they were out of milk.

Over time, the drink moved away from its on-the-rocks origins and became popular at chain restaurants. The drink is often blended with vanilla ice cream, turning it into something closer to a boozy milkshake, a version now commonly called the Frozen Mudslide.

Martinez

Another liquor that starts with the letter is the Martinez. You can make this drink by combining Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters, resulting in a drink that is considerably sweeter and more complex than a standard Martini.

Midori Sour

Midori is a bright green Japanese melon liqueur introduced to the American market in 1978. When you mix lemon and lime juices, simple syrup, and soda, you get a refreshing, bright, sour cocktail known as the Midori Sour. In some variations, mixologists top the drink with white, frothy egg whites, adding a velvety smooth texture.

Fun Fact: Midori means green in Japanese

Metropolitan

The Metropolitan is not the same as the Cosmopolitan because it swaps vodka for currant-flavored vodka or blackcurrant liqueur. The combination of citrus, cranberry, and blackcurrant makes it slightly richer and less sharp than its more famous cousin, the Cosmo.

Fun Fact: It emerged in the mid-1990s New York bar scene around the same time as the Cosmo.

Madras

The Madras is a simple, refreshing cocktail that calls for just three ingredients —vodka, cranberry juice, and orange juice. Plus, it is easy to make and doesn’t require a cocktail mixer! All you have to do is essentially put ice cubes in a highball glass, pour the vodka (1-1/2 oz), orange juice (1oz), and then cranberry (3oz). And yes, it has a lower alcohol content than its Cape Codder cousin, which is why many prefer it for casual summer drinking.