Make your favorite drinks and chill with family and friends for happy hour. You be in charge of the ingredients, I’ll take care of the recipes. There are a plethora of cocktails to choose from, from the classic margarita to the refreshing pina colada to the intense hurricane. But do you know what they’re made of? This list is here to educate/refresh your memory. If you want to make your favorite cocktails at home, I have you covered. This collection of cocktail recipes will make you feel like a professional! Dying to quench that cocktail thirst? These breezy cocktail recipes are exactly what you need. Cheers!
1. Margarita
Margaritas are perhaps the most popular cocktail known to man, and for good reason. This classic drink has the most refreshing blend of sweet and tangy. It only calls for three ingredients: tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau (orange liqueur). That’s the basic formula, but you can switch up the liqueur to make other flavors. This recipe, for instance, makes a fantastic strawberry margarita!
2. Whiskey Sour
Its name suggests that it’s all sour, but it’s not! Made with a blend of bourbon, lemon juice, and maple syrup, a whiskey sour has the perfect balance of sweet and sour. Did you know that this cocktail has been around since the 1870s? The classic cocktail is even on the list of the International Bartender Association’s official cocktails. It’s legit, and it’s as much loved then as it is now.
3. Old-Fashioned
The classic old-fashioned is the oldest cocktail in the book! It dates back all the way to the early 1800s, and the fact that it’s still around today is a true testament to how good it is. With a mixture of bourbon, orange, sugar, bitters, and a cherry, the old-fashioned has a spectrum of flavors that tickles the tastebuds.
4. Grasshopper
Another classic drink is the grasshopper, a green concoction made of creme de menthe, creme de cacao, and light cream. If you’re into chocolate mint milkshakes, you’ll love the grasshopper. This drink was invented in the 1950s and was particularly popular in the southeastern US. It’s not a very strong drink, so if you’re new to the world of alcoholic beverages, this is a good place to start.
5. Pina Colada
Pina coladas are a personal favorite of mine! The combination of pineapple, coconut cream, and rum is heaven to me. A sip of this refreshing drink instantly transports me to the beach. Here’s a tip: be sure to get those adorable drink umbrellas! I know they don’t contribute anything to the flavor, but they make pina coladas a hundred times more enjoyable.
6. Paloma
The paloma is a sweet, tart, and ultra-refreshing Mexican cocktail. A close relative of the margarita, it also features tequila but uses grapefruit to give it that tangy flavor. It’s traditionally made with grapefruit soda, but you can also use a mix of grapefruit juice and soda water in a pinch. Serve palomas in a cocktail glass rimmed with salt, and voila – it’s happy hour indeed!
7. French 75
Ever heard of the French 75? If not, it’s time to elevate your drinking game! This classic drink is a mix of gin, champagne, simple syrup, and lemon juice. This citrusy, sparkling cocktail is both fancy and fun. The French 75 is named after the French 75-mm Howitzer field gun, a common weapon during World War I. The drink is said to pack such a punch that drinking it felt like being hit by a gun.
8. Cranberry St. Germain Cocktail
St. Germain is a fairly new liqueur with a combination of lychee, grapefruit, and lychee scents. It’s a unique blend that you’ll definitely want in your liquor cabinet! Not convinced? Try this St. Germain cranberry cocktail for yourself. A mixture of St. Germain, vodka, and cranberry, this cocktail is insanely refreshing and packed with flavor. Also, just look at those festive Christmas colors! It’s the perfect holiday drink.
9. Cosmopolitan
The cosmopolitan is a tart and sweet cocktail made of vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice. It has a nice citrusy and berry flavor, and an even nicer pink hue. I like to think of it as a fancy and boozy pink lemonade. There are conflicting origin stories as to how the cocktail came to be, but I personally found out about it when watching the 90s TV series, Sex and the City. It was Carrie Bradshaw’s favorite drink!
10. Kir Royale
Kir royale is a summer-friendly cocktail made with French berry liqueur and chilled champagne. It’s a light and fizzy pink drink, perfect for special occasions. It’s such a simple blend – just two ingredients and you’re done – but it’s also super fancy. Sure, you can serve champagne as is, but adding the berry liqueur yields a significantly better result.
11. Mimosa
Champagne and orange juice make an elegant mimosa. This refreshing cocktail is ideal for the summer but also tastes great no matter the season. It’s perfect as it is, but try adding a splash of Cointreau for extra citrusy flavor. You can also switch things up by using grapefruit instead of orange juice. If you want an alcohol-free mimosa for the kids, use club soda instead of champagne.
13. Amaretto Sour
Amaretto sour is a mild cocktail with a sweet and sour flavor. It gets its sweetness and nuttiness from amaretto – a liqueur made from almonds and/or apricot pits. The sour part comes from lemon juice. This recipe also features a not-so-secret ingredient that ties those two flavors together really well: bourbon.
14. Kiss on the Lips Cocktail
This aptly named cocktail is a delectable blend of frozen ripe mango, peach schnapps, rum, vodka, and grenadine. If you love all things fruity and tropical, this is the drink for you. A sip of this drink literally feels like a kiss on the lips! That lovely color combination will definitely make you crave more.
15. Tequila Sunrise
Here’s another personal favorite of mine! The tequila sunrise is an eye-catching summer cocktail made with orange juice, grenadine, and not surprisingly, tequila. The color combinations make this drink super enticing! It’s deep orange at the bottom and bright yellow on top, hence the name. The added Maraschino cherry and orange slice give it extra charm, to boot.
16. Malibu Sunset
Here’s another sunny, fruity drink for ya! A Malibu sunset is a mix of pineapple, coconut rum, orange juice, grenadine, and cherries. Think of it as the love child of the pina colada and the tequila sunrise. There really is something special about the combination of coconut and pineapple. This tropical tandem takes me to summer paradise! Thrown in orange juice and cherries into the mix, and the drink becomes even more epic.
17. Sidecar
A sidecar is a cocktail of orange liqueur and lemon juice spiked with either brandy, cognac, bourbon, or Armagnac. It’s a sour cocktail with a touch of sweetness. This simple blend of ingredients yields complex flavors – it’s crisp, rich, dry, warm, and full all at once.
18. Daiquiri
Daquiris are a rum-based drink bursting with lemon flavor. Made with rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, it’s a basic cocktail concoction that sure hits the spot. Once you learn the basics, you can start to experiment with other flavors. That’s the beauty of the daiquiri: there are many variations to choose from, and they’re all terrific. Try strawberry, lime, pineapple, and my top choice: banana!
19. Long Island Iced Tea
Long Island iced tea is a super strong cocktail that definitely packs a punch. I t features five different spirits – gin, vodka, rum, tequila, and triple sec. One glass might just be enough to knock you out! Adding flavor to the boozy iced tea are cola and sour mix. While it does taste similar to iced tea, this cocktail doesn’t actually contain tea at all. It’s definitely refreshing, though!
20. Bahama Mama
Calling all coconut and pineapple lovers, out there: here’s another awesome cocktail for you. Don’t you just love sweet, tropical flavors? I most certainly do! The Bahama mama is yet another drink that features coconut rum and pineapple juice. It also contains orange juice, grenadine, and dark rum. The result is a delightfully sweet, fruity, and creamy drink that packs a punch.
21. Moscow Mule
The Moscow mule is a boozy drink of vodka, ginger beer, and lime. The ginger adds warmth to the drink, while the lime gives it a nice, refreshing citrus flair. Because of its unique combination of flavors, it makes for an excellent drink regardless of the season. The best part? It couldn’t be easier to make. Just stir ginger beer, vodka, and fresh lime in a glass and you’re all set.
22. Sea Breeze Cocktail
The sea breeze cocktail is made of vodka, grapefruit juice, and cranberry. It’s a relaxing fruity cocktail that will take your mind off the stresses of life. This classic drink has been around since the 50s but had only exploded in popularity in the late 70s to 80s. That said, if you’re serving this at a party, I suggest you give it an 80s vibe!
23. Mojito
The mojito is yet another citrusy cocktail that combines rum and lime. The difference is, this Cuban drink also has mint in it, giving it a nice, cooling effect. The perfect mojito isn’t too sweet and not overwhelmingly minty either. Instead, it has just the right balance of flavors that’ll make you feel refreshed and buzzed at the same time.
24. Caesar
Also known as a “Bloody Caesar,” this next cocktail is a close cousin of the Bloody Mary. It also contains vodka, but it makes use of Clamato juice, a more flavorful type of tomato juice. Unlike other cocktails featured here, the Caesar has a savory flavor with a bit of spice. If tomato juice is your jam, this drink will rock your world.
25. Tom Collins
Tom Collins is a controversial drink with mixed origins. America and England argued for a long time over who came up with it first. To this day, its origins remain unclear. There are only two things I know for sure, though: one, that Tom Collins is not a real person; and two, this cocktail is delicious. A combination of lemons, gin, club soda, and sugar, this cocktail is sweet and refreshing with a citrus flavor. It’s a lot like lemonade, but spiked with booze.
26. Mai Tai
The mai tai is a rum-based cocktail flavored with lime juice, orgeat syrup, and Curacao liqueur. It’s a classic drink in Tiki culture, and it is loved all over the world. The word “Maita’i” means “good” in Tahitian, making it such an appropriate name for the drink. The combination of unique ingredients makes this cocktail over-the-top delicious.
27. Michelada
Michelada is a Caesar-like drink made with tomato juice, lime juice, and hot sauce. But instead of vodka, it’s spiked with beer. Here’s where things get even more interesting: instead of salt, the rim is coated with a mix of Old Bay, chili powder, and celery salt. It may sound strange, but it actually compliments the savoriness of the drink really well.
28. Dark and Stormy
It may not sound at all enticing, but the dark and stormy cocktail is absolutely a must-try. And no, it wasn’t created by some gothic dude, but rather by sailors sailing in the Caribbean waters. Made with dark rum and ginger beer, this cocktail is truly dark and certainly packs a punch. Purists will frown upon adding lime juice, but the tart citrus adds a lovely flavor.
29. Carajillo
Carajillo is a Mexican cocktail widely consumed in Spain, Latin America, and of course, Mexico. A blend of espresso and Licor 43, this coffee-flavored cocktail is sure to make you feel alive. Aside from the coffee, you’ll also taste notes of anise, vanilla, orange blossom, and cinnamon. That’s all thanks to Licor 43, a yellow liqueur that’s said to contain 43 different ingredients.
30. Hurricane
Capping things off is the hurricane, a delicious and potent cocktail. Made with dark and light rums, lime juices, orange, grenadine, and simple syrup, it’s both refreshing and boozy at the same time.
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