5 Easy Cocktails to Make at Home

What are the best – and easiest – cocktails to make at home?

That’s what we were contemplating when we made this list. Because, let’s be real: The options are really endless. Something delicious and fruity, like a bramble? Something sour like, well, a sour? Our minds were swimming as we thought of the possibilities. What are five easy cocktails to make at home?

But then we brought ourselves back to reality.

What we needed to choose were the ones that met the following criteria:

• The ingredients should be pretty easy to make or find. Sure, we could’ve chosen a Mai Tai, but we’re willing to bet you might not have Orgeat on hand if you are reading this as a beginner. If you do, good on you! For this list, we wanted to include stuff you might just have on hand.
• It should be simple to make. No crazy methods, not a lengthy list of ingredients. We tried as best as we could to keep it to just a few ingredients so it’s easy on ya, and you don’t have to worry about remembering a ton of stuff.
• It should be something you want to make. So we went with some classics. All of the options we chose are fairly popular or at least pretty well known. Also, we went with different base spirits in case you have one but might not have the others.

So what did the list ultimately look like? Here goes:

• Margarita – Simple, refreshing and delicious for our tequila fans out there
• Old Fashioned – Made with your choice of bourbon or rye
• Moscow Mule – The crisp bite of ginger beer coupled with vodka and lime? Sign us up!
• Martini – Gin martini, that is. Two ingredients. That’s it.
• Daiquiri – A rum-based classic. How can three ingredients taste so good?

If you’re a beginner, then we’re hoping this video will help spark an interest in cocktail-making. Maybe it’ll help you figure out which base spirit is your favorite! Or perhaps you find a go-to cocktail to share with friends. Either way, let’s have fun getting into some of these classic but easy cocktails to make at home!

Margarita

The margarita is just a perfect summer cocktail. The lime juice, tequila and agave syrup work together so harmoniously, and having a salt rim really takes this drink to a new place.

2 oz. blanco tequila
1/2 oz. orange liqueur
1 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. agave syrup
lime wheel for garnish
kosher salt (optional)

Add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and agave syrup into a shaker tin. Add ice and shake until well chilled. Rim the rocks glass with kosher salt (optional). Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

Old Fashioned

This classic works incredibly with either bourbon or rye whiskey. If you go the rye route, it may have a bit more of a pepper ‘bite’, and if you go with bourbon, it may turn out a bit sweeter. Of course, these are generalities. Either way, it’s going to be SO good.

3 dashes Aromatic bitters (we prefer Angostura)
3 dashes orange bitters (we prefer Regan’s no. 6)
1 bar spoon (1 teaspoon) Demerara syrup*
2 oz. bourbon or rye whiskey (we prefer bourbon)
Lemon peel for garnish
Orange peel for garnish

Add the aromatic, orange bitters, demerara syrup and whiskey directly to the glass. stir briefly to incorporate ingredients. Drop in a large ice cube and stir for 10 seconds. Express the lemon peel over top of the cocktail, then circle it around the rim before dropping it in the side of the glass. Do the same for the orange peel.

Note: You can always mix an Old Fashioned in a cocktail mixing glass too, which will provide the necessary dilution before adding your large cube. Building in the glass is just a faster and similarly delicious way to enjoy your Old Fashioned. Either option is totally fine!

*For the Demerara syrup: Add 2 cups of Demerara Sugar (e.g. Sugar in the Raw) and 1 cup of water to a saucepan. heat until just under boiling, stirring regularly. When the sugar is dissolved, remove the saucepan from heat. Wait until cool to use.

Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule was one of the first cocktails we loved. And the reason is because it is so simple to make, and all component parts come together beautifully. If vodka is more your speed, then this is a great place to start.

5 oz. Lime Juice
2 oz. vodka
4 oz. ginger beer (or, to top)
Lime wheel for garnish

Add the lime juice and vodka to your mule mug. Add ice about halfway and stir for a few seconds to incorporate ingredients. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a lime wheel. Enjoy!

Gin Martini

Yes, we had to go with the classic gin martini. While there are plenty who love a vodka martini, it’s just not the classic. Also it gave us the option to get a gin cocktail on this list. The beauty of the martini is the fact that the ingredients really have nowhere to hide; it’s comprised of literally two ingredients (well, three if you count the lemon peel garnish expressed over the drink). That vermouth and gin interplay is nothing short of magic.

2 oz. gin
3/4 oz. dry vermouth
Lemon twist garnish

Add the dry vermouth and gin into a cocktail mixing glass with ice. Stir for 45 seconds (or until glass is thoroughly chilled). Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Daiquiri

I’m going to give you an anecdote on the Daiquiri: it took me a while to get around to it, and once I tasted one, I was never going to not drink it. If that makes sense. There’s just something so special when you mix rum, lime and simple syrup.

2 oz. white rum
3/4 oz. simple syrup
3/4 oz. lime juice
lime wedge garnish

Add the simple syrup, lime juice and rum into a shaker tin. Add ice and shake until well chilled. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

Conclusion

Alright, so that’s what we’ve got for easy cocktails to make at home! Which of these did you try? Go ahead and comment below to tell us which you chose – and if you chose more than one, which was your favorite? So many questions! Cheers, friends.