8 Easy but Delicious Cocktails
Cocktails have evolved into quite a phenomenon in that there are hundreds of different drinks, variations, and many techniques to choose from. Sure, you could spend dozens, even hundreds of dollars, at a cocktail bar or restaurant, but I’m going to show you that making great cocktails at home is easy.
I’m here today to show you 8 incredibly easy cocktails that anyone can make at home, and once you know how to make these classics, then you can put your own twist on them with your own ingredients and flavors.
There’s not much need for a long introduction, so let’s begin!
Old Fashioned
When it comes to classic cocktails, one of the first that people think of is the Old Fashioned, one of the oldest cocktails that is still mixed up to this day. Granted, strong cocktails like this aren’t for everyone, but it is a good way to start your journey to becoming a mixing pro.
An Old Fashioned is often built in the glass that it’s drunk from. To start, place a sugar cube into the bottom of a rocks glass or Old Fashioned glass, then douse that sugar with about 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters, one of the most popular cocktail bitters in the world (Optional: adding a bit of club soda will help the sugar dissolve faster). Take your muddler and start to press down and beat up that sugar; the goal is to dissolve the sugar, so you do want to be generous with your muddling. If you don’t feel like messing around with sugar, then 1/2 ounce of simple syrup will also do the job.
Once your sugar is nicely dissolved add 2 ounces of either Bourbon or Rye Whiskey, your choice, and a big, dense ice cube that will melt slowly so you can enjoy the drink longer.
Get your bar spoon down to the bottom of the glass, and give it a nice stir for about 10 seconds to chill the whiskey and mix it with the sugar and bitters. To garnish, the classic way to go is with either an orange twist and/or lemon twist.
And that is your Old Fashioned, the oldest cocktail in the world, and that has spawned many variations. When the word cocktail first came about in the 18th Century, it was described as any mix of bitters, sugar, water, and spirit, and that’s exactly what an Old Fashioned is made of.
Tom Collins
The Tom Collins is a very classic fizzy gin cocktail that couldn’t be easier to make.
Grab your shaker and combine 1 ounce of lemon juice, 1/2 ounce of simple syrup (made by dissolving equal parts sugar and water), and 1 1/2 ounces of Old Tom gin. You may notice that this gin is yellow as opposed to regular clear gin, this color means that this gin was either aged in a barrel or has had malt added to it.
Add some ice to the shaker, then you’ll want to vigorously shake to combine and chill everything in there. Strain this into either a Collins glass or any drinking glass, then top with 2 ounces of club soda. Garnish with a strip of orange peel and a brandy cherry.
If you love fizzy drinks as much as I do, then you’ll love a Tom Collins.
Blinker
The Blinker is a drink that is somewhat forgotten about, but it is very delicious, it has wonderful fruity flavor that makes it unique to any rye whiskey cocktail.
To make a Blinker, all you need is 1 ounce of grenadine, 3 ounces of grapefruit juice, and 2 ounces of Rye whiskey. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with some ice, shake vigorously, then strain into a drinking glass and garnish with a Grapefruit twist.
I used to think that citrus twists were an unnecessary garnish for cocktails since you don’t really consume them, so why do you need them? But now I realize that what they do is add a touch of fresh aroma plus a bit of flavor to the drink that lifts the flavor of any cocktail that they go into.
There are very few fruity, citrusy classic cocktails that people think of when they think of rye whiskey, but this is one of them. It’s very easy to make yet it tastes like $1 million. And even if you don’t like grapefruit, I still recommend you give this drink a try as the sweet-tart grenadine cuts through the bitter grapefruit beautifully.
Vesper
If you like a Martini, then you might like the very classic Vesper, a similar drink named after James Bond’s girlfriend made with gin and vodka for a unique flavor. Also, traditional recipes for the Vesper were made with a product called Kina Lillet but…it’s no longer produced, so the closest we have is a fortified wine called Lillet Blanc.
To make a Vesper, start with a chilled pint glass or mixing glass, any Martini variation should be as cold as possible. Add 1/4 ounce of Lillet Blanc, 1/2 ounce of vodka, and 1 1/2 ounces of gin. This is the classic ratio, but you can do equal parts gin and vodka if you want. Fill the glass with ice, then stir until the drink feels very cold, almost frozen.
Strain this into a very cold glass, then garnish with a lemon twist.
And there you have it, a very classic Vesper. Easy to make, and a perfect pick me up.
Mai Tai
The Mai Tai is the most well-known tropical drink in the world, it’s a drink that can make anyone feel like they’re sitting on the beach in Hawaii or the Caribbean with every sip. The Mai Tai seems a bit complicated, but it’s actually quite simple to make.
In your shaker, you’ll want to combine 3/4 ounce of lime juice, fresh squeezed of course, 1/2 ounce of Orgeat, a French almond syrup; if you can’t find Orgeat then just use simple syrup, 1/2 ounce of Curacao or Triple Sec, and 2 ounces of aged rum. I like using Appleton Estate aged rum as it has a bit of funk to it, but you can use any kind of rum that you like.
Whip shake the drink by adding a small piece of ice and vigorously shake until the ice is dissolved and you can’t hear it rattle around anymore. Pour everything into a Rocks glass, then fill the glass with crushed ice. For garnish, take a few nice fresh mint sprigs and give them a few smack between your hands to release the mint’s aromatic oils before sliding those in next to the straw so that when your guests pick up the drink to take a sip, they’ll smell that wonderful mint aroma.
And there you have a very classic Mai Tai, easy to drink and very delicious.
Paloma
The Paloma is a cousin to the Margarita in that it’s basically a fizzy grapefruit-tequila drink. Classic Paloma recipes call for grapefruit flavored soda, but I’m about to share a version that’s made with fresh juice.
In your shaker, combine 3/4 ounce of simple syrup, 1/2 ounce of lime juice, 1 ounce of grapefruit juice, and 2 ounces of tequila. Shake vigorously with some ice, then strain into a glass with a large ice cube to keep the drink cold and top with soda water. I also like adding a pinch of salt to the top of my Paloma because, like with salting a Margarita glass, it lends a bit of seasoning to the drink, but you do you.
We all know and love the Margarita, but this is a really nice bright, fizzy variation on a classic.
Bourbon Stone Sour
Whiskey sours are one of the easiest and most versatile cocktails in the world. The standard sour calls for lemon juice, sugar, whiskey, and sometimes even egg white for a foamy top, but the Stone Sour takes that to another dimension with the addition of fresh orange juice.
The ingredients in a Stone Sour couldn’t be more straightforward. 1 ounce of orange juice, 3/4 ounce of lemon juice, 1 ounce of simple syrup, and 2 ounces of bourbon go into your shaker. It doesn’t have to be a super expensive bourbon, it just has to have a nice flavor. Add some ice, then as with any shaken cocktail, shake the drink vigorously to chill and combine the drink. Strain the drink into a glass, then garnish with a cocktail cherry and an orange twist or orange slice.
And there you have it, a very classic Bourbon Stone Sour. Very refreshing, very easy to make, and will be a delight for anyone who drinks it.
Malibu Bay Breeze
Ok, maybe now you want to try to step it up a little bit and work on getting a nice presentation with your drinks, I get it. This drink, the Malibu Bay Breeze, features 3 very simple ingredients, but practices the art of layering those ingredients for a stunning look.
Start by pouring 4 ounces of pineapple juice into the bottom of a serving glass. Place a spoon into the glass, then gently pour 1 1/2 ounces of cranberry juice onto the back of the spoon, it takes a bit of practice but doing this will allow the cranberry juice to float on top of the pineapple juice in an even layer. Finally, pour 1 1/2 ounces of Malibu coconut rum the same way you poured the cranberry juice. To finish, place a nice looking lime wheel onto the rim of the glass.
Ok, so you don’t have to get all fancy with the layering, but when your guests see how this looks, I can guarantee that they will be in awe. Sweet, tart, and a hint of coconut nuttiness, this is a really great low-alcohol drink that will transport you to the beaches of Malibu.
