10 Easy Cocktails to Make at Home

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During lockdown, we might not be able to hit the bars, but these delicious DIY cocktail recipes will make sure you don’t miss out on Happy Hour. Here are 10 easy cocktails to make at home.


1. Mojito 

This classic mojito cocktail is refreshing and easy to make. Mix white rum, lime juice, mint and soda water together for an instant crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • small handful mint leaves
  • 60ml white rum
  • soda water
Method
Step 1 : Muddle the lime juice, sugar and mint leaves in a small jug, crushing the mint as you go – you can use the end of a rolling pin for this. Pour into a tall glass and add a handful of ice.
Step 2: Pour over the rum, stirring with a long-handled spoon. Top up with soda water, garnish with mint and serve.

2. Piña colada

The coconut and pineapple flavor combination is a favorite among everyone. Create a retro piña colada with this easy recipe and kitsch umbrella in no time. With every sip, you’ll be transported somewhere sunny and warm singing “If you like Pina Coladas”.

Ingredients

  • 120ml pineapple juice
  • 60ml white rum
  • 60ml coconut cream
  • wedge of pineapple, to garnish (optional)
Method
Step 1 : Pulse all the ingredients along with a handful of ice in a blender until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and garnish as you like.

3. Martini

The ultimate classic cocktail is stirred, not shaken. Serve your martini with a twist of lemon, or an olive.

Ingredients

  • 60ml vodka or gin
  • 1 tbsp dry vermouth
  • olive or lemon peel, to garnish
Method
Step 1: Stir the gin or vodka, dry vermouth and a little ice together or put them in a cocktail shaker to combine.
Step 2: Strain into a chilled martini glass. Serve with an olive on a cocktail stick or a twist of lemon peel.

4. Cosmopolitan 

Everyone knows this fruity serve, which is surprisingly easy to make at home. Combine characteristic sweet and sour cranberry juice and orange liqueur with citrus vodka for a vibrant colourful cocktail. For an extra burst of citrus, try our garnish trick to release the orange oils in the zest.

Ingredients:

  • 45ml lemon vodka
  • 15ml triple sec
  • 30ml cranberry juice
  • 10ml lime juice
  • Ice
  • orange zest, or a lime wedge on the rim of the glass.
Method
Step 1: Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Step 2: To make the garnish: hold a 3cm round piece of orange zest about 10cm above your cosmo and very carefully wave it over a lit match or lighter flame. Bend the outer edge of the zest in towards the flame so that the orange oils are released, then drop the zest into your drink.

5. Sex on the beach

Filled to the brim with peach, orange and cranberry flavours, this juicy drink is ideal for those with a sweet tooth. Mix up this perfectly balanced sex on the beach cocktail in two easy steps, simply combine, stir and garnish with cocktail cherries and a slice of orange.

Ingredients:

  • 50ml vodka
  • 25ml peach schnapps
  • 2 oranges, juiced, plus 2 slices to garnish
  • 50ml cranberry juice
  • Ice
  • glacé cherries, to garnish (optional)
Method
Step 1: Fill two tall glasses with ice cubes. Pour the vodka, peach schnapps and fruit juices into a large jug and stir.
Step 2: Divide the mixture between the two glasses and stir gently to combine. Garnish with the cocktail cherries and orange slices.

6. Long island tea

Mix a jug of this classic cocktail for a summer party. It’s made with equal parts of vodka, gin, tequila, rum and triple sec, plus lime, cola and plenty of ice.

Ingredients:

  • 50ml vanilla vodka
  • 50ml dry gin
  • 50ml tequila
  • 50ml rum
  • 50ml triple sec
  • 50-100ml fresh lime juice
  • Ice
  • 500ml cola
  • 2 limes, cut into wedges
Method
Step 1: Pour the vodka, gin, tequila, rum and triple sec into a large (1.5l) jug, and add lime juice to taste. Half fill the jug with ice, then stir until the outside feels cold.
Step 2: Add the cola then stir to combine. Drop in the lime wedges.
Step 3: Fill 4 tall glasses with more ice cubes and pour in the iced tea.

7. Espresso martini

Learn how to make this classic coffee cocktail. This easy recipe uses freshly brewed espresso, a dash of coffee liqueur and a simple sugar syrup.

Ingredients: 

  • 100g golden caster sugar (for the syrup)
  • Ice
  • 100ml vodka
  • 50ml freshly brewed espresso coffee
  • 50ml coffee liqueur
  • 4 coffee beans (optional)
Method
Step 1: Start by making the sugar syrup. Put the caster sugar in a small pan over a medium heat and pour in 50ml water. Stir, and bring to the boil.
Step 2: Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool. Put 2 martini glasses in the fridge to chill.
Step 3: Once the sugar syrup is cold, pour 1 tbsp into a cocktail shaker along with a handful of ice, the vodka, espresso and coffee liqueur. Shake until the outside of the cocktail shaker feels icy cold.
Step 4: Strain into the chilled glasses. Garnish each one with coffee beans if you like.

8. Tequila sunrise

Learn how to make this classic cocktail, complete with grenadine, tequila, triple sec, orange juice, cocktail cherry, and umbrella.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp grenadine
  • Ice
  • 50ml tequila
  • 1 tbsp triple sec
  • 1 large orange, or 2 small ones, juiced
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 1 cocktail cherry
Method
Step 1: Pour the grenadine into the base of a tall glass and set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the tequila, triple sec and fruit juices. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels cold.
Step 2: Add a few ice cubes to the serving glass then carefully double strain the cocktail into it, trying not to disturb the grenadine layer too much. Add more ice if needed to fill the glass then garnish with a cherry on a stick or cocktail umbrella.

9. Classic Daiquiri

Getting the balance right is key to making a classic daiquiri. A daiquiri made from frozen fruit is fine, but this classic cocktail requires just three ingredients, ice, and a cocktail shaker.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz. lime juice
  • 2 tsp. superfine sugar
  • 2 oz. white rum
  • Sliced lime, for serving
Method
Step 1: In a cocktail shaker, stir together lime juice and sugar to dissolve.
Step 2: Fill with ice, add rum, and shake until cold. Strain into a coup and serve with a slice of lime.

10. Classic negroni

This elegant classic negroni is made simply with three key ingredients. A traditional Italian drink with intensely herby sweet vermouth, bitter campari, and gin that’s worth savoring. You can serve sliced oranges or blood oranges when they are in season.

Ingredients:

  • 25ml gin
  • 25ml sweet vermouth
  • 25ml Campari
  • Ice
  • slice of orange (for garnish)
Method
Step 1: Pour the gin, vermouth and Campari into a mixing glass or jug with ice. Stir well until the outside of the glass feels cold.
Step 2: Strain into a tumbler and add 1 large ice sphere or some fresh ice, and garnish with an orange slice, using a blood orange when in season.