33 Easy Yet Delicious Cocktail Recipes

Who doesn’t need to learn a new cocktail recipe or two? You can never know how to make enough cocktails for when guests come over!

You’ll be feeling like a professional by the time you’re through with this article, just you wait!

Here are 33 amazing cocktails (see also ‘28 Fun Cocktails For The 4th Of July‘) to quench your thirst and spice up any social gathering – or perhaps even a Wednesday night!

1. Bourbon Old Fashioned

A delicious and timeless classic, the Old Fashioned is a slug of whiskey that has been sweetened and seasoned.

First created 200 years ago, this cocktail’s simplicity has kept it as popular as ever throughout the years.

This cocktail is a perfect one if you’re just starting out mixing drinks, as it only uses five ingredients and three steps. Plus, it’s a fan favorite for anyone that enjoys a good whiskey!

2. Dark ‘N Stormy

The Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail is another old one, created more than 100 years ago by a member of Bermuda’s Royal Naval Officer’s Club.

They added a little local rum into a spicy ginger beer, and thus the cocktail was born.

The drink gets its name from how the creators described it when they first made it – ‘the color of a cloud only a fool or a dead man would sail under’. Slightly ominous, but it makes its point!

3. The Bahama Mama

Next up is a slightly lighter sounding drink, the Bahama Mama is a tropical cocktail that is perfect for transporting you to your own private island, sipping your drink as you bask in the island breeze.

This light cocktail is made with three different types of rum – light, dark, and coconut! This is paired with orange and pineapple juice, as well as a quick splash of grenadine.

Doesn’t that sound like the epitome of an island holiday?

4. Mojito

Otherwise known as a traditional Cuban highball, the Mojito is an incredibly popular cocktail, so it’s one that everyone should know how to make.

Luckily, this is an easy one to make with only five ingredients – white rum, lime juice, sugar, soda water, and mint.

The sweetness and minty flavor of the garnish pairs perfectly with the rum, making this a great cocktail of the summer.

5. Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail

The Long Island Iced Tea is a popular cocktail that rose to popularity in the 1980s. While it might not be so popular nowadays, it is still a fan favorite for people who enjoy a good refreshing drink.

You can serve this in summer for a delicious way to cool down after basking in the sun.

The main ingredients are rum, gin, vodka, tequila, cointreau, lemon and lime juice, and cola. That’s quite the mix of spirits!

6. Paloma Cocktail

A paloma cocktail is the ideal mix of sweet and sour to make a refreshing drink. This recipe calls for tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, sea salt, and sparkling water.

Present to your guests in a short glass with a salt rim and a grapefruit slice added onto the side.

The grapefruit juice gives the cocktail a gorgeous peachy color, making this ideal for a hen party, girls night, or any gathering with a color scheme.

7. Frozen Margarita Recipe (With Any Fruit)

Get your thinking caps on and make this cocktail your own! We all know how good a margarita is, so consider what kind of fruit you’d enjoy the most within the recipe and add it in!

A frozen margarita is the ideal cooling drink for a warm day, and you’ll never get bored of this recipe thanks to the customization factor! We love mango or strawberries the best – what about you?

8. Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe

This is a cocktail that many people swear by to cure all hangovers. After all, what’s a better cure than the hair of the dog?

This recipe calls for vodka, spices, clamato juice, and a few more secret ingredients! If you enjoy a Bloody Mary, then you’ll love a Classic Canadian Caesar!

9. Peach Bellini

A simple and classic bellini is made from peach puree and prosecco. Originated in Venice, this is a deliciously refreshing and light drink. It’s perfect for celebrations!

There are many variations of the classic bellini, but peach is the original and therefore one of the best. If you want to try an authentic bellini, this is the recipe for you.

10. Amaretto Sour

An impressive cocktail perfect for a dinner party, all of your guests will be in awe of your skills to make this one.

The main drink is made from amaretto (see also ‘28 Delicious Amaretto Cocktails‘), cherry syrup and lemon juice, and it is topped with creamy egg white.

Finished with a maraschino cherry, this is a sweet and sour cocktail perfect for any occasion.

11. Michelada Recipe – Spicy Mexican Beer And Tomato Juice Cocktail

Another lesser known cocktail, the spicy Mexican beer (see also ‘Traditional Mexican Drinks: 20 Of The Best‘) and tomato juice cocktail is one for those with distinctive palettes.

While it might not be a cocktail for everyone, those who like it can’t get enough of it.

You can use any light Mexican beer for the Michelada, mixing it with clamato juice, lime juice, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and hot sauce – that’s a whole lot of flavor!

12. Daiquiri

The Daiquiri is another popular cocktail that is seen on most menus across the country. It’s made from Bacardi rum, sugar syrup, lime juice, bitters, and ice. The outcome is a simple, sweet, and refreshing drink.

This drink is so popular thanks to the sweetness often masking the taste of the rum, and therefore it’s a great one for those who don’t like the taste of alcohol.

13. BA’s Best Piña Colada

Pina Coladas are the drink of the summer for most people, with a delicious mix between coconut cream, pineapple, white rum, lime juice, and fresh fruit for garnish.

This cocktail is a slightly more difficult one to create as it takes longer, but you can make an entire pitcher up in one go to make it easier on the host (for more pitcher cocktails that are perfect for summer, read here).

14. Sidecar Cocktail Recipe

The Sidecar is so popular because it’s incredibly easy to make.

It is on the same lines as the daiquiri and the old fashioned, which only use a few ingredients and steps to make. Sidecars are made from cognac, cointreau, lemon juice, and sugar.

This recipe literally takes two steps to make – it couldn’t be easier!

15. Moscow Mule

Yet another refreshing drink for the summer, the Moscow Mule is made from vodka, lime juice, ginger beer, and lime. It might just be the easiest cocktail to make of all time.

All you have to do is fill a glass of ice, add the vodka and lime juice before topping up with ginger beer. Garnish with the lime and serve – that’s it!

16. Malibu Sunset

The Malibu Sunset is a lovely looking cocktail that has a layered color look of the pineapple and orange juice.

It is also made with coconut rum and grenadine – which is the magic ingredient to create the gradient colors. These are oranges mixing into red, creating the look of the sunset.

17. Elderflower Smash (St-Germain Cocktail)

This cocktail is dainty looking with a light pink color that pairs well with the vibrant green mint. Muddle the mint well within the elderflower liqueur and gin before mixing with lemon juice and bitters.

The Elderflower Smash is the ideal combination of crisp and fresh, making this a good contender for your new favorite cocktail!

18. Carajillo Cocktail

The Carajillo cocktail is different from anything we have mentioned yet on this list, and it is the perfect after dinner cocktail.

It is made from espresso and Licor 43, which is a sweet Spanish liqueur. Serve this instead of dessert or instead of your after dinner coffee course – your guests will love it!

19. Perfect Kir Royale Recipe

A lighter cocktail now, the Kir Royale is one made from champagne and Creme de Cassis. This gives it a lovely pink color that you can pair with some raspberries for garnish.

The Kir Royale is not too sweet if you use a dry sparkling wine to make it. This is a great option for celebrations as everyone will enjoy the flavor and aesthetics!

20. Raspberry Bellini

Raspberries galore! We have already mentioned the classic bellini recipe today, but this recipe gives you a lovely spin on an already delicious drink.

Simply swap out the peaches for raspberries for a sweeter drink. This is the ideal drink to serve with brunch, as it’s light, refreshing, and not too sweet!

21. Classic Tom Collins

A Tom Collins cocktail always hits the spot on a warm summer day. It is made from gin, lemon juice, club soda, orange slices, simple syrup, and maraschino cherries.

The cherries should be held down at the bottom of the glass by the ice cubes, giving the cocktail a great look.

Top the cocktail off with another cherry and an orange slice to complete the presentation.

22. Grasshopper Drink

Next up is a creamy Grasshopper drink which is flavored with mint-chocolate!

If you have a sweet tooth, then this is the one for you. This cocktail includes Creme de menthe, creme de cacao, and cream.

You’re basically serving alcoholic mint chocolate ice cream, and who doesn’t love the idea of that?

23. Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail

You’ll often see the classic cosmopolitan cocktail in television shows and movies, as it is a popular drink with a lot of class.

The flavor is punchy and fruity, and it should be served in a martini glass. It’s a delicious drink that pairs well with any occasion, with vodka, triple sec, and cranberry juice as the main ingredients.

24. Appletini

The apple martini is a fan favorite among parties, so it’s a great option to learn how to make. The sour apple flavor is surprising and different from many other classic cocktails that are often too sweet.

If you’re not a big fan of sweet drinks, then you can enjoy an appletini instead.

This cocktail is made from apple juice, lemon juice vodka, green apple schnapps, and apple slices. If you love apples, you’ll love this one!

25. Whiskey Sour

Similar to the amaretto sour that we mentioned earlier, the whiskey sour is a simple recipe that consists of borbon, lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg whites, and ice.

The egg white adds another layer of intrigue to the cocktail, garnished with a cherry and an orange slice.

26. Mai Tai

One of the most popular tiki drinks out there, the Mai Tai is still often ordered despite the issues surrounding tiki itself.

The drink is made from dark rum, aged rum, orange juice, triple sec, lime juice, almond extract, sugar, grenadine, and orange slices for garnish.

It might be made of a lot of ingredients, but each of them provide a crucial part of the drink to make it as amazing as it is. Everyone will be in awe of your skills if you serve them a Mai Tai!

27. Kiss On The Lips Drink Recipe {Carnival Cruise Lines}

This cocktail is often served on the Carnival Cruise Lines, with a pure and simple taste that is perfect for the height of summer.

The flavors of mango, berries, and peach compliment each other perfectly! Serve with plenty of ice and you can’t go wrong with a Kiss on the Lips cocktail.

28. Classic French 75 Cocktail

French 75 is a sparkling gin cocktail that can be used for all sorts of occasions. The mixture between champagne and gin packs a punch and leaves anyone wanting more.

It is bubbly and light, perfect for summer, and almost everyone will enjoy the crispness of the flavor. Not too sweet or tart, break this recipe out for your next big celebration!

29. Hurricane Cocktail

The Hurricane cocktail is an iconic one that reminds anyone who tries it of a warm day and an island breeze. The main ingredient is rum, mixed with the perfect blend of passionfruit and orange.

Despite the taste being slightly complicated, it is surprisingly easy to make. Serve with a slice of orange and a cherry to maximize the effects of such a classy cocktail.

30. Mimosa Recipe (Champagne Orange Cocktail)

A mimosa is the classic celebration cocktail – have you ever been to a bridal party during the morning of the wedding? Mimosas are flowing everywhere. Also, it is the drink of brunch – bottomless mimosa anyone?

The classic mimosa is made from a dry sparkling wine, orange juice, and just a splash of Grand Marnier. This drink is delicious, light, easy to drink, and a clear fan favorite.

31. Tequila Sunrise

Tequila Sunrise is quite similar to the Malibu Sunset that we looked at earlier in terms of the appearance – the orange juice and grenadine are also used in this cocktail to make the orange and red colors blend together (see also ‘Red Cocktails: 20 Of The Best‘).

Instead of rum, however, Tequila Sunrise uses tequila within its recipe. Garnish with orange slices and maraschino cherries to complete the look!

32. Orange Creamsicle Cocktail

Orange creamsicles are amazing in the summertime, with the vanilla ice cream perfectly pairing with the orange popsicle casing.

What if we told you that you could enjoy all of the best bits of the orange creamsicle, but in a cocktail?

This frozen cocktail is the ideal option for any occasion during the summer, and this recipe is easy to follow. All you’ll need is orange juice, gin or vodka, and vanilla non-dairy milk!

You can customize the ingredients to suit your taste, which we love. We know you’re tempted – what are you waiting for?

33. Sea Breeze

Finally, the Sea Breeze cocktail was at its most popular in the 1980s. However, its popularity has ensured that it is still around today.

It’s perfect for drinking on the beach or in the warm sun, with a refreshing flavor and cooling effect.

The ingredients include vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, and a lime wheel for garnish.

Can you get a recipe much simpler than this one? Not only is it easy to make, but it is also delicious and a fan favorite all over the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The 10 Most Popular Cocktails?

The most popular cocktails are going to alter depending on who you are talking to and their personal preference on alcohol. However, there are a few cocktails that are simply obviously the most popular.

Here is a list of the 10 most popular cocktails:

• Old Fashioned
• Moscow Mule
• Negroni
• Mojito
• Whiskey Sour
• Daiquiri
• Margarita
• Mai Tai
• Bloody Mary
• Manhattan

This is based on a national survey, but there are a few other popular cocktails that didn’t make this list – so don’t be surprised if your favorite didn’t make the cut!

What Are The Six Basic Cocktails?

In the world of bartending, there are six basic cocktails that you should know about.

These all have one ingredient that falls into at least one category – Core is the primary flavor, balance furthers the core with added sweetness or tartness, and a seasoning to add more flavor to the drink.

Once you have a grasp on these six basic cocktails, you should be able to create a number of different variations and therefore new cocktails. Here are the six basic cocktails that you should learn how to make:

• Old Fashioned
• Martini
• Daiquiri
• Sidecar
• Whiskey Highball
• Flip

Now that you have these six basic cocktails down, you can use your knowledge to make your own new concoctions – the possibilities are endless!

Summary

We hope that you have enjoyed our list of 33 delicious cocktail recipes for you to try at home (see also ‘20 St. Germain Cocktail Recipes You Need To Try‘)! You can never have too many cocktail recipes underneath your belt, and you can always come back to our article to find new ones too!

Which recipe are you going to try out first?