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You asked, so here it is. A reminder that I am not a mixologist or a bartender or an expert, but simply an avid appreciator of a yummy cocktail and the ones I've listed below are truly so so simple and delicious.
If you have not yet stocked your home bar with the essentials, then pause here and click here, here, and here to make sure you've got the right goodies to make the recipes below.
Before we begin, a list of every liquid listed in the 17 recipes below which are pretty standard easy to find ingredients, along with my suggested links to them:
Soda water
Simple syrup - easy recipe
Honey syrup - easy recipe
Brewed espresso
I also *highly* recommend you download the app Highball, available on iOS, where you can save recipes and edit or build your own and include a custom mini graphic like the ones in this article. And it's freeeeeeeeee!
vodka based
espresso martini
1 oz vodka
1 oz Kahlua
1 oz brewed espresso (allow it to cool completely!)
garnish: espresso beans
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Add all three liquids to cocktail shaker with a handful of ice and shake really well
2. Strain into chilled cocktail glass
3. Add 2-3 espresso beans to the foamy layer of the drink for added aroma
moscow mule
1.5 oz vodka
4 oz ginger beer
¼ oz lime juice
garnish: lime
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine vodka, ginger beer, and ice in chilled glass and stir
2. Top with lime juice and garnish with citrus
gin based
negroni
1 oz gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth
garnish: orange
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Add all liquids to mixing glass with a handful of ice and stir well
2. Strain into a rocks glass with a few large ice cubes and garnish with citrus
french 75
1 ½ oz gin
¾ oz lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
dry champagne (or sparkling wine)
garnish: lemon
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Shake all ingredients (except champagne and garnish) with ice
2. Strain into a flute glass
3. Top with champagne and garnish with citrus
greyhound
1 ½ oz gin or vodka
3 oz fresh grapefruit juice
¼ oz simple syrup
garnish: grapefruit wedge and rosemary
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Fill glass with ice
2. Place all ingredients (except garnish) into shaker with handful of ice cubes and shake until cold
3. Strain into glass and add garnish if desired.
bee’s knees
2 oz gin
1 oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz honey syrup
garnish: lemon twist
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Add all ingredients (minus the garnish) to cocktail shaker with a handful of ice and shake until very cold
2. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist
rum based
daiquiri
1 ½ oz white rum
¾ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
garnish: lime
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Shake all liquids in shaker with a handful of ice
2. Strain and pour into chilled coupe glass and garnish with citrus
mojito
1 ½ oz white rum
1 oz fresh lime juice
6 mint sprigs
2 tsp white sugar
soda water
garnish: mint sprig + lime
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Muddle mint sprigs with sugar and lime juice in a glass and add splash of soda water
2. Pour rum and soda water in glass over ice and garnish with mint and lime
tequila based
margarita
1 ½ oz tequila
¾ oz cointreau
¾ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
garnish: salt + lime wedge
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Shake tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and syrup in a shaker with ice
2. Rim a rocks glass with salt and fill with ice
3. Strain cocktail into glass and garnish
paloma
2 oz tequila blanco
2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
½ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
1 oz soda water
garnish: flaky sea salt for rim and a grapefruit wedge
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cut a notch in grapefruit wedge and run it around the rim of a glass. Dip the glass rim into a plate of flaky sea salt
Add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and syrup to glass and stir well.
Fill the rest of the glass with ice, top with soda water and serve
bourbon whiskey based
paper planes
¾ oz amaro
¾ oz Aperol
¾ oz bourbon whiskey
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
garnish: lemon
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Shake all liquids in shaker with a handful of ice until well chilled
2. Strain into chilled coupe glass and garnish with lemon
boulevardier
1 ½ oz bourbon whiskey
1 oz sweet or semi-sweet vermouth
1 oz Campari
Ice, for serving
garnish: orange peel
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine bourbon, sweet vermouth, and Campari in a mixing glass with a handful of ice and stir for 30 seconds
2. Add ice to lowball glass and strain the cocktail into the glass
Cut a 1” wide strip of orange peel and squeeze into the drink to release the oils. Run the peel around the rim of the glass, then place it in the drink and serve
new york sour
2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 oz lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
1 oz dry red wine
garnish: lemon twist
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Add the bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker and fill with a handful of ice -- shake well
2. Strain the drink into an ice-filled lowball glass
3. Pour red wine over the back of a spoon just above the drink, creating a layer on top. Option to top with a lemon twist
rye whiskey based
manhattan
2 ½ oz rye whiskey
¾ oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass
toronto
2 oz rye whiskey
½ oz Fernet-Branca
¼ oz simple syrup or maple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
garnish: orange peel
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass
liqueur based
americano
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth
4 oz soda water
garnish: lemon or orange
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Stir together Campari and vermouth in a highball glass
2. Add ice and top with soda water
3. Stir and garnish with lemon or orange wedge
aperol spritz
2 oz aperol, chilled
3 oz Prosecco or other sparkling wine, chilled
1 oz soda water
garnish: orange wedge
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Add Aperol to a glass filled with ice and stir.
2. Top with sparkling wine and soda water
3. Add garnish and stir gently
Any yummers you think I missed? Comment below!