22 Easy Cocktails to Make at Home (Simple Party Drinks) 22 Easy Cocktails to Make at Home (Simple Party Drinks)

22 Easy Cocktails to Make at Home (Simple Party Drinks)

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22 Easy Cocktails to Make at Home (Simple Party Drinks)

You do not need a bartender's kit or a long shopping list to make a great drink. This is our collection of easy cocktails to make at home, the simple, crowd-pleasing party drinks that come together in minutes with a handful of ingredients. From timeless classics like the Margarita and Daiquiri to breezy sippers like the Dark 'n' Stormy, each recipe below lists what you need and how to build it. Pick one for tonight or batch a few for your next gathering.

Everything here starts with a bottle or two from the back bar. Browse our tequila, rum, gin, and vodka collections, find more ideas on the CW Spirits recipes hub, and if you want to kick things off with a tray of shooters, see our party shot recipes.

Tequila cocktails

1. Margarita

Margarita cocktails

Base spirit: Casamigos Blanco Tequila + Grand Marnier Liqueur · Glass: Margarita glass · Color: Pale green · Flavor profile: Sour, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~18% ABV)

The classic tequila, lime, and orange liqueur sour with a salted rim.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Rim a rocks glass with salt and fill it with ice.
  2. Add the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice to a shaker with ice and shake well.
  3. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

Want a twist on this? Try our Spiced Sunset Blood Orange Margarita.

2. Paloma

Paloma cocktails

Base spirit: Patron Silver Tequila · Glass: Highball · Color: Pale pink · Flavor profile: Refreshing, citrusy · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 to 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~12% ABV)

A refreshing highball of tequila and grapefruit soda over ice.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Rim a tall glass with salt and fill it with ice.
  2. Add the tequila and lime juice, then top with grapefruit soda.
  3. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.

Want a twist on this? Try our Spicy Paloma Picante.

3. Chavela

Chavela cocktails

Base spirit: Don Julio Blanco Tequila + Mexican lager · Glass: Highball · Color: Golden · Flavor profile: Savory, spicy, citrusy · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 to 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~8% ABV)

A Mexican beer cocktail with tequila, lime, and a spiced rim.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Rim a tall glass with chili salt and fill it with ice.
  2. Add the tequila, lime juice, and a dash of hot sauce.
  3. Top with cold Mexican lager, stir gently, and serve.

Rum cocktails

1. Daiquiri

Daiquiri rum cocktails

Base spirit: Mount Gay Eclipse Rum · Glass: Coupe · Color: Pale, cloudy · Flavor profile: Sour, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~20% ABV)

A bright, balanced sour of white rum, lime, and sugar.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake hard until well chilled.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe and serve.

Want a twist on this? Try our Chill Daiquiri.

2. Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre rum cocktails

Base spirit: Bacardi Anejo Cuatro 4 Year Rum · Glass: Highball · Color: Cola brown · Flavor profile: Sweet, cola, lime · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~12% ABV)

A rum and cola highball brightened with fresh lime.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
  2. Add the rum and lime juice, then top with cola.
  3. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.

3. Dark 'n' Stormy

Dark 'n' Stormy rum cocktails

Base spirit: Gosling's Black Seal Rum · Glass: Highball · Color: Amber over gold · Flavor profile: Spicy ginger, citrus · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 to 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~13% ABV)

Dark rum floated over spicy ginger beer and lime.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the ginger beer and lime juice.
  2. Slowly float the dark rum on top so it layers.
  3. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.

4. Rum and Coke

Rum and Coke cocktails

Base spirit: Appleton Estate Signature Blend Rum · Glass: Highball · Color: Cola brown · Flavor profile: Sweet, cola · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~12% ABV)

The two-ingredient classic that could not be easier.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
  2. Add the rum, then top with cola.
  3. Stir gently and serve.

5. Barbados Cocktail

Barbados Cocktail

Base spirit: Mount Gay Eclipse Rum + DeKuyper Triple Sec · Glass: Coupe · Color: Pale gold · Flavor profile: Sour, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~20% ABV)

A rum sour with orange liqueur and lime for a little island lift.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake well until chilled.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe and serve.

Gin cocktails

1. Gimlet

Gimlet gin cocktails

Base spirit: Beefeater Gin · Glass: Coupe · Color: Pale, cloudy · Flavor profile: Crisp, tart · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~22% ABV)

A crisp gin sour built on lime and a touch of sugar.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Beefeater Gin
  • 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
  • 0.75 oz simple syrup

Steps

  1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake until well chilled.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a lime wheel.

2. Gin Fizz

Gin Fizz cocktails

Base spirit: Bombay Sapphire Gin · Glass: Highball · Color: Cloudy white · Flavor profile: Frothy, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 to 4 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~14% ABV)

A frothy, effervescent gin sour lengthened with club soda.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake hard.
  2. Strain into a tall glass with ice.
  3. Top with club soda, stir gently, and serve.

Vodka cocktails

1. Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan vodka cocktails

Base spirit: Grey Goose Vodka + DeKuyper Triple Sec · Glass: Coupe · Color: Ruby red · Flavor profile: Tart, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~20% ABV)

A tart, ruby vodka sour with orange liqueur, lime, and cranberry.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake until well chilled.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a lime wheel.

Want a twist on this? Try our Green Cosmo.

2. Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary vodka cocktails

Base spirit: Tito's Handmade Vodka · Glass: Highball · Color: Deep red · Flavor profile: Savory, spicy · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 3 to 4 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~12% ABV)

The savory, spiced brunch classic built over ice.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Tito's Handmade Vodka
  • 3 oz tomato juice
  • 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 dashes hot sauce
  • Pinch of salt and pepper

Steps

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice and add all the ingredients.
  2. Roll the drink between two glasses or stir gently to combine.
  3. Garnish with a celery stalk and a lemon wedge.

3. Black Russian

Black Russian vodka cocktails

Base spirit: Ketel One Vodka + coffee liqueur · Glass: Rocks · Color: Dark brown · Flavor profile: Boozy, coffee, sweet · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Strong (~30% ABV)

A simple, boozy sipper of vodka and coffee liqueur.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
  2. Add the vodka and coffee liqueur.
  3. Stir gently and serve.

Beer, wine and low-effort drinks

1. The Garibaldi

The Garibaldi cocktails

Base spirit: Campari + orange juice · Glass: Highball · Color: Bright orange · Flavor profile: Bittersweet, citrusy · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 to 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~11% ABV)

Campari and fluffy fresh orange juice, bittersweet and bright.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Campari
  • 4 oz fresh orange juice

Steps

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the Campari.
  2. Top with fresh orange juice that has been aerated or briefly blended until frothy.
  3. Stir gently and serve.

2. The Shandy

The Shandy cocktails

Base spirit: Beer + lemonade · Glass: Pint glass · Color: Pale gold · Flavor profile: Light, citrusy · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~3% ABV)

Equal parts beer and lemonade for an easy, low-proof refresher.

Ingredients

  • 6 oz light beer
  • 6 oz lemonade

Steps

  1. Pour the beer into a chilled pint glass.
  2. Top with an equal amount of lemonade.
  3. Stir gently and serve.

3. Arnold Palmer (Adult Version)

Arnold Palmer (Adult Version) cocktails

Base spirit: Tito's Handmade Vodka · Glass: Highball · Color: Amber · Flavor profile: Sweet, tea, citrusy · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~9% ABV)

The iced tea and lemonade classic spiked with a shot of vodka.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
  2. Add the vodka, iced tea, and lemonade.
  3. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge.

No and low alcohol, batch-friendly drinks

1. Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon Agua Fresca cocktails

Base spirit: Optional Cazadores Blanco Tequila or Grey Goose Vodka · Glass: Highball · Color: Bright pink · Flavor profile: Light, fruity · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 5 min · Serves: 4 to 6 · Strength: Light (~6% ABV)

A light, refreshing blended watermelon cooler you can spike or serve as is.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Blend the watermelon, water, lime juice, and sugar until smooth.
  2. Strain into a pitcher and chill.
  3. Pour over ice, adding a shot of tequila or vodka per glass if desired.

2. Champurrado

Champurrado cocktails

Base spirit: Non-alcoholic (Mexican chocolate atole) · Glass: Mug · Color: Dark brown · Flavor profile: Warm, chocolate, spiced · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 5 min · Serves: 4 to 6 · Strength: Non-alcoholic (0% ABV)

A warm Mexican chocolate atole thickened with masa, perfect for a cold night.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup masa harina
  • 4 cups water or milk
  • 2 oz Mexican chocolate, chopped
  • 2 oz piloncillo or brown sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Steps

  1. Whisk the masa harina into 1 cup of the water until smooth.
  2. In a pot, warm the remaining liquid with the chocolate, piloncillo, and cinnamon until melted.
  3. Whisk in the masa mixture and simmer, stirring, until thickened, then serve warm.

More easy cocktails to try

1. Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz cocktails

Base spirit: Aperol Aperitivo + Sensi Prosecco · Glass: Wine glass · Color: Bright orange · Flavor profile: Bubbly, bittersweet · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 to 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~11% ABV)

The bubbly, bittersweet Italian aperitif everyone loves.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
  2. Add the Prosecco, then the Aperol, then the club soda.
  3. Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.

2. Moscow Mule

Moscow Mule cocktails

Base spirit: Wheatley Vodka · Glass: Copper mug · Color: Pale, cloudy · Flavor profile: Spicy ginger, citrus · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 2 to 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Light (~12% ABV)

Vodka, lime, and ginger beer served cold in a copper mug.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Fill a copper mug or tall glass with ice.
  2. Add the vodka and lime juice, then top with ginger beer.
  3. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.

Want a twist on this? Try our Berry Blush Mule (Strawberry Moscow Mule).

3. Old Fashioned

Old Fashioned cocktails

Base spirit: Bulleit Bourbon · Glass: Rocks · Color: Amber · Flavor profile: Boozy, sweet, aromatic · Skill level: Easy · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Strong (~32% ABV)

The original whiskey cocktail, built on sugar, bitters, and a citrus twist.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
  • 0.25 oz simple syrup or 1 sugar cube
  • 2 to 3 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Orange peel

Steps

  1. Add the simple syrup and bitters to a rocks glass and stir.
  2. Add the bourbon and a large ice cube, then stir until chilled.
  3. Express an orange peel over the glass and drop it in.

Want a twist on this? Try our Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned.

4. Whiskey Sour

Whiskey Sour cocktails

Base spirit: Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon · Glass: Rocks · Color: Amber, cloudy · Flavor profile: Sour, citrusy · Skill level: Intermediate · Prep time: 3 min · Serves: 1 · Strength: Medium (~20% ABV)

A balanced bourbon sour of whiskey, lemon, and sugar.

Ingredients

Steps

  1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake hard.
  2. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
  3. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

Want a twist on this? Try our Smokin' Maple Apple Sour.

Stock up before your next gathering from our tequila, rum, gin, vodka, and whiskey collections, and explore more drink ideas on the recipes hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest cocktail to make at home?

Two-ingredient builds like the Cuba Libre, Rum and Coke, or a Paloma, no shaker needed.

What cocktails only need 3 ingredients?

The Margarita, Daiquiri, Cosmopolitan, and Dark 'n' Stormy.

What are good party drinks for a crowd?

Batchable options like the Margarita, Paloma, and Aperol Spritz, mixed in a pitcher ahead of time.

Do I need a cocktail shaker for easy cocktails?

No, many are built in the glass; a shaker mainly helps with citrus or creamy drinks.

What liquor should I stock for easy cocktails?

Vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and whiskey cover most simple recipes.

Which easy cocktails can I batch ahead?

The Margarita, Paloma, Bloody Mary mix, and Moscow Mule; add carbonated mixers just before serving.