10+ Cocktail Recipes to Shake Up Your Party Nights

Cocktail recipes offer a fun and creative way to enjoy drinks at home or impress guests. Whether you like fruity, strong, or classic flavors, you can find a cocktail recipe that matches your taste.

With some basic cocktail recipes, you can make drinks easily and confidently. Making cocktails helps you learn about different flavors and ingredients.

You don’t need to be an expert to start mixing great drinks. With a few simple ingredients, you can create cocktails for any occasion.

1) Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail you can easily make at home. It mixes whiskey, bitters, and a little sugar.

You’ll start by dissolving sugar with bitters and a splash of water. Add ice and pour in bourbon or rye whiskey.

Stir gently to chill the drink without watering it down too much. Twist an orange peel over your glass to release oils.

This adds a fresh aroma and flavor to your cocktail.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup or 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Splash of water
• Orange peel for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Put sugar (or simple syrup) in a glass.
2. Add bitters and a splash of water.
3. Stir until sugar is mostly dissolved.
4. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
5. Pour the whiskey over the ice.
6. Stir gently for 20-30 seconds.
7. Twist an orange peel over the glass and drop it in.

2) Mojito

A mojito is a fresh, simple cocktail you can enjoy anytime. It mixes rum, lime, fresh mint, sugar, and club soda.

To make your mojito, gently muddle the mint leaves with sugar and lime juice. This releases the mint’s flavor.

Add white rum and top with bubbly club soda for a light fizz. Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar.

Use fresh ingredients for the best taste.

Ingredients

• 10 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 ounces white rum
• 4 ounces club soda
• Ice cubes

Cooking Instructions

1. Muddle mint leaves, sugar, and lime wedges in a glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
3. Pour in the white rum.
4. Top with club soda and stir gently.
5. Garnish with a mint sprig and lime slice.

3) Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan is a popular cocktail you can make at home. It’s fruity, a little tart, and has a lovely pink color.

This drink uses vodka, cranberry juice, lime, and a citrus liqueur. Shake the ingredients well with ice to chill.

Strain it into a chilled martini glass. Add a lemon twist or lime wedge for a finishing touch.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce triple sec or Cointreau
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• Lemon twist or lime wedge (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
3. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds.
4. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist or lime wedge if you like.

For more details, see this Cosmopolitan cocktail recipe.

4) Martini

The Martini is a classic, elegant cocktail. It usually mixes gin and dry vermouth in a 2:1 ratio.

Add a twist of lemon or an olive for extra flavor. If you prefer a lighter Martini, use equal parts gin and vermouth.

Some people add a dash of orange bitters to brighten the taste. Try variations like cucumber or elderflower to make it your own.

Ingredients

• 2 parts gin
• 1 part dry vermouth
• Lemon twist or olive (optional)
• Dash of orange bitters (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Chill your glass in the freezer for 10 minutes.
2. Add gin and vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice.
3. Stir well for about 30 seconds.
4. Strain into the chilled glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist or olive.

5) Manhattan

The Manhattan is a classic cocktail that’s easy to make. Start with rye whiskey for a bold flavor.

Add sweet vermouth for a touch of sweetness. Bitters bring all the flavors together.

Stir the mix with ice to chill it. Strain it into a chilled glass.

Garnish with a brandied cherry or a lemon twist for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces rye whiskey
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Brandied cherry or lemon twist (for garnish)

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Add rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
3. Stir well for 15–20 seconds until chilled.
4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
5. Garnish with a brandied cherry or lemon twist.

6) Negroni

The Negroni is a classic cocktail made with just three ingredients. It offers a balanced mix of bitter, sweet, and herbal flavors.

Use equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Stir these with ice until chilled.

Garnish with a twist of orange peel for a fresh aroma.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce gin
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• Orange peel for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Add gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass.
2. Stir with ice until cold, about 20-30 seconds.
3. Strain into a glass with fresh ice.
4. Garnish with an orange peel.

Learn more about making a Negroni here.

7) Tom Collins

The Tom Collins is a refreshing cocktail you can make at home. It uses gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda.

Start by shaking gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice. Strain it into a glass filled with ice.

Top with club soda and stir gently. Garnish with a lemon wheel for a fresh touch.

This cocktail is served in a tall glass, often called a Tom Collins glass.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces London dry gin
• 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• Club soda to top
• Lemon wheel for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake for 10-15 seconds until cold.
3. Strain into a tall glass with ice.
4. Top with club soda.
5. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wheel.

For more details, check the Tom Collins Cocktail Recipe.

8) Aperol Spritz

The Aperol Spritz is a light and refreshing Italian cocktail. It’s perfect for warm days and easy to make.

Mix sparkling Prosecco, Aperol, and a splash of soda water. The classic ratio is 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol, and 1 part soda water.

Pour the ingredients over ice in a large wine glass. Add a slice of orange for color and flavor.

Ingredients

• 3 parts Prosecco
• 2 parts Aperol
• 1 part soda water
• Ice cubes
• Orange slice

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a wine glass with ice cubes.
2. Pour in 3 parts Prosecco.
3. Add 2 parts Aperol.
4. Top with 1 part soda water.
5. Stir gently.
6. Garnish with an orange slice.

For more details, check this Aperol Spritz recipe.

9) Gin and Tonic

A gin and tonic is a simple, refreshing cocktail you can make at home. Fill a tall glass with ice.

Pour your favorite gin over the ice. Add tonic water to fill the glass.

Gently stir to mix the flavors. Squeeze in fresh lime juice for a nice touch.

Add garnishes like lime wheels or herbs if you like.

Ingredients

• 1¾ ounces (52.5 ml) gin
• 3¼ ounces (97.5 ml) tonic water
• Ice cubes
• Lime wedge or wheel

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour gin over the ice.
3. Add tonic water to fill the glass.
4. Gently stir the drink.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.

10) Daiquiri

The Daiquiri is a simple, refreshing cocktail you can easily make at home. It uses just three main ingredients.

This drink highlights the bright taste of fresh lime mixed with light rum. Use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor.

Sweeten it with sugar syrup to balance the tartness. Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a chilled glass.

Serve this classic cocktail without ice in the glass. Add a lime twist as a garnish if you like.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces light rum
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 3/4 ounce simple syrup or demerara sugar syrup
• Lime twist for garnish (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine rum, lime juice, and syrup in a shaker with ice.

2. Shake for about 15 seconds.

3. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.

4. Garnish with a lime twist if you like.

For more on this recipe, see the Daiquiri Cocktail Recipe.