Look Fancy With These Easy to Make Cocktails

Make your cocktails the talk of the town! Whether you’re throwing a celebratory party or having a few good friends over, it’s handy to have a number of go-to cocktails in your back pocket. We’re talking about those signature mixed drinks that are so simple you only need three or four ingredients to make them! So, check out our 10 easy to make cocktails below to guarantee you get the right mix and delight your guests with your creations.

1. Dark n’ Stormy

Ingredients:

2 oz. Gosling Black Seal dark rum
3 1/3 oz. Ginger beer
2 slices of Lime

Fun Fact: Gosling’s dark rum was the favorite of Royal Navy officers on an island in Bermuda. Interestingly enough, they mixed it with ginger beer to combat seasickness.

2. Negroni

Ingredients:

1 oz. Campari
1 oz. Gin
1 oz. Sweet vermouth

Fun Fact: A popularly reported version of this drink’s origin is that it was invented by French general, Count Camillo Negroni. One night at Caffe Casoni in Florence, Italy in 1919, the Count influenced the creation of the self-entitled cocktail when he wasn’t satisfied with his Americano. In short, he told the bartender to use gin instead of soda water and the rest, as they say, is history.

3. Sidecar

Ingredients:

2 oz. Cognac or brandy
3/4 oz. Orange liqueur
3/4 oz. Lemon juice

Fun Fact: The Sidecar name comes from an oddball motorcycle attachment used in World War I. Although, no one has yet to determine where or when the Sidecar originated.

4. Manhattan

Ingredients:

2 oz. Rye whiskey or bourbon
3/4 oz. Sweet vermouth
Bitters

Fun Fact: There’s still no proof that this cocktail was created in Manhattan. However, it is certain that people preferred to use whiskey back then.

5. Margarita

Ingredients:

2 oz. Blanco tequila
1 oz. Lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 oz. Orange liqueur or triple sec

Fun Fact: It is believed that a Tijuana nightclub owner created the iconic Margarita cocktail to impress Margarita Cansino (now Rita Hayworth), a performer at the club.

6. Daiquiri

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. White rum
1 oz. Lime juice, freshly squeezed
Sugar

Fun Fact: The Daiquiri is believed to have originated from Santiago de Cuba. Since it made its way to the U.S., it’s been a favorite of people like JFK, Hemingway, and even Sasha Petraske.

7. Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

2 oz. Vodka
4 oz. Ginger beer
1 tbsp. Lime juice

Fun Fact: Why is the Moscow mule often photographed on a copper mug, you ask? It was a marketing tactic to sell vodka (the main ingredient of this cocktail).

8. Gimlet

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Gin or vodka
1 oz. Rose’s lime juice or freshly squeezed lime juice

Fun Fact: A surgeon general of the Royal Navy, Sir Thomas Gimlette, added lime to gin to combat scurvy for sailors, especially during long voyages.

9. Mojito

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. White rum
1/2 cup Soda water
1 oz. Fresh Lime juice
2 tbsp. Sugar
6 Mint leaves

Fun Fact: Havana, Cuba, is the home of the mojito.

10. Aperol Spritz

Ingredients:

1 1/4 oz. Aperol
2 oz. Prosecco
Splash of Club soda
Slice of fresh orange

Fun Fact: After the Napoleonic wars, Austrians loved drinking Italian wine with a spritz of water.

Beginner Cocktail Mixing Tips

If you’re new to the cocktail mixing world, here are a few tips to keep in mind when while mixing these easy to make cocktails:

Use precise measurements – Accurate measurements make the perfect recipe.
Always go for fresh juice – Pre-packaged citrus juices will add an artificial tart flavor into your drinks, so use fresh juice instead. But, don’t just stop at lime and orange juice, experiment with pineapple and grapefruit, too.
Use fresh ice – Unless the recipe says not to, always put fresh ice in the glass.
Shake properly – A good rule of thumb is to shake your tin mixer for at least 30 seconds.

Are you feeling more confident to mix up these easy to make cocktails? After a few practice rounds, mixing cocktails will be your next favorite thing! And, if you’re looking for the best ingredients for your cocktails, check out our selections from Festival Wine and Spirits!