Easy Cocktail Recipes with The Simplest Ingredients

Cocktail Hour is alive and well!

Just like cooking, there’s something therapeutic and rewarding when it comes to making a great-tasting cocktail.

At first, it may seem daunting especially when we’re so used to watching bartenders with their elaborate techniques but no need to worry because we made sure that these recipes are easy and you probably already have the ingredients on-hand.

Here are cocktail recipes that are organized by their base liquor from Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, Beer, Tequila, and Rum. Let’s get started! Remember, enjoy reponsibly!

GIN

Bees Knees

Starting off with one of our favourites… The Bees Knees! Yes, it has honey.

Here’s the recipe from The Tipsy Bartender,

• 2 oz Gin
• 3/4 oz Honey water, 1:1 ratio of hot water and honey
• 3/4 oz Lemon juice
• 1 Lemon peel for garnish, twisted, optional

Tip: If you don’t have a shaker, no worries! You can use a leak-proof tumbler.

Grab your cocktail shaker and fill it with ice, add all ingredients except the garnish and give it a good shake! Afterwards, strain the mixture into a glass and top it off with the lemon twist.

Classic Martini

Contrary to James Bond’s martini preference, we like our martinis stirred not shaken but you know, you do you.

Tip: If you’re unsure of whether you should shake or stir your drinks, best rule of thumb is if your cocktail has juice, egg whites, or dairy then shake while if it contains spirits then best to stir.

Here’s the recipe from Epicurious,

• 2 1/2 oz London dry gin
• 1/2 oz dry vermouth
• 1 Green olive for garnish

Start by adding ice into your martini glass (or any glass you have, we’re not judging), this will help chill it. Crush some ice into your shaker (we won’t be shaking it, you can use any other glass to mix), fill it up with ice. Next, add the gin and dry vermouth and stir rapidly for about 30 seconds, the outside of your shaker should be cold and frosty at this point. Afterwards, strain the martini into your chilled martini glass.

VODKA

Vodka with Sprite

It’s as simple and easy as it gets, all you need to do beforehand is prepare the simple syrup! Simple syrup is usually a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar, boil it or mix the sugar with hot water.

Here’s the recipe from DKNG,

• 25 ml Vodka
• 30 ml Lemon juice
• 30 ml Simple syrup
• 50 ml Sprite

Grab your cocktail shaker, or any leak-proof tumbler, and add ice. Next, add the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup then shake. The recipe also shakes the sprite but we prefer not to and instead, you can strain this mixture already in an ice-filled glass then add the sprite and stir.

Caipiroska

Caipiroska is a popular vodka-based drink in South America that calls for just three simple ingredients!

Here’s the recipe from Steve the Bartender,

• 2 oz Vodka
• 3/4 to 1 Lime
• 2-3 tbsp Sugar

Start by adding some chopped lime into your shaker then add a bit if lime juice then muddle. Next, add the sugar and muddle again. Afterwards, add the vodka and add ice then give it a quick shake then pour into a glass with ice.

WHISKEY

Whiskey Sour

Simple, sweet, and many times a go-to simple sour!

Here’s the recipe from The Tipsy Bartender,

• 1 1/2 oz Whiskey
• 1 oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 oz Simple syrup, simply 1:1 ratio of sugar and water
• Orange slice and or cherry, for garnish

Begin by adding ice to your cocktail shaker then pour the whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake well until the shaker is chilled and frosty all over then strain the mixture into an ice filled glass then add garnish. Enjoy!

Irish Coffee

A match made in heaven… coffee and whiskey, try it for yourself!

Here’s the recipe from The Tipsy Bartender,

• 2 2/3 oz Hot coffee, extremely hot!
• 1 1/3 oz Irish Whiskey
• 1 tsp Brown sugar
• 1 oz Fresh whipping cream

Start by pouring the hot coffee into a glass then add brown sugar, stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Next up is you add the whiskey in there and stir. Lastly, you want to gently layer the whipping cream on top so to do this, grab a spoon and pour it with the spoon facing down at the top of the glass and you’re done!

BEER

Beer Sangria

You read that right… BEER Sangria. Unlike the wine version, we won’t be opening the beer until the vodka-fruit mixture has infused for a minimum of 1 hour, understandably so cause we do want our beer fresh and bubbly!

Here’s the recipe from Food Network,

• 1 1/2 cups white grape juice, a classic gift basket item that you probably still have a stash of from Christmas? 
• 1 cup vodka
• 1 cup seedless grapes, halved
• 1 red dapple, quartered and cored
• 1 orange, quartered and sliced
• Five 12 oz bottles of wheat beer, chilled

Combine the grape juice, vodka, grapes, apples, and oranges in a pitcher then refrigerate for at least 1 hour and maximum 8 hours to allow the flavours to infuse, just like what we do with wine sangrias. When serving, fill the wine glasses halfway with this mixture and some of the fruit then fill the rest of the glass with beer. Enjoy!

Orange Wheat Shandy

If you have wheat beer and orange then this is perfect.

Here’s the recipe from marthastewart.com,

• 48 oz wheat beer
• Thinly sliced oranges
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, about 3-4 oranges
• 1/4 tsp almond extract, optional

Combine the beer, orange juice, and almond extract (if using) in a picture and stir. Serve with sliced oranges and your’e done!

TEQUILA

Tequila Old Fashioned

Typically, an Old Fashioned cocktail is made with Whiskey or Bourbon but this time we’re going to use Tequila for a less woodsy taste.

Here’s the recipe from Thrillist,

• 2 oz añejo (aged) tequila
• 1/4 oz simple syrup or agave
• 1 dash angostura bitters

Stir all ingredients in a low ball glass then add ice cubes. If you have an orange on-hand, you may add a strip of orange peel for garnish. Sip and enjoy!

Tequila Sunrise

A cocktail that’s as good and refreshing as how it looks! This recipe calls for just three ingredients!

Here’s the recipe from Esquire,

• 1 1/2 oz tequila
• 3 oz freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tsp grenadine, if none, you can substitute this with pomegranate juice

Start by chilling your preferred serving glass with ice. Next, begin shaking the tequila and orange juice well together with cracked ice in your shaker. Afterwards, strain this into a chilled glass. Lastly, add the grenadine or pomegranate juice gently, this will give the pretty layers of oranges and reds. Take pictures and enjoy!

RUM

Cuba Libre

The drink got its named from a popular phrase during the Spanish-American War when Cuba was free from Spanish rule hence when translated from Spanish, it means, “Free Cuba”. This drink is very similar to rum coke but it gives a refreshing twist with just one key ingredient.

Here’s the recipe from The Spruce Eats,

• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 2 oz light rum
• 4 oz cola

Squeeze the lime into a highball glass, or any glass you have on hand, add ice cubes and pour the rum. Lastly, fill with cola and stir. Enjoy!

Café Caribbean Cocktail

Hot cocktails are quite rare here in Manila but you have to try this perfect infusion of rum, amaretto, and coffee.

Here’s the recipe from The Spruce Eats,

• 1 oz rum
• 1/2 oz amaretto
• 6 oz coffee, hot, black
• Whipped cream, for garnish
• Shaved almonds, for garnish

Pour the rum and amaretto into an Irish coffee glass or a mug. Next, fill it up with coffee then top it off with whipped cream and garnish with the shaved almonds; you can also add some chocolate syrup or caramel on top if you like!

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