Make Cocktails With Ingredients You Have: 11 Easy Mixed Drinks to Make at Home

By: Suzanne Kvilhaug

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I think I must have been a bartender in a past life. I’m not that big of a drinker yet I love the art and science of making drinks. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely love a drink from time to time. Drink because you’re happy, never because you’re miserable is a motto that I live by. Truth be told, if hangovers didn’t exist, I’d drink a whole lot more. In spite of the fact that I’m not always the one drinking, I’ve found myself always being the one making the drinks. No complaints here! Practice makes perfect and with so many possibilities, the only way to learn is to consistently experiment. Assuming you’ve got a staple selection of wines and base spirits, here are 11 delicious and easy mixed drinks that you can master at home. 

Spiked Arnold Palmer

Now, this is simplicity at its best. So easy and so good! A Spiked Arnold Palmer requires three simple ingredients: vodka, lemonade, and iced tea. This Spiked Arnold Palmer recipe from The Spruce Eats also shows you how to make a single glass of lemonade from scratch if you prefer to go that route. Want a little more variety? You can switch from vodka to rum, tequila, or whiskey and use a flavored iced tea and lemonade instead. Decisions, decisions!

2-Ingredient Piña Colada Smoothie

Want a sweet and fun frozen drink that’s made from whole ingredients instead of an already made mix? This is the one! Made with 2 ingredients and rum, this Piña Colada Smoothie from Minimalist Baker comes together using just frozen ripe pineapple and coconut milk. Want to get your protein in with your booze (nobody’s judging!)? Vanilla protein powder works well in this recipe. 

Classic Margarita 

Like I said, I must have been a bartender in another life. I’m really specific about margaritas and I’ve found a lot of recipes call for way too many unnecessary ingredients. And bars tend to add unhealthy elements and the end result is margaritas that don’t taste nearly as good as a basic one. This Classic Margarita from BBC Good Food is made with tequila, lime juice, and triple sec. Yes, that’s it because that’s all you need! Want to do less prep work or have a big party? Buy Simply Limeade and use it as a base. I’ve made countless drinks at parties with it and they’re always a hit.

Cold Brew Martini

Coffee and alcohol together- madness or genius? Maybe a little bit of both. This Cold Brew Martini from Tasty is super easy to make and contains no added fillers or sweeteners. You can make cold brew concentrate or buy some cold brew and combine it with ice, vodka, and coffee-flavored liqueur. Then pour into martini glasses and enjoy! Prefer your coffee drinks with milk? Take things up a notch and add this homemade cashew milk into the mix.

Red Queen

Red wine drinkers, hang on to your hat! This one is a rare gem. Sometimes red wine can get a little redundant and I can’t think of a better recipe to break up the monotony. The Red Queen from Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the Editors of PUNCH is a herbal cocktail that features red wine, bourbon, and Amaro Braulio. Mix these 3 together with freshly squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup and add ice, shake, and strain over crushed ice into a tall collins glass, and voila! To round out the whole shebang, garnish with lemon wheels, fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary.

Green Juice Cocktail

It can be easy to overlook fresh-pressed juices as a base for a cocktail because combining it with alcohol does sort of seem like a paradox. Paradox aside, it’s one of the easiest and healthiest ways to enjoy alcohol. One night I needed something to make drinks and it dawned on me to test out cold-pressed juice that I had in the fridge. Game-changing night! From then on out I’ve used all different types of cold-pressed juices as bases for drinks and they always deliver. This Green Juice Cocktail from Debbie Dishes is a great introduction to the fresh juice and alcohol combo. Packed with Vitamins A, K & C, this cocktail is made with grapefruit, fresh spinach, fresh ginger root, cucumbers, apples, and gin. So long story short, it’s green juice...with a little twist.

Cape Codder

I’m from Massachusetts and I wasn’t aware that a Cape Codder isn’t completely known everywhere until I ordered one outside of Massachusetts. Fan of cranberries? Then you’ll be a big fan of a Cape Codder. A Cape Codder is just a mix of vodka and cranberry juice over ice garnished with a lime. Think of it like a Cosmopolitan but easier to make. Have cranberries on hand? Make your Cape Codder that much healthier with homemade cranberry juice. 

Vegan Brandy Alexander

Are you entertaining a crowd that includes some vegans? Been looking to add a creative and plant-based drink into your bag of tricks? This Vegan Brandy Alexander by Seitan Beats Your Meat is a cream-based cocktail made with crème de cacao and brandy served in a martini glass with a cocoa rim and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Can you say mouthwatering!? Soy creamer replaces the heavy cream creating the perfect consistency. Basically, it’s a delicious liquid vegan dessert with a little of the hard stuff. Bottoms up!

Peach Bellini

Do you love white wine and want to create a fancy drink using it as a base? If you’ve never had a bellini before, you are in for a big treat with this Peach Bellini from Vegetarian Times. Made with fresh peaches, sugar, lemon juice, and a bottle of Prosecco (or any sparkling wine) it’s a great go-to drink for special occasions. Or any occasion really. You know it’s always a good day when you get to dust off those champagne flutes. 

French Martini 

What has amazed me over the years has been how few recipes use Chambord. I’d go as far as saying it is the most underrated and underappreciated liqueur. Chambord is an all-natural black raspberry liqueur produced in the Loire Valley, south of Paris, France. It is rich, lush and sweet, made with raspberries and blackberries in cognac and French spirits base. This French Martini from Food Above Gold is a simple recipe, made with high-quality vodka, Chambord liqueur, and pineapple juice. For the best results, use fresh pineapple juice.   

Mexican Moscow Mule

Do those copper mugs suck anyone else in? Yeah, I’ll have whatever is in that sleek mug, please. The Mexican Moscow Mule from A Couple Cooks is a tequila-based spin on the classic Moscow mule and potentially even better than the original. If you’ve been looking to try another tequila drink that’s not a margarita, the way the bite of the tequila combines with spicy ginger and zingy lime makes this one worth a shot. Intimidated by the way it sounds? All you have to do is pour the tequila, lime juice, and ginger beer into a serving glass. Add ice cubes, garnish with lime and you’re done! Not sure what ginger beer to get? Ginger beer by Q Mixers has become my go-to, it’s made with real ingredients and has a bold authentic ginger flavor that brings life to any drink. 

Are you building a bar at home? Here’s a helpful guide on how to stock your bar. 

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