A well-mixed cocktail is not rocket science – not even at home. With just a few ingredients, some ice, and the right glass, many classics can be made without a professional bar.
Before we start: You don't need professional equipment for any of these recipes. A shaker, a bar spoon, a sturdy glass, and some ice are perfectly sufficient. Many ingredients are probably already at home, and the rest can be easily acquired. The most important thing is to use fresh fruit and roughly adhere to the quantities – the rest is a matter of taste and a willingness to experiment.
Below you will find ten popular cocktails that are easy to make and still impressive. Each drink is explained in a few steps, including ingredients, preparation, and the appropriate glasses.
The 10 Easiest Cocktails
Ingredients:
- 1 lime
- 2 sprigs of mint
- 2 tsp white cane sugar
- 5 cl white rum
- 125 ml soda water
Preparation:
Wash the lime, pat dry, and cut into eight wedges. Wash the mint, pat dry, and pluck the leaves. Place the lime with sugar in a long drink glass and gently muddle. Add rum and mint, fill the glass 2/3 with crushed ice, and top with soda water. Stir and garnish with mint.
2. Martini
The Martini is a true classic. It is timeless and easy to mix, as it consists of only three ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 6 cl dry gin
- 1 cl dry vermouth
- one green olive
Preparation:
Pour gin and vermouth into a mixing glass and stir with plenty of ice for about 20 seconds until cold. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with an olive.
3. Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan is a modern classic and particularly popular for its fruity, slightly tart notes.
Ingredients:
- 4.5 cl citrus vodka
- 1.5 cl Cointreau
- 1 cl lime juice
- 3 cl cranberry syrup
Preparation:
Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice in a shaker, double strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish as desired.
4. Margarita
The Margarita is one of the most famous cocktails of all. According to legend, it originated shortly after alcohol prohibition in the USA or in Mexico. Since the 1950s, the Margarita has been served worldwide. With its characteristic salted rim, it stands out visually and taste-wise from other cocktails.
Ingredients:
- 5 cl Tequila
- 3 cl lime juice
- 2 cl Triple Sec
- a pinch of salt
- 1 lime slice
Preparation:
Moisten the rim of a margarita glass with a lime slice, then press it into salt. Afterward, combine tequila, lime juice, and Triple Sec with ice in a shaker and shake vigorously until the shaker frosts. Double strain the cocktail into the prepared glass and garnish with a lime slice.
5. Whisky Sour
The Whisky Sour is an absolute classic and surprisingly easy to make. The cocktail creates a perfect sweet-and-sour balance, elegantly blending sugar and lemon. The Whisky Sour is just one of many different sour cocktails and was invented as early as the 1870s.
Ingredients:
- 6 cl whisky
- 3 cl lemon juice
- 2 cl sugar syrup
- 1 egg white
Preparation:
Add all ingredients to a shaker and fill it with ice. Shake the drink vigorously until well chilled. Then strain the Whisky Sour into a tumbler filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist if desired and serve with a straw.
6. White Russian
This drink with cream or milk is not for the lactose intolerant. The cult drink, made famous by the Coen brothers' film "The Big Lebowski," is usually consumed after dinner. If made without cream or milk, it is a Black Russian.
Ingredients:
- 3 cl Vodka
- 3 cl coffee liqueur
- 2 cl cream
Preparation:
First, lightly whip the cream. Then add vodka and coffee liqueur to a mixing glass with ice and stir until cold. Strain the drink into a pre-chilled cocktail glass and carefully float the cream over the back of a spoon onto the cocktail.
7. Piña Colada
Holiday feeling, sea, sun. With the Piña Colada, nothing stands in the way of your perfect summer vacation. This Tiki drink is popular all over the world and is even the national drink of Puerto Rico. To make this cocktail at home, you'll need a blender.
Ingredients:
- 6 cl Rum
- 1.5 slices fresh pineapple
- 3 bar spoons coconut puree or 4 cl coconut syrup
Preparation:
Add half a cup of ice to a blender, then add the pineapple, rum, and coconut puree. If the pineapple is too dry, you can also add pineapple juice. Blend everything vigorously until a smooth, creamy liquid forms. Then pour into a Tiki mug and garnish with fresh fruit.
8. Caipirinha
This cocktail, originating from Brazil, is super popular and requires only three ingredients. The Caipi spread to major cities worldwide at the end of World War I and has been a staple at every party since. It's sweet, sour, and fresh, and very easy to prepare yourself.
Ingredients:
- 1 lime
- 2 tsp cane sugar
- 5 cl Cachaça
Preparation:
Wash the lime in hot water, quarter it, and place it in the glass. Add the cane sugar and gently muddle the lime pieces to release their juice. Fill the glass with crushed ice, add Cachaça, and stir everything well. Garnish with a lime slice if desired and serve with a straw.
9. Le Gurk
A drink from Germany that originated in the FCUK Yoga Bar in Essen in 2009 and 2010 and then spread throughout the country. Instead of ice, there's cucumber in the glass, which gives the gin a refreshing kick. This cocktail has more ingredients than others on this list but is very easy to prepare.
Ingredients:
- 4 cl Gin
- 1 cl sugar syrup
- 2 cl lemon juice
- 2 cl elderflower liqueur
- 4 cl cloudy apple juice
- 1/8 cucumber
Preparation:
Slice the cucumber and gently muddle it in the shaker. Then add all other ingredients, shake vigorously with ice, and double strain the drink into a long drink glass.
10. Tequila Sunrise
With the Tequila Sunrise, you get a beautiful play of colors in the glass that resembles a sunrise and will impress your guests. The drink dates back to the 1920s and was first mixed in Mexico. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, it spread to the USA, from where it conquered the world.
Ingredients:
- 4 cl Tequila
- 11 cl orange juice
- 1 cl grenadine syrup
Preparation:
Fill the shaker with five ice cubes and add all ingredients except the grenadine. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Pour crushed ice into a highball glass and strain the drink through a sieve into the glass. Then, carefully pour the grenadine over the back of a spoon into the glass. Do not stir the cocktail; wait until the syrup has settled at the bottom of the glass. Serve the Tequila Sunrise with a straw and a slice of lemon.
The Right Glasses for Cocktails
The right glass is more than just decoration – it influences temperature, aroma, and the overall drinking experience. Depending on the cocktail, different glasses are used: long drinks are usually served in tall glasses with ice, while short drinks are served in smaller, bulbous or stemmed glasses. The shape and rim of the glass also play a role, for example, with classics featuring a salt or sugar rim. With the right glass, every cocktail appears more harmonious and refined.
Margarita Glass
The Margarita is such an iconic drink that it has its own glass. This curved glass has the perfect rim for the typical salted edge. If you are served a cocktail in a Margarita glass, you won't get a straw or ice.
Martini Glass
Another glass named after a cocktail. The classic Martini glass with its well-known silhouette has a triangular, pointed shape reminiscent of a goblet. This glass is also never served with ice or a straw. In addition to the Martini, the Manhattan, for example, is also drunk from this glass.
Coupette (Cocktail Glass)
In contrast to the Martini glass, the Coupette is beautifully decorated and slightly curved. This cocktail glass does not taper to a point, but is rather flattened or rounded. The rest of the glass is also elegantly curved. Cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan or the White Russian are often drunk from this glass.
Highball Glass
Tall and slim with a reinforced base - that's the Highball glass. Thanks to its thick base, the glass stands stably on the counter and cuts a slim figure. These glasses are best suited for cocktails such as the Mojito or the Tequila Sunrise. Decorations on the rim are generally not desired, unless it is a piece of fruit. With the highball glass, your cocktail always looks sleek and chic.
Tiki Mug
If your cocktail is to be fruity, colorful, and eye-catching, then it's best to serve it in a Tiki mug. This is the perfect vessel for the ever-popular Piña Colada and evokes islands, summer, sun, beach, and sea. The Tiki mug creates a holiday feeling and is therefore the perfect vessel for relaxed summer evenings.
Have fun mixing and enjoying!
FAQ – Questions and Answers
Which cocktails are particularly suitable for beginners?
For beginners, cocktails with few ingredients and clear flavor profiles are suitable. Classics like Gin Tonic, Cuba Libre, Whisky Highball, or Aperol Spritz are easy to prepare and offer a good introduction to mixing.
What basic equipment do I need to mix cocktails at home?
To start, a measuring cup (jigger), a mixing glass or shaker, a bar spoon, and a strainer are sufficient. Supplemented with a few basic spirits and suitable fillers, many classic cocktails can already be prepared.
Why is the right cocktail glass important?
The appropriate glass influences both the appearance and the taste experience of a cocktail. Shape and size affect temperature, aroma perception, and drinking sensation, and emphasize the character of the drink.
Can I adjust ingredients in cocktails to taste?
Yes, cocktails can be easily adapted to your own taste. Sweetness, acidity, or alcohol strength can be varied without losing the basic character of the drink – experimenting is explicitly encouraged.
Where can I find a good selection of spirits for classic cocktails?
A large selection of spirits for classic cocktails can be found at specialized online retailers such as delicando. Both well-known brands and versatile classics for the home bar are available there.
