10 Cocktails Every Beginner Can Make
Creating cocktails at home can feel intimidating, especially for beginners. The good news is that not all cocktails require a bartender’s skill set or a long list of exotic ingredients. Many timeless, delicious cocktails are made with just a few ingredients and can be mastered by anyone with minimal practice. Whether you’re hosting friends, celebrating an occasion, or just looking to enjoy a drink after a long day, having a few easy cocktail recipes in your repertoire will make you feel like a pro.
Cocktails are a great way to experiment with flavors, but starting with a few tried-and-true recipes can help build confidence in your mixology skills. These classic cocktails use simple ingredients, require basic techniques like shaking or stirring, and are incredibly satisfying to sip.
In this article, we’ll introduce ten easy cocktails every beginner can make. These drinks not only offer the opportunity to practice the basics of bartending, but they also taste amazing, which is why they’ve stood the test of time.
Here’s a list of 10 Easy Cocktails Every Beginner Can Make:
Espresso Martini
Wake up your senses with an Espresso Martini! It's the cocktail that marries the buzz of caffeine with the allure of fine spirits.
Negroni Cocktail
The Negroni Cocktail is a bold mix of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. A timeless Italian classic with a rich, bittersweet flavour and citrus twist.
Aperol Spritz
Enjoy the classic Aperol Spritz, a refreshing Italian cocktail with Prosecco, Aperol, and soda water. Perfect for a warm day or as a pre-dinner drink.
Brown Derby
Savor the Brown Derby, a bold blend of dark rum, lime juice, and a touch of maple syrup. A tangy and smooth cocktail perfect for any occasion!
Margarita
A popular Mexican cocktail, blending tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur, often served with salt on the rim of the glass.
Daiquiri
A simple yet delightful mix of rum, citrus (usually lime juice), and sugar. A classic Daiquiri is served straight up without ice.
GODFATHER
Explore the Godfather Cocktail, a simple blend of Scotch whisky and Amaretto. Learn how to make both the sweeter original and a drier variant.
MANHATTAN
A sophisticated mix of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, often garnished with a cherry. It's a staple of the classic cocktail scene.
Bee’s Knees Cocktail
The Bee's Knees Cocktail blends gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup for a sweet and zesty drink that's perfect for a refreshing pick-me-up.
These cocktails have become classics for a reason—they’re approachable, flavorful, and don’t require any specialized equipment beyond a shaker, strainer, and measuring tools. Plus, they’re highly adaptable, meaning once you’re comfortable with the basic recipes, you can experiment by swapping ingredients or adjusting proportions to suit your personal taste.
If you’re new to cocktail making, start by gathering a few essential tools and ingredients. A cocktail shaker, jigger (for measuring), a stirring spoon, and some quality ice are all you need to get started. For ingredients, make sure you have a good selection of base spirits, such as vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and whiskey. You’ll also want to stock up on some basic mixers like soda water, tonic water, simple syrup, and fresh fruit juices (like lime, lemon, and orange). Fresh citrus is key to many classic cocktails, so having lemons and limes on hand will go a long way.
When it comes to technique, many beginner cocktails involve shaking or stirring, both of which are easy to learn. Shaking is used when a drink contains juice or other non-clear ingredients, while stirring is typically reserved for cocktails made with spirits only. Don’t forget that presentation matters—serve your cocktails in appropriate glassware and garnish with simple touches like citrus peels or herbs to elevate the drinking experience.
One of the most important things to remember is that practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the recipes, try different proportions, and adjust the sweetness or strength to match your preference. Soon enough, you’ll find that making cocktails at home is both easy and rewarding.
So, grab your shaker, pick your favorite cocktail from the list, and start mixing!
