Mixed Drinks Recipes: 12 Cocktails You Can Make at Home

Traditionally, a cocktail (or a mixed drink) is a beverage that contains a mixture of alcoholic spirits combined with other ingredients, such as simple syrups, tonics, bitters, fruit juice, club soda, or other fizzy waters. Today you can also find a variety of nonalcoholic spritz cocktails that combine alcohol-free spirits with mixer ingredients.

To make cocktail recipes, professional bartenders and mixologists use a few basic mixology tools:

1. 1. Bar spoon: This long-handled spoon makes it easy to stir drinks in tall glasses or pitchers.
2. 2. Citrus juicer: There are bartenders who assert that the best cocktails use freshly pressed juice over processed juices or juice from concentrate. A small hand juicer lets you easily make cocktails that call for fresh lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, or grapefruit juice. For example, a mimosa cocktail calls for combining Champagne plus fresh orange juice, and a paloma combines tequila, fresh lime juice, and grapefruit juice or grapefruit-flavored soda. Keep in mind you can save squeezed or juiced fruits to add to sangria, a white or red wine-based alcoholic beverage.
3. 3. Cocktail glasses: For those who entertain often or want to become better mixologists, consider a range of cocktail glasses. There are several different shapes of cocktail glasses, and each corresponds to a different type of mixed drink. They include Champagne flutes, couple glasses, and glasses for highball (or collins), martini, and old fashioned (or rocks) cocktails.
4. 4. Cocktail shaker: A shaker is a tall container (usually metal) that makes it easy for bartenders to shake crushed ice and cocktail ingredients together to quickly cool down the beverage.
5. 5. Cocktail strainer: The strainer fits over the shaker and lets you pour the cocktail into the glass while leaving behind the ice and any other ingredients, like herbs, that you used to shake the cocktail.
6. 6. Muddler: When a cocktail recipe includes directions to muddle ingredients, usually fruit or herbs, it means to smash them to release the essential oils and fruit pulp. A muddler is a small handheld rod that lets you easily muddle ingredients in a cocktail glass.

Whether you prefer vodka cocktails, gin cocktails, rum cocktails, or fizzy mixed drinks, there’s a cocktail to suit your preferences. Here are recipes to get you started as a home mixologist:

1. 1. Bloody Mary: This classic brunch cocktail contains vodka mixed with tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and a combination of herbs and spices. Bartenders typically serve a Bloody Mary in a tall glass, such as a pint glass or highball glass, and garnish with a celery stick. Try this easy Bloody Mary recipe.
2. 2. Daiquiri: One of the classic rum cocktails, a daiquiri contains rum (white rum or Cuban rum), lime juice, and simple syrup. Today’s drink menus typically contain a variety of daiquiris that range from classic cocktails like the Hemingway Daiquiri (which contains lime juice, grapefruit juice, and Italian maraschino liqueur) to fruity cocktails like a shaken strawberry daiquiri. Test out your mixology skills with this classic daiquiri recipe.
3. 3. Gimlet: The gimlet contains three ingredients: vodka (or gin), fresh lime juice, a splash of simple syrup for added sweetness, and an optional lime wedge for garnish. Learn how to make this easy cocktail with a classic gimlet recipe.
4. 4. Manhattan: Containing whiskey (or sometimes cognac), sweet vermouth, and a few dashes of bitters, the Manhattan is a simple yet elegant cocktail. The classic cocktail, which was invented in New York, is stirred, not shaken, and garnished with a maraschino cherry. Try this classic Manhattan cocktail recipe.
5. 5. Margarita: There are several variations of margarita recipes. The classic margarita is served over ice cubes and contains lime juice, tequila (or mezcal), orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or triple sec), and lime and salt for the garnish. Experiment with other flavors—use lemon juice instead of lime, add a dash of agave syrup to sweeten the drink, or add a hint of spice with the addition of a few slices of jalapeño. For those who prefer fruit flavors, try making a watermelon, pomegranate, or strawberry margarita. Follow Wolfgang Puck's berry margarita recipe for an easy introduction to the popular cocktail.
6. 6. Martini: The classic martini is a boozy cocktail. The original contained three parts gin to one part vermouth with an olive or onion to garnish. A vodka martini calls for vodka in place of gin. Other drinks—such as an espresso martini, fruity drinks, or vodka cocktails like a cosmopolitan (often called a Cosmo), pear, or apple martini (also called an appletini)—are not considered martinis. Instead, they get their name from the cocktail glass. If you can’t decide between vodka or gin, try this Vesper martini recipe that includes both spirits plus Lillet Blanc (a French aperitif) and a lemon twist.
7. 7. Mint julep: Famous as the refreshing cocktail served at the Kentucky Derby horse racing events, a mint julep contains bourbon, simple syrup, and a muddle of mint. It’s typically served over crushed ice with a sprig of mint leaves. Make your own classic mint julep.
8. 8. Mojito: A highball cocktail with origins in Cuba, the mojito is a popular cocktail across the globe. Mix up white rum, sugar, mint, lime, and club soda (or soda water), and then add ice. The mojito is often called a perfect summer cocktail. Here’s a recipe for a classic mojito.
9. 9. Moscow mule: Contrary to its name, the Moscow mule cocktail likely originated in New York, not the Russian capital. To make the fizzy drink combine vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice, and garnish with lime slices and sprigs of mint. It’s usually served in a copper mug, though food experts note the copper does not impact the flavor of the drink. Try making your own Moscow mule.
10. 10. Negroni: With its balance of sweet and bitter, a classic Negroni is an ideal apéritif. Combine equal parts gin, Campari (or Aperol), and sweet vermouth. Shake them with ice and serve the drink with an orange twist. Other varieties of Negronis add additional layers of flavors using ingredients such as orange bitters, Champagne or prosecco, and a lime or lemon twist. For a twist on the original try Wolfgang Puck’s Negroni cocktail recipe.
11. 11. Piña colada: This favorite summer cocktail, which reportedly originated in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is traditionally made with white rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and a squeeze of lime juice, and served with fresh pineapple for garnish. Blend the ingredients with ice cubes to create a slushie drink. Learn how to make the frosty drink that's perfect on a hot summer day with our frozen blended piña colada recipe.
12. 12. Tequila Sunrise: With only three ingredients, fresh orange juice, tequila, and grenadine syrup, the Tequila Sunrise tastes best when you use high-quality ingredients. White tequila is recommended for a fresher taste and a more vibrant color. You can make a variation of the cocktail called the Coconut Sunrise, which uses coconut rum instead of tequila. Try making this citrusy tequila cocktail by following this Tequila Sunrise cocktail recipe.

Learn more about mixology from award-winning bartenders Lynnette Marrero and Ryan Chetiyawardana. Refine your palate, explore the world of spirits, and shake up the perfect cocktail for your next gathering with the MasterClass Annual Membership.