We love a fancy, complicated craft co*cktail just as much as the next person. But who has all the unusual ingredients they tend to require? (What even is Yuzu?) Frankly, there's just something about unfussy, classic drinks that keeps us coming back time and again.
Whether you've got company coming over or you're just craving something basic and boozy, one of these easy recipes will do the trick. We made the instructions and ingredients as pared down as possible so you can keep them in your back pocket for future entertaining endeavors. If you already have some of these committed to memory, even better. We'd bet you can mix up most of them with what's already on your bar cart (read: no egg white foam or blood orange reduction required).
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Margarita
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What You Need
- ¾ cup tequila
- ½ cup fresh lime juice (from 4 to 6 limes)
- ½ cup Triple Sec or Cointreau
- ½ cup water
How to Make a Margarita
In a medium pitcher, combine tequila, fresh lime juice, Triple Sec or Cointreau, and water. If desired, rub the rims of 4 glasses with a lime slice and dip in salt to coat. Serve the margaritas in the prepared glasses over ice and garnish with the lime slices. Makes 4 drinks.
Classic Margaritas
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Negroni
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What You Need
- 4 ounces gin
- 4 ounces Campari
- 4 ounces sweet vermouth
How to Make a Negroni
Combine gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in a large pitcher. Divide the mixture among 3 4-ounce glasses. Place a strip of orange peel in each. Makes 3 drinks.
Negroni
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Mint Julep
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What You Need
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 6 mint leaves
- 3 ounces bourbon
How to Make a Mint Julep
In a mint julep cup or thick glass, mix the sugar with the water until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Clap the mint leaves in your palms to release the herbs' oils, then add them to the simple syrup. Pack the glass with crushed ice and top with the bourbon. Serve garnished with mint sprigs. Makes 1 drink.
Mint Julep
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Amaretto Sour
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What You Need
- 1½ ounces Amaretto liqueur
- 1 ounce simple syrup (dissolve an equal amount of sugar in water)
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
How to Make an Amaretto Sour
Pour Amaretto liqueur, simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice into a co*cktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry. Makes 1 drink.
Classic Amaretto Sour
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Sangria
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What You Need
- 1 bottle of red wine
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 ounce brandy
- 1 thinly sliced navel orange
- ½ pint blackberries
- 1 cup club soda
How to Make Sangria
Combine a bottle of red wine (we recommend Rioja or other light- or medium-bodied red wine) with sugar, and brandy in a large pitcher and stir to dissolve sugar. Add 1 thinly sliced navel orange, blackberries, and club soda. Refrigerate for 1 hour or more before serving to allow the fruit to macerate and sweeten sangria. Serve in tall glasses filled with ice. Makes 6 drinks.
Red Sangria
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Moscow Mule
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What You Need
- ½ ounce lime juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 4 to 6 ounces ginger beer
- 1 slice of lime
How to Make a Moscow Mule
Fill a Moscow mule mug with ice. Add lime juice and vodka. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with a slice of lime. Makes 1 drink.
Moscow Mule
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Old Fashioned
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What You Need
- 1 sugar cube
- 4 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1¾ ounces rye whiskey
How to Make an Old Fashioned
Saturate a sugar cube with Angostura bitters. Place the cube in an old-fashioned glass, add water, and muddle the sugar until it dissolves. Fill the glass with ice, pour in rye whiskey, and stir. Garnish with a slice of orange. Makes 1 drink.
Old Fashioned
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Cherry Manhattan
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What You Need
- 2½ ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- a dash of orange bitters
- 1 maraschino cherry
How to Make a Cherry Manhattan
Combine bourbon or rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and a dash of orange bitters in an ice-filled bar glass. Stir until very cold. Serve up, strained into a co*cktail glass, or on the rocks, in an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. Makes 1 drink.
Cherry Manhattan
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Martini
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What You Need
- 3 ounces of vodka or gin
- ¾ ounce dry vermouth
- 1 olive
How to Make a Martini
Combine vodka or gin and dry vermouth in an ice-filled bar glass. Stir until very cold. Strain into a co*cktail glass and garnish with an olive. Makes 1 drink.
Martini
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White Russian
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What You Need
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce Kahlúa
- 1 ounce heavy cream
How to Make a White Russian
Fill a co*cktail glass with ice. Pour the vodka and Kahlúa over the ice. Add heavy cream and mix.
White Russian
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Cranberry-Lemon Spritz
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What You Need
- 8 frozen cranberries
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- ¼ cup (2 oz.) vodka
- 2 tablespoons cranberry juice co*cktail
- ½ cup club soda, chilled
How to Make a Cranberry-Lemon Spritz
Add cranberries, lemon juice, and sugar to a tall glass. Mash the cranberries with the end of a wooden spoon. Pour in vodka and cranberry juice. Mix, add ice, and top with club soda.
Cranberry-Lemon Spritz
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Eggnog
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What You Need
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 large eggs
- ¾ cup brandy
How to Make Eggnog
Simmer the heavy cream, nutmeg, and sugar in a medium saucepan. Blend the eggs on low for 1 minute. Gradually add the hot cream mixture. Blend the mixture until it's frothy, and then about 30 seconds more. Add brandy to combine. Serve warm.
Eggnog
How to Incorporate Fresh Garden Herbs Into co*cktails
