10+ Cocktail Recipes to Shake Up Your Home Bar

10+ Cocktail Recipes to Shake Up Your Home Bar

ByKnow Recipes Team Reading Time: 8 minutes

Cocktail recipes can help you whip up tasty drinks for any occasion—maybe you’re relaxing solo, or maybe you’ve got friends over. They show you how to mix different ingredients to make drinks that taste great and are fun to make.

Learning a few simple recipes can make your gatherings more enjoyable. Plus, you’ll feel more confident behind the bar.

A table with various cocktail ingredients and utensils arranged for mixing and serving

You don’t need to be an expert to start mixing cocktails. With easy recipes and basic ingredients, you can start making classics or just try something new.

This guide will help you find recipes that fit your taste and skill level.

1) Classic Mojito

A tall glass filled with ice, fresh mint leaves, lime wedges, and a clear liquid. A sprig of mint and a slice of lime garnish the rim

The Classic Mojito is a simple and refreshing Cuban cocktail. You’ll get a bright mix of fresh mint, lime juice, and white rum.

It’s light and perfect for warm days or just a chill evening. You start by muddling mint and sugar, which brings out the mint’s flavor without turning it bitter.

Then you add fresh lime juice and white rum. Top it off with club soda for some bubbles.

Serve over ice to keep it cool. That’s it—super easy.

Ingredients:

  • 10 to 12 fresh mint leaves
  • 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
  • 2 ounces white rum
  • ¾ to 1 ounce fresh lime juice
  • Club soda
  • Ice cubes

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Place mint leaves and sugar in a glass.
  2. Gently muddle to release mint oils.
  3. Add lime juice and white rum.
  4. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
  5. Top with club soda and stir gently.

2) Old Fashioned

A crystal glass filled with an Old Fashioned cocktail, garnished with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry, resting on a wooden bar counter

The Old Fashioned is a classic, straightforward cocktail. You start with bourbon or rye whiskey, add a little sugar, and a couple dashes of bitters.

This combo gives you a smooth, balanced drink. Usually, you garnish it with an orange peel or a cherry for a little extra flavor.

It’s served over ice in a short glass, perfect for slow sipping. You can tweak the sweetness by changing the amount of sugar or syrup.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
  • 1/4 ounce simple syrup or 1 sugar cube
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Orange peel or Luxardo cherry (optional)
  • Ice cubes

Cooking Instructions

  1. Place sugar or syrup in a glass.
  2. Add bitters and a splash of water.
  3. Stir until sugar dissolves.
  4. Add whiskey and ice.
  5. Stir gently to mix.
  6. Garnish with orange peel or cherry.

Find more details about this recipe here.

3) Piña Colada

A tropical beach setting with a colorful and refreshing Piña Colada cocktail served in a coconut shell, garnished with a pineapple wedge and a cocktail umbrella

The Piña Colada is sweet, creamy, and a little bit like a tropical escape in a glass. You mix pineapple, coconut cream, and rum for a smooth, refreshing flavor.

Frozen pineapple gives it that icy, slushy texture. A splash of lime juice adds a tangy note to balance the sweetness.

Blend everything until it’s nice and smooth. Serve in a chilled glass with a straw—maybe throw on a pineapple slice for fun.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces light rum
  • 1 1/2 ounces cream of coconut
  • 1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice
  • 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
  • 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

Cooking Instructions

  1. Add rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, frozen pineapple, and lime juice to a blender.
  2. Blend on high until smooth and creamy.
  3. Pour into a chilled glass.
  4. Garnish with a pineapple slice if you like.
  5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

For a detailed recipe, see this Piña Colada cocktail recipe.

4) Espresso Martini

A sleek cocktail shaker filled with coffee, vodka, and liqueur, surrounded by espresso beans and a martini glass

The Espresso Martini is smooth and packs a little caffeine punch. You mix vodka with coffee flavors—great if you want something a bit different.

You’ll need fresh espresso or strong cold brew coffee. Coffee liqueur adds sweetness and depth.

Shake everything with ice until you see a frothy top. Pour into a chilled glass and, if you’re feeling fancy, toss a few coffee beans on top.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce fresh espresso or cold brew coffee
  • 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa)
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup
  • Ice
  • 3 coffee beans (optional for garnish)

Cooking Instructions

  1. Brew your espresso and let it cool slightly.
  2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  3. Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup.
  4. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
  5. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
  6. Garnish with coffee beans if you like.

5) Margarita

A colorful array of fresh limes, tequila bottles, and salt-rimmed glasses on a bar counter, surrounded by tropical flowers and vibrant cocktail umbrellas

A classic margarita is simple and refreshing. You only need a few ingredients, but the flavors really pop.

Mix tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice. The 2-1-1 ratio keeps it from being too strong or too sour.

Add ice and shake it well for about 10 seconds. Garnish with a lime wheel or salt the rim for a little extra something.

If you like a touch of sweetness, a splash of agave syrup works. This drink fits just about any party or quiet night.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces tequila
  • 1 ounce orange liqueur
  • 1 ounce fresh lime juice
  • Optional: splash of agave syrup
  • Lime wheel for garnish
  • Salt for the rim (optional)

Cooking Instructions

  1. Rim your glass with salt if you like.
  2. Add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup into a shaker.
  3. Fill the shaker with ice cubes.
  4. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds.
  5. Strain into your glass over fresh ice.
  6. Garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy.

For details, you can visit a classic margarita recipe.

6) Long Island Iced Tea

A tall glass filled with ice, adorned with lemon slices, and garnished with a sprig of mint, surrounded by bottles of rum, vodka, gin, tequila, and triple sec

The Long Island Iced Tea is famous for its mix of several spirits. You pour in vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec.

Add a splash of cola for color—it looks like tea, but there’s no actual tea. Lemon juice and simple syrup help balance out all that booze.

Serve it over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge if you want.

This cocktail is on the strong side, so take your time with it.

Ingredients

  • ½ oz vodka
  • ½ oz rum
  • ½ oz gin
  • ½ oz tequila
  • ½ oz triple sec
  • ¾ oz lemon juice
  • ½ oz simple syrup
  • Cola, to top
  • Ice
  • Lemon wedge, for garnish

Cooking Instructions

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
  2. Pour vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup into the glass.
  3. Stir gently to combine.
  4. Top with a splash of cola.
  5. Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve.

7) Dark ‘n’ Stormy

A tall glass filled with ice, dark rum, and ginger beer, garnished with a slice of lime

The Dark ‘n’ Stormy is easy but surprisingly tasty. You mix dark rum with spicy ginger beer—super refreshing.

Pour the ginger beer first, then float the rum on top. If you like, add a splash of lime juice for extra zing.

Garnish with a lime wedge. The key is using dark rum since it gives that rich flavor that stands up to the ginger beer.

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces ginger beer
  • 1.5 to 2 ounces dark rum
  • 0.25 ounce lime juice (optional)
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Cooking Instructions

  1. Fill a glass with ice.
  2. Pour in the ginger beer.
  3. Slowly add the dark rum on top.
  4. Add lime juice if you want.
  5. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.

Learn more about the Dark ‘n’ Stormy cocktail recipe.

8) White Russian

A glass filled with creamy white liquid, topped with a layer of foam, garnished with a sprinkle of nutmeg and a coffee bean

The White Russian is smooth and honestly pretty simple. You just need vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream.

Fill a glass with ice. Pour in the vodka and coffee liqueur, then add the heavy cream on top.

Stir gently to mix. You can adjust the cream or coffee liqueur to your taste.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce coffee liqueur
  • 1 ounce heavy cream
  • Ice cubes

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes.
  2. Pour in the vodka and coffee liqueur.
  3. Add the heavy cream on top.
  4. Stir gently before drinking.

9) Sex on the Beach

A tropical beach setting with a colorful cocktail on a sandy shore, surrounded by palm trees and ocean waves

Sex on the Beach is fruity, refreshing, and super easy to make. You mix vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and orange juice.

Serve it over ice or straight up—your call. Garnish with an orange wedge and a maraschino cherry for a fun touch.

You get a sweet and tangy flavor combo that’s a hit at casual gatherings. It’s a simple recipe that’s easy to love.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz vodka
  • 1/2 oz peach schnapps
  • 2 oz orange juice
  • 2 oz cranberry juice
  • Ice
  • Orange wedge and maraschino cherries for garnish

Cooking Instructions

  1. Fill a glass with ice.

  2. Pour vodka and peach schnapps over the ice.

  3. Add some orange juice. Toss in a splash of cranberry juice too.

  4. Stir everything together, but don’t overdo it—just enough to mix.

  5. Top it off with an orange wedge and a cherry.

For more details, check out the Sex on the Beach Recipe – Allrecipes.

10) Frozen Strawberry Margarita

A glass filled with a vibrant pink frozen strawberry margarita, garnished with a fresh strawberry and a salted rim, sitting on a wooden table

A Frozen Strawberry Margarita is such a fun way to kick back with a cocktail. It mixes strawberries—fresh or frozen—with tequila, lime juice, and just enough sweetness.

You end up with this fruity, icy drink that’s honestly made for hot days or gatherings. It’s easy to whip up at home, and you only need a handful of ingredients.

Just toss everything in a blender and let it go until it’s smooth. Taste it and tweak the sweetness or tartness however you like.

If you want a little more depth, try adding some triple sec or orange liqueur. Pour it into a salt-rimmed glass for that classic margarita vibe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries
  • ¾ cup tequila
  • ¼ cup triple sec
  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • 2 oz simple syrup
  • 2 cups ice cubes

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Add all ingredients to a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and creamy.
  3. Rim your glass with salt if you like.
  4. Pour the margarita into the glass.
  5. Serve immediately and enjoy.

For more on this drink, check out the Frozen Strawberry Margarita recipe.

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