10+ Cocktails Recipes to Shake Up Your Next Party

Cocktail recipes are honestly one of the best ways to play with new flavors and try a mix of drinks you might not order out. If you’re hosting friends or just chilling at home, knowing a handful of basics lets you whip up something tasty for almost any mood.

You can learn to mix drinks that bring flavor and style to any occasion. With just a few simple ingredients and easy steps, you’ll have classic and modern cocktails ready to impress.

1) Classic Manhattan

The Classic Manhattan keeps things straightforward and elegant. Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters do most of the heavy lifting here.

You’ll usually see it finished with a brandied cherry or a lemon twist. It’s one of those drinks that feels timeless and somehow always just right.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces rye whiskey
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Brandied cherry or lemon twist for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Add rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well until chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with a brandied cherry or a lemon twist.

2) Vodka Martini

A vodka martini is about as classic as it gets and is super easy to throw together. Just vodka and dry vermouth, stirred with ice until cold.

Garnish it with a lemon twist or olive, your call. Some folks sneak in a dash of orange bitters for a little something extra.

This one’s smooth and strong, perfect if you’re not into sweet drinks.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
• Lemon twist or olive (for garnish)
• Optional: a dash of orange bitters

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and dry vermouth.
3. Stir gently until the drink is cold.
4. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist or olive.

3) Negroni

The Negroni is simple and bold, made with just three ingredients. Campari brings that signature bitterness, while gin and sweet vermouth round things out.

Stir everything with ice to chill it without watering down the flavors. Strain into a glass and hit it with an orange peel for a pop of citrus.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce gin
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• Orange peel (for garnish)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Pour gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth into a mixing glass.
2. Add ice and stir for about 20 seconds to chill the mixture.
3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.

4) Tom Collins

Tom Collins is one of those drinks that just feels like summer. It’s gin, fresh lemon juice, a bit of sweetness, and club soda for fizz.

Shake the gin, lemon, and syrup with ice. Pour it into a tall glass, top with club soda, and toss in a lemon wheel.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces London dry gin
• 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• Club soda to top
• Lemon wheel for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake for 10 to 15 seconds until cold.
3. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
4. Top with club soda.
5. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

For more details, here’s a Tom Collins cocktail recipe.

5) Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz is a breezy Italian classic. It’s light, sparkling, and just a bit bitter—ideal for a warm day.

Mix three parts Prosecco, two parts Aperol, and one part soda water. Adjust the Aperol if you want more sweetness or bitterness.

Serve it over ice with a slice of orange. It’s honestly hard to beat how pretty this one looks.

Ingredients

• 3 oz Prosecco
• 2 oz Aperol
• 1 oz soda water
• Ice
• Orange slice

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Pour in Prosecco, Aperol, and soda water.
3. Stir gently to mix.
4. Garnish with an orange slice.

6) Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitans are bright, tangy, and always a crowd-pleaser. They’re easy to make and look great in the glass.

Shake vodka, triple sec or Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and add a lemon twist or lime wedge.

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz Cointreau or triple sec
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• Lemon twist or lime wedge (for garnish)

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
3. Shake well about 10 seconds.
4. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist or lime wedge.

7) Gin and Tonic

A gin and tonic is super refreshing and couldn’t be easier. The herbal gin and bubbly tonic water just work, especially with a squeeze of lime.

Try swapping in grapefruit peel or tossing in fresh fruit if you want to experiment. It’s a solid choice for sunny days or a light evening drink.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 4 ounces tonic water
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 4 cubes ice
• 1 lime wedge

Cooking Instructions

1. Fill a glass with ice cubes.
2. Pour in 2 ounces of gin.
3. Add 4 ounces of tonic water.
4. Stir gently to mix.
5. Squeeze 1 tablespoon of lime juice into the glass.
6. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Want more ideas? Check out these gin and tonic tips.

8) Mojito

Mojitos are fresh, minty, and just the thing for a warm afternoon. White rum, lime, mint, sugar, and club soda make this one a classic.

Muddle mint with lime and sugar to get those flavors going. Add ice and rum, then top with club soda.

You can tweak the sweetness or lime to your liking. This Cuban favorite is a go-to for parties or just hanging out.

Ingredients

• 10 fresh mint leaves
• 1 medium lime, cut into wedges
• 2 teaspoons sugar or simple syrup
• 1 1/2 ounces white rum
• 2 to 4 ounces club soda
• Ice cubes

Cooking Instructions

1. Place mint leaves and lime wedges in a glass.
2. Add sugar and muddle gently to mix flavors.
3. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
4. Pour in the rum.
5. Top off with club soda.
6. Stir gently and garnish with a mint sprig if you like.

Try this easy mojito recipe for more ideas.

9) Old Fashioned

Old Fashioneds are straightforward but never boring. Start with bourbon or rye, add a little sugar and bitters, and you’re basically there.

Muddle in an orange peel for that hit of citrus. Add ice and maybe a cherry if you’re feeling fancy.

Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1 sugar cube or 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 orange peel or slice
• 1 maraschino cherry (optional)
• Ice cubes

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the sugar and bitters in a glass.
2. Muddle the sugar and bitters together until the sugar dissolves.
3. Add the orange peel or slice and gently muddle.
4. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
5. Pour the whiskey over the ice.
6. Stir gently to mix.
7. Garnish with a cherry if you like.

Learn more at Simply Recipes’ Old Fashioned Cocktail page.

10) Margarita

The margarita’s a classic—easy to whip up, and it just fits almost any mood or moment. All you really need is tequila, orange liqueur, and some fresh lime juice.

If you want a touch more sweetness, you can add a bit of agave syrup, but honestly, it’s up to you. I like mine pretty tart.

Grab your shaker, toss in the ingredients with ice, and give it a good shake. Strain everything into a glass with a salted rim.

You’ll get this bright, refreshing drink with just the right hit of tart and sweet. A lime wheel on the side? Always a good idea.

Make sure you’re using fresh ice and a chilled glass, because this drink is best when it’s really cold.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces blanco tequila
• 1/2 ounce orange liqueur
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/2 ounce agave syrup (optional)
• Kosher salt (for rim)
• Lime wheel (for garnish)

Cooking Instructions

1. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of your glass.
2. Dip the rim into kosher salt to coat it.
3. Add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice.
4. Shake well for about 10 seconds.
5. Strain into the prepared glass filled with fresh ice.
6. Garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy.

For more details, check out the best margarita recipe.