30 Easy Cocktail Recipes & Mixed Drinks for 2024

You’ll feel like a pro bartender with these easy cocktail recipes!

Whether you’re relaxing with loved ones or enjoying happy hour with friends, these drinks are the perfect start to your weekend.

From classic margarita recipes to a refreshing pina colada, there’s a cocktail here for everyone!

And they’re all so easy to recreate!

So, grab your shaker and don your favorite bartender outfit. These cocktail recipes are sure to impress.

Cheers!

Top 30 Cocktails & Drink Recipes

1. Margarita 

Margaritas are perhaps the most popular cocktail known to man, and for good reason.

This classic drink has the most refreshing blend of sweet and tangy.

The basic formula for this cocktail is tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau (orange liqueur).

But you can switch easily switch things up to make a different version. Margaritas come in all flavors and colors!

If you like yours with a berry twist, this strawberry margarita recipe is here to give you a hand.

Ingredients: tequila, triple sec, frozen strawberries, limeade concentrate, sugar, salt

2. Whiskey Sour 

Its name suggests that it’s all sour, but it’s not!

Made with a blend of whiskey, lemon, and maple syrup, a whiskey sour has the perfect balance of sweet and sour.

Fun fact: Did you know that this whiskey sour has been around since the 1870s?

The classic cocktail is even on the list of the International Bartender Association’s official cocktails.

It’s legit, and it was as much loved then as it is now. 

Ingredients: whiskey, lemon, maple syrup, orange peel, cocktail cherry, ice

3. Old-Fashioned 

The classic old-fashioned is the oldest cocktail in the book.

It dates back all the way to the early 1800s. We have to hand it to this cocktail for sticking around through the years!

With a mixture of whiskey, orange, sugar, bitters, and a cherry, the old-fashioned has a spectrum of flavors that tickles the tastebuds.

Talking about setting the bar high.

Ingredients: Angostura bitters, orange bitters, bourbon whiskey, orange peel, cocktail cherry for garnish, ice

4. Grasshopper 

The grasshopper is a green concoction made of creme de menthe, creme de cacao, and light cream.

If you’re into chocolate mint milkshakes, this one is a must-try.

This drink was invented in the 1950s and was particularly popular in the southeastern US.

It’s not a very strong drink, so if you’re new to the world of alcoholic beverages, this is a good place to start. 

Ingredients: green creme de menthe, white creme de cacao, light cream

5. Pina Colada 

When it comes to tropical cocktails, pina colada is the one.

The combination of pineapple, coconut cream, and rum is pure heaven. It’s all my favorites rolled into one!

Here’s a tip: be sure to get those adorable drink umbrellas.

While they don’t contribute anything to the flavor, they make pina coladas more enjoyable.

Ingredients: pineapple juice, coconut rum, coconut milk, lime juice, sugar, ice cubes

6. Paloma 

The paloma is a sweet, tart, and ultra-refreshing Mexican drink (though its Italian version is awesome, too!).

A close relative of the margarita, it also features tequila but uses grapefruit to give it a tangy twist. 

It’s traditionally made with grapefruit soda, but you can also use a mix of grapefruit juice and soda water in a pinch.

Serve palomas in a cocktail glass rimmed with salt, and voila – it’s happy hour!

Ingredients: tequila, grapefruit juice, sparkling water, lime juice, agave nectar or simple syrup, salt, ice

7. French 75 

Ever heard of the French 75? If not, it’s time to elevate your drinking game!

This classic drink is a mix of gin, champagne or prosecco, simple syrup, and lemon juice.

This citrusy, sparkling cocktail is both fancy and fun.

The French 75 is named after the French 75-mm Howitzer field gun, a common weapon during World War I.

The drink is said to pack such a punch that drinking it felt like being hit by a gun. 

Ingredients: gin, lemon, simple syrup, champagne, lemon peel for garnish

8. Cranberry St. Germain Cocktail 

St. Germain is a fairly new liqueur with a combination of lychee, grapefruit, and lychee scents.

A mixture of St. Germain, vodka, and cranberry, this cocktail is refreshing and flavorful. 

It’s a unique blend you’ll definitely want in your liquor cabinet.

Also, just look at those festive Christmas colors! It’s the perfect holiday drink.

Ingredients: lime zest & juice, vodka, elderflower liqueur, cranberry juice, sugar, frozen cranberries for garnish, ice

9. Cosmopolitan 

The cosmopolitan is a tart & sweet cocktail made of vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, & lime served in martini glasses.

It has a nice citrusy and berry flavor, and an even nicer pink hue. I like to think of it as a fancy and boozy pink lemonade.

For a stronger cosmo, use stronger spirits like Campari or Aperol instead of Cointreau.

Ingredients: Absolut Citron, Cointreau, lime juice, cranberry juice, lemon twist

10. Kir Royale 

Kir royale is a summer-friendly cocktail made with French berry liqueur and chilled champagne or prosecco.

It’s a light and fizzy pink drink, perfect for all occasions.

It’s such a simple blend – just two ingredients and you’re done – but it’s also super fancy.

Sure, you can serve champagne as is, but adding the berry liqueur yields a significantly better result.

Ingredients: Chambord or creme de cassis, brut champagne, fresh raspberry

11. Mimosa 

Prosecco and orange juice make one elegant mimosa.

This refreshing cocktail is fitting for the summer but also ideal all year long.

It’s the cocktail recipe you want to have on hand if you love hosting weekend brunches!

It’s perfect as it is, but try adding a splash of Cointreau for an extra citrusy flavor. You can also switch things up by using grapefruit instead of orange juice.

Whichever version you try, it’s guaranteed to be a hit.

Ingredients: prosecco or sparkling wine, pink grapefruit, fresh mint, honey, water

12. Classic Vodka Martini

You can’t go wrong with a classic martini, a mix of vodka, vermouth, ice, and lemon.

The vermouth gives the martini an herbaceous and slightly sweet taste, while the lemon adds a subtle tartness.

Best of all, while they look & taste sophisticated, martinis are easy to make.

Ingredients: vodka, dry vermouth, lemon zest

13. Amaretto Sour 

Amaretto sour is a mild cocktail with a sweet and sour twist. 

It gets its sweetness and nuttiness from amaretto – a liqueur made from almonds and/or apricot pits.

The sour part comes from lemon juice.

This recipe also features a not-so-secret ingredient that ties those two flavors together really well: bourbon.

Ingredients: Disaronno amaretto liqueur, lemon, simple syrup, bourbon whiskey, cherries

14. Kiss on the Lips Cocktail 

This aptly named cocktail is a delectable blend of frozen ripe mango, peach schnapps, rum, vodka, and grenadine.

If you love cocktails with a fruity and tropical twist, this is the drink for you.

A sip of this drink literally feels like a kiss on the lips! That lovely color combination will definitely make you crave more. 

Ingredients: Malibu rum or flavored vodka, mango chunks, peach schnapps, grenadine, maraschino cherries & pineapple

15. Tequila Sunrise 

The tequila sunrise is an eye-catching summer cocktail made with orange juice, grenadine, and not surprisingly, tequila. 

The color combinations make this drink super enticing!

It’s deep orange at the bottom and bright yellow on top, hence the name.

The added Maraschino cherry and orange slice give it extra charm, to boot.

While it looks like it was made by a pro, it’s surprisingly easy to make. Why go to a bar when you can make tequila sunrise at home?

Ingredients: tequila, orange juice & twist, grenadine, maraschino cherry

16. Malibu Sunset 

Here’s another sunny, fruity drink for ya!

A Malibu sunset is a mix of pineapple, coconut rum, orange juice, grenadine, and cherries.

Think of it as the love child of the pina colada and the tequila sunrise.

There really is something special about the combination of coconut and pineapple. This tropical tandem takes me to summer paradise.

Throw orange juice and cherries into the glasses, and your drinks will become even more epic.

Ingredients: Malibu coconut rum, pineapple orange juice & twist grenadine, maraschino cherries, ice cubes

17. Sidecar 

A sidecar is a cocktail of orange liqueur and lemon spiked with booze.

It’s a sour cocktail with a touch of sweetness.

You can use brandy, cognac, whiskey, or Armagnac to make a sidecar. This version uses brandy.

This simple blend of ingredients yields complex flavors – it’s crisp, rich, dry, warm, and full all at once. 

The best part is that it calls for basic ingredients you most probably already have on hand.

Ingredients: brandy, triple sec, lemon juice & twist

18. Daiquiri 

Daquiris are the OG of Bacardi mixed drinks. Okay, okay, the original Cuban version used Cuban rum, but you get the idea,

Made with rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, it’s a basic cocktail concoction that sure hits the spot.

Once you learn the basics, you can start to experiment with other flavors.

That’s the beauty of the daiquiri: there are many versions to choose from, and they’re all terrific.

Try strawberry, lime, pineapple, and my top choice: banana!

Ingredients: light or white rum, lime juice & twist, simple syrup

19. Long Island Iced Tea

Long Island iced tea is a super strong cocktail that definitely packs a punch.

It features five different spirits – gin, vodka, rum, tequila, and triple sec. With all that alcohol in one, a glass might just be enough to knock you out!

Adding flavor to the boozy iced tea are cola and sour mix.

While it does taste similar to iced tea, this cocktail doesn’t actually contain tea at all. It’s definitely refreshing, though!

Ingredients: gin, light rum, vodka, Blanco tequila, triple sec, sour mix, cola, lemon wedge

20. Bahama Mama

Calling all coconut and pineapple lovers, out there: here’s another awesome cocktail for you. 

The Bahama Mama is yet another drink that features coconut rum and pineapple juice.

It also contains orange juice, grenadine, and dark rum.

The result is a delightfully sweet, fruity, and creamy drink that packs a punch. 

Ingredients: dark rum, coconut rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine

21. Moscow Mule 

The Moscow mule is a boozy drink of vodka, ginger beer, and lime.

The ginger adds warmth to the drink, while the lime gives it a refreshing citrus flair.

Because of its unique combination of flavors, it makes for an excellent drink regardless of the season.

The best part? It couldn’t be easier to make. Just stir ginger beer, vodka, and fresh lime in a glass and you’re all set.

Pro-tip:

For an Irish flair, swap out vodka with Irish whiskey.

Ingredients: vodka, ginger beer, lime juice & wedge

22. Sea Breeze Cocktail 

The sea breeze cocktail is made of vodka, grapefruit juice, and cranberry.

This one is a relaxing fruity cocktail that’ll take your mind off the stresses of life.

This classic drink has been around since the 50s but only exploded in popularity in the late 70s to 80s.

That said, if you’re serving this at a party, I suggest you give it an 80s vibe! 

Ingredients: vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, ice

23. Mojito 

The mojito is yet another citrusy cocktail that combines rum and lime.

It also has mint in it, giving it a nice, cooling effect.

Be careful with adding too much mint, though! The perfect mojito isn’t supposed to be overwhelmingly minty.

This recipe uses the right balance of flavors to make the most refreshing glass.

Be sure to at least triple the batch – this sipper will be gone in minutes.

Ingredients: white rum, lime juice & slices, club soda, mint leaves, simple syrup

24. Caesar 

Also known as a “Bloody Caesar,” this next cocktail is a close cousin of the Bloody Mary.

It also contains vodka, but it makes use of Clamato juice, a more flavorful type of tomato juice.

Unlike other cocktails featured here, the Caesar has a savory flavor with a bit of spice.

If tomato juice is your jam, this drink will rock your world.

Ingredients: vodka, Clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, tabasco, horseradish, celery, asparagus, celery salt, ice cubes

25. Tom Collins 

A combination of lemon, gin, club soda, and sugar, Tom Collins is sweet and refreshing with a citrus flavor.

It’s a lot like lemonade but spiked with booze.

Tom Collins is a controversial drink with mixed origins.

America and England argued for a long time over who came up with it first.

To this day, its origins remain unclear.

There are only two things I know for sure, though: one, that Tom Collins is not a real person; and two, this cocktail is delicious.

Ingredients: gin, lemon, simple syrup, club soda, cocktail cherry

26. Mai Tai 

The mai tai is a rum-based cocktail flavored with lime juice, orgeat syrup, and Curacao liqueur.

It’s a classic drink in Tiki culture, and it is loved all over the world.

The word “Maita’i” means “good” in Tahitian, making it such an appropriate name for the drink.

The combination of unique ingredients makes this cocktail over-the-top delicious. It’ll hit your taste buds with its bold flavors at the first sip!

Ingredients: dark rum, aged rum, orange juice & slice, Cointreau, lime juice, orgeat syrup, sugar, grenadine

27. Michelada

Michelada is a Caesar-like drink made with tomato juice, lime juice, and hot sauce.

But instead of vodka, it’s spiked with beer. 

Here’s where things get interesting: instead of salt, the glasses’ rims are coated with a mix of Old Bay, chili powder, and celery salt.

It may sound strange, but it actually complements the savoriness of the drink well.

Ingredients: light Mexican beer, Clamato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce

28. Dark and Stormy 

Made with dark rum and ginger beer, this cocktail is truly dark and certainly packs a punch.

It doesn’t have an enticing name, but the Dark and Stormy is absolutely a must-try.

And no, it wasn’t created by some gothic dude, but rather by sailors sailing in the Caribbean waters.

Purists will frown upon adding lime juice, but the tart citrus adds a lovely flavor.

Ingredients: dark rum, ginger beer, lime wedge for garnish

29. Carajillo 

Carajillo is a Mexican cocktail widely consumed in Spain, Latin America, and of course, Mexico.

A blend of espresso and Licor 43, this coffee-flavored cocktail is sure to make you feel alive.

Aside from the coffee, you’ll also taste notes of anise, vanilla, orange blossom, and cinnamon.

That’s all thanks to Licor 43, a yellow liqueur that’s said to contain 43 different ingredients.

Ingredients: espresso (brewed or decaf), Licor 43, ice cubes

30. Hurricane 

Capping things off is the hurricane, a delicious and potent cocktail.

Made with dark and light rums, lime juices, orange, grenadine, and simple syrup, it’s both refreshing and boozy at the same time.

Whether you serve this at an intimate lunch or a huge party, it’ll be a hit.

Ingredients: white rum, dark rum, passion fruit juice, orange juice, grenadine, simple syrup, lime juice, orange slice, and maraschino cherry for garnish