8 Easy Cocktails to Make at Home
Haven’t we all been there, wishing for the elegance of a cocktail but without the hassle of leaving home? Well, these 8 recipes are here to save the bar! These involve ingredients you’ll find at home, and simple methods to give you that luxurious cocktail experience with minimum effort. If you’d like to play bartender at your next house-party we suggest getting one of our chic Cocktail Sets!
1. French 75
A lovely cocktail for brunch and afternoon gatherings, this recipe was originally developed in Paris in the 1920s! Simply shake up 60ml of your favourite gin with ice, 20 ml of lemon juice, and 30ml of simple syrup. Strain the mix into a champagne coupe & top it off with sparkling wine and garnish with a twist of lemon or orange. Voila, a tart & refreshing cocktail that’ll have your friends impressed in a sip! Perfect coupe glasses make all the difference!
2. Grapefruit Margarita
A fruity twist the classic margarita that is perfect for parties and family lunches alike! Blend up fresh grapefruit with fresh lime juice, then add your favourite tequila and Cointreau to the mix. To make it extra special, salt the rims of the cocktail glasses before straining in the drink. Garnish with grapefruit slices or lime wedges to finish!
3. The Old Fashioned
A classic that still gives you the luxurious feeling of lounging in a speakeasy one evening! Add one sugar cube, 2 dashes of bitters, and a teaspoon of water to your glass and stir till the mix coats the bottom. Next, add ice with your favourite bourbon and stir the drink till it’s cool before finishing with an orange twist for garnish! Served best in a heavy-base whiskey tumbler.
It’s a favourite for the afternoons but carries a kick that’s perfect for the evenings as well! Muddle 3-4 mint leaves, half a fresh passionfruit and 10 ml of simple syrup in a sleek highball glass, then add crushed ice and your favourite bourbon. Garnish with lemon wedges and more mint leaves on top to finish!
5. Black Velvet
Bet you didn’t think there was a beer cocktail out there, but now you know! Developed in 18th century England, it’s best made with Guiness stout but you can replace it with your favourite stout beer too. Mix equal parts chilled stout and chilled champagne or prosecco in a beer glass and stir to combine the flavours. Serve with a lemon wedge if desired! Check out some of our stylish beer glasses.
6. Elderflower Collins
A lovely balance of botanical gin with the smoothness of elderflower, this cocktail is the perfect anytime-anywhere pick! Mix up 60ml of your favourite gin with 10ml of simple syrup, 20ml lemon juice and 10ml of elderflower cordial. Pour it into a chic glass over ice, then top it off with club soda. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary or thyme to finish! Best suited in a stemless wine glass!
7. Aperol Spritz
Zhuzh up the classic aperol spritz by adding your own fruity twist to it! Fill a balloon glass halfway with ice, add 50 ml of aperol, 75ml of prosecco or a different sparkling white wine, and top it off with club soda. Now to distinguish between your & your friends’ glasses garnish with a custom selection of berries, lemon wedges or herb sprigs! A rounded gin glass works best to show off your creation!
8. Classic Martini
Unmatched elegance with all the joy of a dry gin, the martini is one of the best loved cocktails in the world. Plus, it’s super easy to make at home! Shake or stir 80 ml of gin with 15 ml of dry vermouth for 30 seconds. Pour into a crystal martini glass and garnish with green olives, to slip into your 007 mode!
- Written by Geetika Agarwal