Need some super-simple drinks to mix up at home? Get crafty with your cocktails with some easy-to-mix drinks that call for only three ingredients. From rounds of Manhattans to the bubbly French 75, we’ve put together your go-to list of bottles and mixers and some of our favorite three-ingredient drinks you can make with them. So get shaking (or stirring), because it’s got to be happy hour somewhere, right?
Bottles to Stock:
Vodka
Gin
Tequila
Bourbon (or another type of whiskey)
Rum
Dry vermouth
Sweet vermouth
Cointreau (or Triple Sec)
Sparkling wine
Mixers:
Seltzer (or club soda)
Tonic water
Cola
Non-alcoholic ginger beer (similar to ginger ale, but with a spicier kick)
Angostura bitters
Simple syrup (equal parts granulated sugar and warm water, stirred to dissolve)
Honey syrup (two parts honey to one part warm water, stirred to dissolve)
Fresh citrus (lemons, limes and grapefruit)
Our Favorite 3-Ingredient Cocktails:
Vodka
Vodka Martini aka Kangaroo. In an ice-filled mixing glass, combine 1 ½ oz. vodka and ¾ oz. dry vermouth. Stir, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Moscow Mule. In an ice-filled glass, combine 2 oz. vodka, 3 oz. ginger beer and the juice of ½ a lime. Stir gently before serving.
Fizzy Greyhound. In an ice-filled glass, combine 1 ½ oz. vodka and ¾ oz. fresh grapefruit juice. Add seltzer or sparkling wine and stir gently before serving.
Harvey Wallbanger. In an ice-filled glass, combine 1 ½ oz. vodka, 4 oz. fresh orange juice and ½ oz. Cointreau. Stir gently before serving.
Gin
Bee’s Knees. In a shaker, combine 1 ½ oz. gin, ¼ oz. honey syrup and ¼ oz. fresh lemon juice. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
French 75. In a shaker, combine 1 oz gin, 1 oz. simple syrup and 1 oz. fresh lemon juice. Shake with ice, strain into a chilled flute, and top with sparkling wine.
Gin Rickey. In an ice-filled glass, combine 2 oz. gin and ¾ oz. fresh lime juice. Top with seltzer and stir gently before serving.
Tom Collins. In an ice-filled glass, combine 2 oz. gin and ¾ oz. fresh lime juice. Top with seltzer and stir gently before serving.
Tequila
Margarita. In a shaker, combine 2 oz. tequila, 1 oz. fresh lime juice and ¾ oz. Cointreau. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Paloma. In an ice-filled glass, combine 2 oz. tequila and 1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice (or use half grapefruit and half lime). Top with seltzer and stir gently before serving.
Tequila Manhattan. In an ice-filled mixing glass, combine 2 oz. tequila, ¾ oz.
sweet vermouth and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters. Stir gently before serving.
Bourbon or Whiskey
Manhattan. In an ice-filled mixing glass, combine 2 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. sweet vermouth and 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Reverse Manhattan. In an ice-filled mixing glass, combine 2 oz. sweet vermouth, 1 oz. bourbon and 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Whiskey Sour. In a shaker, combine 2 oz. whiskey, ¾ oz. fresh lime juice and ¾ oz. simple syrup. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Brown Derby. In a shaker, combine 2 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice and ½ oz. simple syrup. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Old Fashioned. In an ice-filled glass, combine 2 oz. bourbon, 2 dashes Angostura bitters and ¼-½ oz. simple syrup. Stir gently before serving.
Rum
Daiquiri. In a shaker, combine 2 oz. rum, ½ oz. simple syrup, and 1 oz. fresh lime juice. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Brooklynite. In a shaker, combine 2 oz. rum, ½ oz. honey syrup, and ½ oz. fresh lime juice. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Cuba Libre. In an ice-filled glass, combine 2 oz. rum and ½ oz. fresh lime juice. Top with cola and stir gently before serving.
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