10 Cocktails Every Beginner Can Make

Easy cocktails that are super simple to recreate at home when entertaining – cocktails that don’t contain a lot of extravagant ingredients, only require basic cocktail technique and are incredibly tasty.

ESPRESSO MARTINI COCKTAIL

The espresso martini has been made hugely popular in recent years due to the addictive combination of coffee & vodka! Make sure you use cold drip coffee – coffee extracted with heat tends to go bitter when not used immediately. Cold drip makes a delicious and consistent Espresso Martini – every time!

– 30mL Coffee Liqueur (1 oz)
– 30mL Vodka (1 oz)
– 30mL Coffee (1 oz)

NEGRONI COCKTAIL

This cocktails resembles the Americano (minus the soda and replaced with gin). Not to everyone’s taste though I must admit – try easing into one by replacing the Campari with a less bitter Italian aperitif, Aperol – yum!

– 30mL Gin (1 oz)
– 30mL Sweet Vermouth (1 oz)
– 30mL Campari (1 oz)

APEROL SPRITZ COCKTAIL

The Aperol Spritz is a popular summer drink! Aperol’s grapefruit notes and subtle bitterness compliment the bubbly, sweeter style prosecco.

– 90mL Prosecco (3 oz)
– 60mL Aperol (2 oz)
– 30mL Soda Water (1 oz)

BROWN DERBY COCKTAIL

The Brown Derby is somewhat of a bourbon whiskey based riff on a classic daiquiri. A big measure of bourbon is balanced with sweet honey syrup and sour and subtly bitter grapefruit juice. Named after the popular LA restaurant from the mid-20th century.

– 60mL Bourbon Whiskey (2 oz)
– 30mL Fresh Grapefruit Juice (1 oz)
– 15mL Honey Syrup (1:1) (½ oz)

BEES KNEES COCKTAIL

The Bee’s Knees cocktails recipe was invented out of necessity, hiding the poor quality homemade, bathtub cut gin that was prevalent during the prohibition-era. Nowadays, good quality gin is in abundance and this is a delicious, citrusy and honeyed gin cocktails.

– 60mL Gin (2 oz)
– 15mL Fresh Lemon Juice (½ oz)
– 15mL Honey Syrup (1:1) (½ oz)

MARGARITA COCKTAIL

Tequila and especially margaritas are party drinks, so instead of serving them up in a stemmed Margarita glass, serve them up short on ice by following this simple simple 3-2-1 recipe.

– 45mL Tequila (1½ oz)
– 15mL Triple Sec (½ oz)
– 30mL Fresh Lime Juice(1 oz)

DAIQUIRI COCKTAIL

The Daiquiri would have to be one of the most iconic classics. It was first created in the 1890’s and Bacardi was first call. Originally the drink was served in a tall glass packed with ice.

– 60mL White Rum (2 oz)
– 22.5mL Fresh Lime Juice (¾ oz)
– 22.5mL Sugar Syrup (¾ oz)

GODFATHER COCKTAIL

The original recipe of the Godfather calls for equal parts of Scotch Whisky and Amaretto which is quite sweet. I prefer to increase the Scotch Whisky to 45mL and drop the Amaretto to 15mL creating a less sweet and dryer Godfather recipe. Either way, the Amaretto will smooth and sweeten the whisky into a velvety smooth and tasty stirred drink.

– 45mL Scotch Whisky (1½ oz)
– 15mL Amaretto (½ oz)

MANHATTAN COCKTAIL

– 60mL Rye whisky (2 oz)
– 30mL Sweet Red Vermouth (1 oz)
– 2-3 Dashes of Bitters

BRANDY FLIP COCKTAIL

The Brandy Flip is a simple, 3-ingredient cocktails with a rich flavour and creamy texture. The very first Flips emerged as early as the late 1600s – they were originally created with a mixture of sugar, eggs and spices being added to a tankard of ale before being heated with a red-hot iron poker from the fire. Now, a Flip commonly refers to a cocktails of fortified wine or spirit and whole egg sweetened with sugar.

– 60mL Brandy (2 oz)
– 30mL Simple Syrup (1:1) (1 oz)
– Whole Egg