The lock-down and its ever extending duration have been tormenting for all of us. Especially for party freaks like me and you. But touch wood these hard times will pass soon and we’ll be ready to rampage again. We’ll host loads of housewarming parties and attend a ton of them too. So, it’s pretty vital that we prepare well while we have time.
Cocktails are the heart and soul of all the parties. The best thing about cocktails is that they can be served at any kind of party – be it a formal office party or just a casual get together. They taste awesome, smell great and not to forget, their high is euphoric. So, here are some of my favorite cocktail recipes that’ll lighten up your party and be gentle on your pocket too.
The Classic Spanish Sangria Red
Sangria is a classic Spanish cocktail. This drink tops the chart due to its flexibility. There’s a sangria for literally everyone. You can tune the flavors by selecting and adjusting the amounts of your favorite fruits. You can also control its punch by toggling with the ounces of Rum and club soda. It’s a soothing, refreshing and fruity summer treat.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 small lemon or lime, halved and sliced
- 1 orange, quartered and sliced
- 1 small apple, cored and chopped into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 bottle fruity red wine (I prefer Sula.)
- 1.5 cup rum (Bacardi Limon) (You may use Brandy or Vodka instead)
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 cup club soda, chilled
- Ice cubes
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large pitcher or bowl, mix the sugar with the lemon and/or lime slices and muddle a bit with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Add the remaining ingredients except the seltzer or club soda and ice.
- Chill several hours or overnight. Just before serving, stir in seltzer or club soda and ice.
Tom Collins
Master this all-time gin classic. The Tom Collins is essentially a lemonade spiked with a healthy dose of gin. It’s icy, minty, and lemony flavor combined with the high of gin is a perfect combination to spend your evening with. Tom Collins is one of the most popular cocktails amongst women.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ounces of gin
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup ( 1:1 mixture of water and sugar)
- club soda, to top
- Garnish: lemon wheel
INSTRUCTIONS
- Fill a Collins glass with 1.5 cups ice, set aside in the freezer.
- Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
- Add 1 cup ice, cover and shake until chilled. Strain into the chilled Collins glass.
- Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wedge.
The James Bond Martini
Every James Bond fan is familiar with the legendary martini Bond ordered in Ian Fleming’s 1953 book, “Casino Royale.” It might as well be the most famous drink ordered in history. Although a myth of difficult recipe trails this Vespers Martini. This drink is purely fictional, one created by the author in his first book, and is ready to become the life at your party – an ice breaker or something to be shown off. It’s even become known as the “Bond martini.” Of course, as any devotee of the books or movies knows, Bond is very fond of fine cocktails! One thing’s for sure, Fleming certainly knew his way around great drinks.
INGREDIENTS
- 3 ounces gin
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1/2 ounce dry Martini
- Garnish: lemon peel
INSTRUCTIONS
- Gather the ingredients.
- Combine the ingredients in a pitcher with tight lid.
- Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a large piece of lemon peel.
- Serve and enjoy!
The Mojito
Mojito is the perfect rum cocktail. The drink finds its origins in Cuba and the 16th-century Cuban cocktail El Draque, named for Sir Francis Drake. Naturally, most of its ingredients are Cuban. The Mojito is traditionally served over ice. The taste of Mojito is something which the non-drinking folks might also be aware of as its virgin incarnation is quite famous.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ounces white rum
- 3 Mint leaves
- 3/4 ounces Fresh lime juice
- 1/2 ounces simple syrup
- Club soda, to top
- Garnish: Mint sprig
- Garnish: Lime wheel
INSTRUCTIONS
- Lightly muddle (mash) the mint in a shaker.
- Add the rum, lime juice, simple syrup and ice and give it a brief shake.
- Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top with the club soda.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel.
The Long Island Iced Tea
The Long Island Iced Tea succeeds where so many of today’s refined cocktails fall short: It’s boozy AF – love of the life for hard drinkers.It might lead to a hangover, but drinkers know – you haven’t partied until you’re hungover. It’s also precisely what a person needs every now and then. Best then not to intellectualize the Long Island Iced Tea and simply love it for what it is: alcohol for the young. If you’re looking to tame your tea a bit, pull back the boozy parts from three-quarter ounce to half-ounce, and lean in on the cola.
INGREDIENTS
- 3/4 ounces of Vodka
- 3/4 ounces of white rum
- 3/4 ounces of silver tequila
- 3/4 ounces of Gin
- 3/4 ounces of Triple sec
- 3/4 ounces of simple syrup
- 3/4 ounces of fresh lemon juice
- Cola, to top
- Garnish: Lemon wedge
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add all ingredients except the Cola into a Collins glass with ice.
- Top with a splash of the cola and stir briefly.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
- Serve with a straw.
Now, go ahead and hone your bar-tending skills, and show them off to your friends at your next PARTAYYY!!
Got any other refreshing drink to share? Comment it below and we’ll add it in our next list!
