Is it finally your birthday? The holiday szn? Maybe you made it through the day without texting that fuck boy back, or just successfully managed to not bite at your cuticles the entire week even when you were lil ball of anxiety. Whatever the case, it’s a day that deserves a party.
And by “party,” who really even knows what we’re talking about since parties are looking a little different these days. Instead of the 20+ person invite list we’re used to, we’ve been forced to minimize that number by quite a bit, like to zero. We’re taking to Zoom to host birthday celebrations and weddings instead of our normal IRL get togethers. We’ve had to adjust to a lot of the changes that come with our normal celebrations, but one thing that doesn’t have to change is our love for a good cocktail in these changing times.
And what better way to make your boring Friday night into an actual party than by picking some cocktails from this list to try out? This list is full of refreshing juices, unexpected splashes of color, and seasonal flaves to wow even the most devoted vodka soda stans. Party of one or virtual party with friends or family, nothing will change how damn delicious these cocktails are. Keep scrolling for some classic cocktails and some new recipes that will definitely be added to your list of faves.
1
White Winter
Add 1 oz. white cranberry juice, ½ oz. lime juice, and ½ oz. Cointreau to a cocktail shaker. Fill 3/4 of the shaker with ice. Shake until chilled, about 12 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wedge.
2
Espresso Martini
Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add 1⅓ parts Absolut Vodka, ⅔ part Kahlúa, and ⅔ part espresso to the shaker. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with 3 whole coffee beans.
3
Apples to Apples
Combine 1 ½ oz. Don Papa rum, 1 oz. apple juice, ½ oz. spiced maple syrup, ½ oz. lemon juice, and ½ oz. egg white with ice and shake vigorously. Finely strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with pink peppercorn and rosemary sprig.
4
Spiced Bourbon Cocktail With Pomegranate Syrup
For the cocktail:
Combine 1/2 parts Basil Hayden’s® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 1/2 part cinnamon-pomegranate syrup, 1/2 part fresh-squeezed lime juice, 1 part fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, and 2 dashes black walnut bitters into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold. Strain into a double rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a sprig of rosemary.
For the cinnamon pomegranate syrup:
Combine 1 cup pomegranate juice and 5 cinnamon sticks in a medium saucepan on the stove. Bring to a light simmer to release the flavor from the cinnamon sticks. Add 1 cup granulated sugar, and gently stir to dissolve (do not bring to a boil). Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the syrup from the heat and allow it to cool. Strain out the cinnamon sticks and store the syrup in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks
5
The Painkiller
Combine 2 oz. dark rum, 4 oz. pineapple juice, 1 oz. orange juice, and 1 oz. cream of coconut (i.e. coco Lopez) in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 10 seconds until cold. Pour into a glass and enjoy!
6
Discovery
Mix 2 oz. vodka, ½ oz. lemon juice, and ½ oz. simple syrup in a highball glass filled with ice. Stir a couple of times, and top with watermelon juice. Garnish with a watermelon slice.
7
The Fisherman’s Margarita
Combine 1 ½ oz. tequila, ¾ oz. triple sec, and ¾ oz. lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a rocks glass with a salted rim and filled with ice. Top with a splash of Blue Curacao for color, and garnish with a lime.
8
Papa’s Pumpkin Pie
In a shaker with ice, combine 1 ¼ oz. Don Papa Rum, ½ oz. pumpkin puree, ½ oz. pumpkin spice syrup (available online from brands such as Torani and Monin), 2 dashes of orange bitters, and ¾ oz. lime juice. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint and a pinch of powdered sugar.
9
Amber Punch
Make a “punch mix” by mixing 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, 1 cup lemon juice, and 2 cups of peeled, crushed cucumbers. For each cocktail, mix 3 oz. punch mix, 1 ½ oz. lemon juice, and 1 ½ oz. gin in a tall glass. Add crushed ice, top with club soda, and garnish with a slice of cucumber.
10
Green Mary
In a tall glass, stir together 1 oz. Ketel One Vodka, 3 ½ oz. fresh juice made from equal parts of celery and cucumber, ½ oz. fresh lime juice, 1 pinch of rock salt, 1 pinch of pepper, 1 pinch of cinnamon, 1 pinch of nutmeg, and 1 pinch of dried chili flakes. Add ice, and garnish with a salted cucumber slice.
11
Cran Dram
In a shaker, combine 1 oz. Zirkova Vodka, ¾ oz Pimm’s, 3/4 oz. Velvet Falernum, ½ oz. lime juice, and ½ oz. cranberry juice with ice. Shake vigorously, and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.
12
Rubino
In a shaker, combine 1 ½ oz. tequila reposada, ½ oz. Cappelletti, 1 oz. grapefruit juice, ½ oz. simple syrup, and ¾ oz. lime juice with ice. Shake, and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of soda water, and garnish with a grapefruit slice and a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt.
13
Champagne Daiquiri
First, make a Champagne syrup. Combine 1 cup of flat, dry Champagne (any brand) with 1 cup of granulated sugar. Heat, and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Let cool, and store in the fridge when not in use. For each cocktail, combine 2 oz. white rum, ¾ oz. fresh lime juice, and ¾ oz. Champagne syrup in a shaker with ice. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lime peel.
14
Mezcal Mule
In a copper mug or glass filled with ice, combine 2 oz. Pelotón de la Muerte Mezcal, 1 ½ oz. ginger beer, ¾ oz. lime juice, and ¾ oz. agave nectar or simple syrup. Stir, and garnish with a lime wheel.
15
Tea Punch
In a pitcher, combine 6 cups of unsweetened tea, 3 cups strawberry lemonade, 3 cups orange juice, and 4 cups Woodford Reserve Bourbon. Stir, and pour into tea cups filled with ice. Garnish with a mint sprig and a cinnamon stick. Serves approximately 16.
16
Luxury Pineapple
In a shaker with no ice, shake together 2 oz. Belvedere Vodka Ginger Zest, 1 oz. fresh pineapple juice, ½ oz. fresh lemon juice, ½ oz. honey simple syrup, and 5 dashes Angostura Bitters. Add ice, and shake further. Strain into a coupe glass.
17
Sex on the Beach
Combine ½ oz. Vodka, ½ oz. Peach Schnapps, 2/3 cup orange juice, and ¼ cup cranberry juice with ice. Add a orange slice, stir, and serve.
18
Lychee Martini
Put 2-3 lychees in the bottom of your shaking tin. Add 1 ½ shots of vodka, ½ shot lychee liqueur, ½ shot honey syrup, and ¾ shot fresh lemon juice into the tin and shake for 10-15 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a single lychee.
19
Aperol Spritz
Pour 3 oz. of Prosecco or any sparkling wine into a glass. Add 1 oz. Aperol, a splash of soda water and sparkling water or club soda. Garnish with an orange, add some ice, and serve.
20
Mudslide Cocktail
Blend 1 shot vodka, 1 shot coffee liqueur, 1 shot Bailey’s Irish Cream, 1 shot heavy cream, 1 scoop crushed ice in an electronic blender. Serve with chocolate sauce.
