start learning easy cocktails

Learning to mix drinks and fancy cocktails might sound intimidating, but all you need is a simple recipe and the right ingredients. With a little practice and some inspiration from your favorite cocktails from memory, you’ll be bartending and making drinks at home that look $14 but only cost you some creativity.

Juan and I started our mixology journey with a cocktail book called the Periodic Table of Cocktails by Emma Stokes, which had been sitting on our bookshelf for many months before we had this opportunity to thoroughly study it. It includes both the traditional old fashioned cocktails along with creative and fun recipes with interesting histories.

We also followed the 9 Bottle Bar guide to stock our home bar with the essential liquors and bitters. With these plus a few common garnishes like orange, lime, mint, or basil, you are ready to start shaking and stirring. A few other commonly used ingredients that aren’t on the 9 Bottle Bar include grenadine syrup, club soda, and tonic water.

You will also need a shaker (find cheap sets on Amazon or Target) and a jigger or other liquid measuring tool, preferably with ounce units.

Below are the recipes to a few of my favorite cocktails that I have made while being stuck at home.

Grapefruit Gin + Tonic

1.5 oz gin (or 2)
1 oz grapefruit juice
Tonic Water

This is a refreshing twist on a classic gin and tonic. I know some people are not crazy about grapefruit juice, but I love it and find the slight bitterness great for cocktails. In a tall glass, add an abundance of ice. Add in gin and the grapefruit juice and top off with the tonic water. Stir and enjoy! If you don’t like grapefruit, leave it out and treat yourself to a regular G+T!

mango mojito

2 oz white rum
1.5 oz mango juice or nectar (we use the Goya brand mango nectar from the supermarket)
7-8 mint leaves
club soda
1/2 oz lime juice (or 2 lime wedges)

Muddle the mint leaves and lime wedges (or add in lime juice) at the bottom of the glass. Add in rum and mango nectar and mix. Add in a generous amount of ice and top off with club soda. Garnish with a mint leaf and enjoy.

algonquin

1.5 oz rye whiskey
2/3 oz dry vermouth
2/3 oz pineapple juice

The Algonquin is another refreshing cocktail that let’s you enjoy whiskey with a tropical twist. Add everything in a shaker with ice, shake until cool and strain into a glass. To garnish, you can take a potato peeler, press against the skin of a citrus fruit and slice along the outside with a little pressure until desired length/width. I like to rub the edge of the glass with the garnish to let out some more of the flavor as you sip.

Tequila sunrise

2 oz tequila (currently using Espolon)
1/2 oz grenadine syrup
4 oz orange juice

A sunny cocktail great for chilling on your sofa next to the sunny window while watching Ozark on Netflix. In a tall glass with ice, mix the tequila and orange juice together. Slowly drizzle in the grenadine syrup with a spoon and take a photo of the pretty color contrast before enjoying as is or mixing everything together.

Scofflaw

2 oz rye whiskey
1 oz dry vermouth
1/4 oz lemon juice
1/4 oz grenadine
dash of bitters (aromatic or orange)

The term “scofflaw” is defined as someone who is drinking illegally and was coined during the Prohibition era. This drink is a slightly busy cocktail that is sweet, a little strong, and pairs well with food of strong flavors. Add everything in a shaker with ice, shake until chilled and strain into a glass .

Through this amateur mixology experience, I have discovered a new enthusiasm for gin and gin-based cocktails. Previously I opted for drinks made with tequila or rum, but now I much prefer gin over other liquors because it enhances other flavors while adding refreshing notes of juniper whereas the other liquors more often mask more subtle tastes.

While most bars are still closed, you won’t be able to order those beautifully crafted $14 cocktails, but you can definitely give mixology a try and learn how to serve the basics. Oh, and please drink responsibly!

5 Quick and Easy Quarantine Cocktails