33 Easy Cocktails That Only Need 3(!) Ingredients
The beauty of mixing up cocktails is that, more often than not, the easiest cocktails are also the most delicious. Which, we think, only adds to how refreshing these 33 easy cocktails are. No matter if you're a whiskey-only type, a vodka/gin/tequila purist, or often just opt for a glass of wine, we've got 3-ingredient or fewer cocktail for everyone.
Classic cocktails become classic for a lot of reasons. Personally, we think many of them (like margaritas and martinis) are so classic because they 1) require very little ingredients, and 2) you don't need to memorize any crazy proportions or techniques to feel like a bonafide mixologist at home. But that doesn't mean they lack complexity either. Many of these cocktails are well worth the splurge on a nice bottle of liquor, so definitely don't scrimp when it comes to those old fashioneds or Manhattans. If anything, get some fun bitters to shake up a new cocktail every happy hour.
Sure, a shot is technically a one-ingredient "cocktail," but one to two more ingredients (plus ice and a garnish) can make a truly memorable drink. Take that shot of vodka and add it to your favorite mixer to make a Cape Codder (with cranberry juice), a Seabreeze (with cranberry juice and grapefruit juice), or a Bay Breeze (with cranberry juice and pineapple juice). Our new favorite cocktail, the Kalimotxo, actually contains only two ingredients. It's a simple and delicious Spanish cocktail that just requires your favorite red wine, Mexican coke, and a squeeze of lemon (trust us, it's good).
While evening cocktail hour is a great time to sip on venerable classics like dirty martinis, Negronis, or Gimlets, brunch is not to be outdone. Spritzes like the Aperol spritz, Campari spritz, or Limoncello Spritz shine at brunch time, alongside orange-filled mimosas and screwdrivers, and our better-than-a-bloody-mary tomato tini.
Whatever the occasion, we've got plenty of simple, 3 or less ingredient cocktails for you to pick from!
Dirty Martini
Sippable and snackable, the perfect dirty martini is a simple ratio of 5:1:1—chilled gin: dry vermouth: olive brine. This mixture is then poured over a few ice cubes and stirred until a little of the ice dilutes to tame this stiff drink, and served with a few olives.
Get the Dirty Martini recipe.
Campari Sprittz
The Campari spritz—bubbly, bitter, and very refreshing—is the perfect drink for a leisurely pre-dinner hang or happy hour with friends.
Get the Campari Spritz recipe.
Classic Mimosa
Nothing kicks off brunch quite like a mimosa. If you prefer your cocktails on the sweeter side, bump up the orange juice to 3 ounces per glass, or go for a sweeter bottle of bubbly.
Get the Classic Mimosa recipe.
Manhattan
There are few cocktails more storied than the Manhattan. First stirred up in 1894 by a bartender at New York City's Waldorf Astoria, the defining characteristic is that it uses Scotch whiskey. Change up your bitters with a few dashes of walnut, lavender, or black cherry for a fun twist.
Get the Classic Manhattan recipe.
Negroni
Something about the bittersweet, botanical flavors of the Negroni make us feel like we're on vacation. This classic Italian cocktail amps up the notes of juniper in gin with sweet vermouth and herbaceous Campari.
Get the Negroni recipe.
Kalimotxo
All it takes to make a Kalimotxo is two ingredients: Coke and red wine. We know it might seem crazy, but this combo truly is something special.
Get the Kalimotxo recipe.
Classic Margaritas
A favorite classic cocktail the world over, all you need are 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to make one for yourself—get those limes out, and let happy hour begin!
Get the Classic Margaritas recipe.
Aperol Spritz
The Aperol Spritz is an Italian classic that has an iconic bittersweetness reminiscent of burnt orange and tart rhubarb. When paired with Prosecco and a bit of soda water, it makes an amazing cocktail to drink in the warmer months.
Get the Aperol Spritz recipe.
Old Fashioned
Oaky and sweet, with a hint of citrus on the finish, the whiskey Old Fashioned is truly a bourbon lover's drink. You only need a few ingredients to make this classic cocktail—sugar, bitters, bourbon, and a large ice cube—so you’ve really got to make them count.
Get the Old Fashioned recipe.
Moscow Mule
Vodka, fresh lime juice, and spicy-sweet ginger beer combine in an adorable little copper mug to make the crushable fizzy drink that you’ll be sipping all year long.
Get the Moscow Mule recipe.
Classic Paloma
What's a Paloma? It's kind of like a margarita, but with a grapefruit-y fizz that's heralded by many in Mexico as the better cocktail. It's beloved not just for its bittersweet, citrusy grapefruit flavor but also for its simplicity.
Get the Classic Paloma recipe.
Bay Breeze Cocktail
If we’re talking beach house vibes, it doesn’t get much more classic than a Bay Breeze cocktail. Vodka, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice are poured over ice to create a tall, frosty summer cocktail that’s the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, fruity and boozy.
Get the Bay Breeze Cocktail recipe.
Kir Royale
When it comes to sparkling wine-based cocktails, few beverages are as classy and sophisticated as a Kir Royale. Beyond its très chic reputation, it’s also simple to prepare and has a bubbly, sweet energy that makes any event extra-special.
Get the Kir Royale recipe.
White Russian
We abide by this delicious cocktail every home bartender needs to know. Tastes like a chocolate boozy milkshake and requires only three easy ingredients you likely already have on hand.
Get the White Russian recipe.
Limoncello Spritz
Aperol is a classic spritz cocktail choice, but this limoncello number transports me to Italy after just one sip. The liquor is sweet and strong with a punching flavor, making it perfect for adding to cocktails like this one.
Get the Limoncello Spritz recipe.
Cape Codder
No tools necessary for this drink! Simply pour vodka and cranberry juice into a glass and serve. If you want to go the extra mile, you can add a splash of lime juice and garnish with a lime wedge.
Get the Cape Codder recipe.
Perfect Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitans are more than just a pretty drink. This easy cocktail is tart and citrusy with a real punch. It's a classic for every at home bartender to know and easy enough to shake up for guests or to make just for yourself.
Get the Perfect Cosmopolitan recipe.
Dark and Stormy
Deceptively simple to mix up, the Dark 'N' Stormy delivers a refreshingly complex wave of spice and zing. Want it with a twist? Try our Frozen Dark 'N' Stormy!
Get the Dark 'N' Stormy recipe.
Americano
The Americano is a simple drink with just three ingredients: Campari, club soda, and the best sweet vermouth you can find, topped with an orange slice.
Get the Americano recipe.
Gimlet
This sweet, tart cocktail couldn't be simpler. We love garnishing with a lime wheel and a bit of lime zest. It adds a flavorful intensity that comes from the oils that are released when a lime is zested and complements the herbaceousness of the gin.
Get the Gimlet recipe.
12 Grapes Cocktail
This Prosecco and grape drink is simple to make and fun to drink with your loved ones or yourself. The St. Germain brings sweet, floral notes of elderflower that compliments the Champagne for a bright cocktail perfect for any occasion.
Get the 12 Grapes Cocktail recipe.
Screwdriver Cocktail
A stalwart of college parties and boozy brunches, this cocktail is beloved for its simplicity and accessibility. Simple combine your favorite vodka and orange juice for a deceptively delicious drink.
Get the Screwdriver Cocktail recipe.
St. Germain Spritz
St. Germain, a sweet and floral French liqueur made from elderflowers, is the perfect compliment to a dry sparkling wine like Cava, Champagne, or Prosecco in this low-alcohol spritz.
Get the St. Germain Spritz recipe.
Tomato Tini
Instead of olive brine, this martini gets its rich flavor and vibrant color from tomatoes. If you’re skeptical, hear us out: Think of this cocktail as a cleaner, crisper version of a Bloody Mary.
Get the Tomato Tini recipe.
Classic Vodka Martini
Just three simple ingredients in this classic cocktail. Quality vodka and vermouth are key here—since they make up the drink, the cheap stuff just won't do.
Get the Classic Vodka Martini recipe.
Ranch Water
A sort of effervescent, less-sweet version of a margarita, only 3 ingredients are required for ranch water: tequila, lime juice, and seltzer. We like adding a splash of orange liqueur, like Cointreau, for a little sweetness and citrus flavor too.
Get the Ranch Water recipe.
Black Russian Cocktail
This two-ingredient, spirit-forward cocktail combines vodka and coffee liqueur served over ice, making it a flavorful dessert cocktail perfect after a nice dinner out, especially when garnished with an orange slice or a Maraschino cherry.
Get the Black Russian Cocktail recipe.
Salty Dog Drink
Crisp, grapefruity, refreshing, and only three ingredients?! The Salty Dog just became our go-to summer cocktail. Sign us up.
Get the Salty Dog Drink recipe.
Cherry Bomb Mimosa
Maraschino cherry juice, pineapple juice, and bubbly make this hot pink drink a summertime brunch must. It's the true cherry on top.
Get the Cherry Bomb Mimosa recipe.
Seabreeze Drink
A Seabreeze is a refreshing and simple cocktail of vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice, garnished with a lime wedge. It’s basically the love child of a Cape Codder and a Salty Dog.
Get the Seabreeze Drink recipe.
Vodka Tonic
Similar vibe to a vodka soda, vodka tonic is a little bit sweeter. Adding citrus is a nonnegotiable for us. We love lemons and limes, but blood orange slices add a fun pop of color and zing too!
Get the Vodka Tonic recipe.
Gin Rickey
Crafted with ingredients you already have in your fridge, the gin rickey is as refreshing as it is simple to make and, not to mention, low-carb! So if you have limes, club soda, and gin, you’re well on your way.
Get the Gin Rickey recipe.
Brown Sugar Old Fashioned
A little brown sugar makes this classic cocktail extra warm and cozy, adding a hint of caramel, which makes this drink feel anything but old-fashioned. It's the only way we like to make it now!
Get the Brown Sugar Old Fashioned recipe.
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