Top 50 Simple Mixed Drinks – This fabulous lineup features our favorite gin, vodka, rum, tequila, whiskey, and bourbon cocktails that are easy to make and perfect to serve for nearly any occasion!

Simple Mixed Drinks - close up in low ball glass

Why We Love Simple and Easy Mixed Drinks

Whether you are enjoying a quiet night by the fire or hosting a rowdy summer pool party, any occasion becomes a bit more festive when cocktails are involved!

But, thankfully, celebration-worthy drinks do not need complicated recipes.

In fact, with just a few key ingredients and a couple of glasses, you can mix up any number of delicious drinks in a snap! So, without further ado, here are our 50 Favorite Cocktail Recipes that are easy to make with gin, vodka, rum, tequila, whiskey, or bourbon.

Best Easy Gin Mixed Drinks

Light and floral, cocktails made with sweet or dry gin are always a refreshingly good idea! These drinks are terrific for fancy occasions and to sip on during the spring and hot summer months.

  1. The Best Gin and Tonic
  2. Watermelon Basil Gin Cocktail
  3. Lavender Lemon Meyer Tom Collins
  4. White Negroni
Margarita glass and high ball glass, each filled with clear liquid and lemon rind.
  1. Late Summer Negroni
  2. Watermelon Shrub Collins
  3. Best French 75
  4. Grapefruit Sparkler
  5. Hibiscus Ginger Tea and Martini – also can be made with vodka!
  6. Sloe Gin Fizz
Sloe Gin Fizz - An easy gin cocktail recipe

Best Easy Mixed Cocktails with Vodka

If you are looking for a crowd-pleasing cocktail, these classic alcoholic beverages with smooth vodka are sure to be a hit!

  1. Salty Dog Cocktail
  2. Perfect Cosmopolitan
  3. Asian Bloody Mary
  4. Lieutenant Dan’s Bloody Mary Mix
Simply Vodka Recipes - Bloody Marys
  1. Sweet Tea Old Fashioned Cocktail
  2. Peppermint Martini (Peppermintini)
  3. Stormy Donkey Punch – also includes rum!
  4. Transfusion Drink
Easy Vodka Cocktail Recipes - showing grape transfusion drink

Best Easy Rum Mixed Beverages

Ready to party? You certainly will be once you mix up any of these flavorful and festive rum cocktails! (And don’t forget the adorable little mini umbrellas, of course!)

  1. Drunken Monkey Cocktails
  2. Watermelon Rum Punch
  3. Killer Bee Cocktails
  4. Raspberry Mojito
  5. Perfect Mojito
Mojito recipe made with rum
  1. Bonita Apple (Apple Butter Rum Cocktails)
  2. Bahamian Blaster Party Punch
  3. Large-Batch Goombay Smash Caribbean Cocktails
  4. POG Punch Hawaiian Cocktail
  5. Holiday Champagne Punch
  6. Haleakala Holiday Cocktail
  7. Mai Tai Cocktails – also made with tequila!
Original Mai Tai Recipe

Tequila Cocktails

When you hear “tequila” is in a drink, you just know you are in for a big time! With a distinct (possibly notorious?) sharp earthy taste, this stout alcohol is perfect to combine with both light and bold fruity flavors.

  1. Smoke and Mirrors Classic Cocktail
  2. Salty Miami
  3. Texas Ranch Water Cocktail
Ranch water cocktail in highball glass
  1. Best Margarita Recipe
  2. Spicy Pineapple Habanero Margaritas
  3. Pink Grapefruit Margarita
  4. Bangkok Margarita
  5. Cranberry Pomegranate Margarita

Best Easy Mixed Drinks with Whiskey and Bourbon

These adult beverages with whiskey or bourbon are easy to make, but feel so sophisticated when served in a stylish glass – neat or on the rocks! Savor by the sip as you enjoy the balance of sharp and smooth flavors.

  1. Plum Ginger Whiskey Sour
  2. Perfect Manhattan Cocktail
  3. Sherry Cherry Cobbler Cocktail
  4. The Champ Bourbon Cocktail
  5. Best Vegas Bomb
  6. Sazerac Cocktail
bourbon cocktail recipe
  1. Rosemary Old Fashioned
  2. Burnt Honey Bourbon Sour
  3. Mint Julep
  4. Apple Ginger Buck Easy Cocktail Recipe
  5. Indian Summer Cocktail
  6. Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey

Simple Bar Staples

Need help setting up your bar? Here is a list of basic equipment items and ingredients that will help you imbibe in style in a hurry!

Bar Equipment

  • Cocktail shaker
  • Muddler
  • Cocktail strainer
  • Double-sided jigger
  • Bar spoon
  • Highball glasses
  • Lowball glasses
  • Martini glasses
  • Copper mugs

Basic Bar Liquors

For mixed drinks, it’s best to buy mid-range alcohol. Look for brands with great flavor, but not too expensive.

  • Vodka
  • Gin
  • White rum
  • Spiced rum
  • Tequila
  • Rye whiskey
  • Bourbon

Additional Mixing Liquors

  • Orange liqueur
  • Campari or Aperol
  • Sweet Vermouth
  • Flavored vodka or rum (like lemon vodka or coconut rum)

Additional Bar Ingredients for Mixed Drinks

  • Simple syrup
  • Grenadine
  • Ginger beer
  • Club soda
  • Tonic water
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Lemon juice
  • Orange juice
  • Pineapple juice
  • Grapefruit juice
  • Cranberry Juice
  • Tomato juice
  • Angostura bitters
  • Mint leaves
  • Hot sauce
  • Horseradish
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Maraschino cherries
  • Fresh mint
  • Fresh citrus for a lemon wedge or lime wheel
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Sugar

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