Easy cocktails for beginners (no shaker needed)
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Every drink here is made in the glass you serve it in. No shaker, no strainer, no blender: just a glass, ice, a spoon and a measure. Most follow one pattern. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour 45 to 60 ml of one spirit, top with a mixer and stir once. Learn that and you can make the Gin & Tonic, Cuba Libre, Moscow Mule and Screwdriver tonight. Then try the ones with a little more to them: the Mojito and Caipiroska press lime and sugar in the glass, the Dark 'n Stormy floats rum on top, and the Tequila Sunrise sinks its syrup. Tap any drink for steps.
You chose mocktails only, so the drinks with alcohol are hidden here. See the mocktail guides
The drinks
cocktailGin & Tonicgin · tonic water
cocktailGin Rickeygin · lime · soda water
cocktailKokum Gin & Tonicgin · kokum syrup · tonic water
cocktailAam Panna Gin Fizzgin · aam panna · soda water
cocktailStrawberry Gin Tonicgin · strawberries · tonic water
cocktailScrewdrivervodka · orange juice- cocktailVodka Collinsvodka · lemon · sugar · soda water
- cocktailSea Breezevodka · cranberry juice · orange juice
cocktailMoscow Mulevodka · ginger ale · lime
cocktailJaljeera Vodka Fizzvodka · jaljeera powder · soda water
cocktailMosambi Masala Highballvodka · sweet lime (mosambi) · soda water · black salt
cocktailCuba Librewhite rum · cola · lime
cocktailDark 'n Stormydark rum · ginger ale- cocktailMasala Rum Colarum (dark, white or spiced) · cola · chaat masala
cocktailMojitowhite rum · mint · lime · sugar · soda water
cocktailCaipiroskavodka · lime · sugar- cocktailWhisky Ginger Alewhisky · ginger ale
cocktailWhisky Smashwhisky · mint · lemon · sugar
cocktailHot Toddywhisky · honey · lemon · cinnamon
cocktailTequila Sunrisetequila · orange juice · rose syrup / grenadine
Questions
What should a beginner buy first?
One spirit you already like, a mixer that goes with it and a bag of ice. Gin with tonic, white rum with cola, vodka with ginger ale or orange juice, and whisky with ginger ale each make a drink here with nothing more than a lime.
How much spirit goes in each drink?
Most drinks here use 45 to 60 ml of spirit and 100 to 150 ml of mixer. Measure it rather than pouring by eye, with a jigger or even a tablespoon (15 ml): the drink tastes the same every time.
Do I need crushed ice?
Only for the Caipiroska and the Whisky Smash. Wrap ice cubes in a clean kitchen towel and tap them with a rolling pin. Every other drink here uses ordinary cubes: fill the glass to the top so the drink stays cold.