When you’re playing bartender at home, you often want to make things as simple as possible. Unlike at a bar where they have everything prepped, it’s likely you won’t have time to go out of your way and make your own herbal infusions or anything elaborate.
That said, if you’re hosting guests, you still want to impress without pulling out all the stops. Have no fear. The folks over at Serious Eats pulled together a list of 35 drinks that only need three ingredients. Below, RealClearLife has curated our two favorite cocktails for the gin, vodka, and whiskey categories (aside from the usuals like an old fashioned or a gin and tonic) that you can make before cooking dinner, after a long day at work, or when you’re hosting. After you’ve perused our selection, see the full list here.
Gold Rush
A whiskey riff off the classic “Bee’s Knees,” this cocktail requires a high-proof bourbon and easy homemade syrup.
Ingredients:
-bourbon, 2 ounces
-freshly-squeezed lemon juice, 3/4 ounce
-honey syrup, 3/4 ounce
Directions:
-Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker, shake until well chilled, then strain into an ice-filled double old-fashioned glass
– To make the honey syrup: pour 1 cup of honey and a cup of water into a small pan over medium heat, stiring until the honey is dissolved
Man About Town
This drink is a Negroni-dervative with spiced rye and amaro.
Ingredients:
-rye, 2 ounces
-cynar, 1 ounce
-sweet vermouth, 1 ounce
-brandied cherry
Directions:
-Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, rye, cynar, and sweet vermouth; stirring untl very cold (about 15 seconds); then strain into a chilled martini glass before garnishing with the brandied cherry
Moscow Mule
The classic exception to the “I don’t drink vodka” rule, this cocktail is given a cool refreshing kick with the ginger beer addition.
Ingredients:
-lime, one half
-vodka, 2 ounces
-chilled ginger beer, 4-6 ounces
Directions:
-Squeeze the lime into a Collins glass or copper mug, drop in the used rind, fill the glass with ice adding the vodka second, and top it all off with ginger beer to taste
Great Gatsby
A light, easy vodka cocktail to make you feel like a mercurial millionaire.
Ingredients:
-vodka, 1 ounce
-Lillet blanc, 1 ounce
-freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice, 2 1/2 ounces
Directions:
-Fill mixing glass halfway with ice and then add vodka, Lillet blanc, and grapefruti juice; stir until cold before straining into ice-filled glass and garnish with orange slice
The Obituary
While it won’t kill you, this gin martini alternative most likely derives its name from the inclusion of absinthe (which can be substituted for pastis).
Ingredients:
-gin, 2 ounces
-dry vermouth, 1/4 ounce
-absinthe or pastis, 1/4 ounce
Directions:
-Pour ingredients into ice-filled glass, stir until very cold, then strain into chilled cocktail glass
Green Ghost
An easy-to-impress cocktail that matches gin with Chartreuse, which gives it a pastel hue.
Ingredients:
-gin, 2 ounces
-Green Chartreuse, 1/2 ounce
-freshly-squeezed lime juice, 1/2 ounce
Directions:
-Pour ingredients into ice-filled glass, stir until very cold, then strain into chilled cocktail glass
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