10 Easy Party Drink Recipes To Make At Home

Time to get your drink on!

Throwing a party but sick of serving the usual beer and wine? If you are one who enjoys cocktails, here are some simple cocktail concoctions you can whip up on your own!

1. Cosmopolitan Slushy

Quench the thirst of your guests and please their taste buds with this lively cocktail!

Ingredients:
*Serves six.

• 10 ounce of citrus-flavoured vodka
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 4 ice cube trays

Directions

1. Combine vodka, lime juice and cranberry juice in a pitcher with 2 cups of water and stir to blend. Divide between ice cub trays and freeze for at least 4 hours of overnight. The drink cubes will only freeze partially due to the alcohol content from the vodka.
2. Just before serving, empty trays into a large bowl then use a fork to break up cubes and loosen ice crystals for a slushy effect. Spoon slush into tall stemmed glasses and serve immediately.

2. Lime Sorbet Margarita

Refreshing and easy to drink, lime sorbet margaritas are a definite crowd pleaser.

Ingredients:
*Serves 8

• 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 pints lime sorbet
• 1/2 cup tequila

Directions:

1. Rub the lime wedges around the rims of 8 margarita glasses. Place the sugar on a small plate and turn each glass upside down to dip the rims in the sugar for coating.
2. Place 2 scoops of sorbet in each glass and pour 1 tablespoon of tequila over the each. Serve each drink with a spoon.

3. Barbados Cocktail

Perfect for those with a sweet-tooth, this rum cocktail is a little boozy and slightly sweet with the perfect amount of lime to keep it bright. Think of it as a little island escape!

Ingredients:
*Serves 1

• Crushed ice
• 1 ounce Velvet Falernum
• 1 1/2 ounces dark rum, such as Coruba
• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed juice from 1 to 2 limes

Directions:

1. Fill mixing glass halfway full with crushed ice. Add Falernum, rum, and lime juice then shake for 15 seconds. After shaking, strain into cocktail glass and serve immediately.

4. Black Russian

Simple and delicious, the Black Russian is one of the most perfect drinks for those on a tight budget. This cocktail is a simple easy vodka and coffee liquor drink that is perfect for dinner parties.

Ingredients:
*Serves  1

• 1 3/4 ounces plain vodka
• 3/4 ounce coffee liqueur
• 1 cherry

Directions:

1. Mix the ingredients in a whiskey glass filled with ice cubes.
2. Stir well and place a cherry on top.

5. Blackberry Gin Fizz

Gin may not be for everyone, but the Blackberry Gin Fizz on another hand, is a whole different story. The citrusy flavours from the berries blends so well with the gin that it produces such a refreshing feel. Think sparkly Ribena!

Ingredients:
*Serves 1

• 12 ounces blackberries, plus more for garnish
• 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 6 ounces gin
• 15 mint leaves, torn, plus sprigs for garnish
• 1 1/2 cups seltzer

Directions:

1. Puree berries and sugar in a food processor. Strain and discard seeds.
2. Put 1/3 cup puree, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 2 ounces gin, and 1/3 of the torn mint leaves into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake until cold. Pour into two 8-ounce glasses, and add 1/4 cup seltzer to each. Repeat twice. Garnish with berries and mint sprigs.

6. Cucumber Saketini

Another cocktail made with gin, Cucumber Saketini is perfect for gin lovers. Light and easy on the throat, this classy drink is perfect for a fancy dinner party or brunch even.

Ingredients:
*Serves 1

• 3 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounce sake
• 5 thin slices of cucumber

Directions:

1. Mix gin and sake together in a shaker with ice. Shake then strain into a martini glass and garnish with a cucumber slice.

7. Mojito

The Mojito has become one of the most popular cocktails. Originated in Cuba, this cocktail is very easy to make. The minty and lime brings out the glorious flavours of the rum. Best with premium rum like Cruzan, Mount Gay or Appleton.

Ingredients:
*Serves 1

• 2 tsp sugar
• 6 – 8 mint leaves
• Club soda
• 1 lime, halved
• 2 ounces of rum
• Mint sprig for garnish

Directions:

1. Place the sugar, mint leaves and a little club soda into a highball glass.
2. Mix well to dissolve the sugar and to release the mint flavour.
3. Squeeze the juice from both halves of the lime into the glass.
4. Drop one half of the lime into the glass.
5. Add rum.
6. Stir well.
7. Fill in the glass with ice cubes.
8. Add the rest of the club soda.
9. Garnish with the mint sprig.

8. Bourbon and Blood Orange

Serve this to please the taste buds of whiskey lovers at your party. Rather than the typical whiskey on the rocks or whiskey with Coke, this concoction gives a new citrusy spin on everyone’s favourite drink.

Ingredients:
*Serves 1

• 1 1/2 ounces bourbon
• 1/2 cup blood orange juice
• 8 fresh mint leaves, plus a sprig of mint for garnish

Directions:

1. In a shaker, mix together the bourbon, blood orange juice, and mint leaves. Serve over ice in a low glass and garnish with a sprig of mint.

9. Long Island Tea

One of my personal favourites, Long Island Tea is easy to drink and it gets you on an alcohol buzz fairly quickly. Three glasses of this lovely drink is all one needs to last the night.

Ingredients:
*Serves 1

• 1/2 ounce triple sec
• 1/2 ounce light rum
• 1/2 ounce gin
• 1/2 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce sour mix
• Cola
• Lemon wedge for garnish
• Cherries

Directions:

1. Pour the spirits and sour mix into a long glass with ice.
2. Stir well.
3. Top the glass off with cola.
4. Garnish with lemon wedge and cherries, 2 per serving.

10. Red Wine Sangria

Packed with fresh fruit, Red Wine Sangria is the perfect summer drink. Best served over brunch or evening parties.

Ingredients:
*Serves 1

• 1 bottle Rioja or other light- or medium-bodied red wine
• 2 cups lemonade
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 ounce brandy
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• 1/2 pint large, plump blackberries
• 1 cup club soda

Directions:

1. Combine wine, lemonade, sugar, and brandy in a large pitcher and stir to dissolve sugar. Add fruits and pour in club soda. Refrigerate for 1 hour or more before serving to allow fruit to macerate and sweeten sangria. Serve in tall glasses filled with ice.

Try out these cocktail recipes at home and let us know which one’s your favourite by sounding off in the comments.

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