Easy Cocktails with 2–3 Ingredients You Can Make Tonight
Great drinks don't need a dozen bottles. With one spirit, one mixer and a squeeze of citrus you can make bar-quality drinks at home — no shaker required.
The highball formula
A highball is simply one spirit + one mixer + lots of ice, served in a tall glass. It is the easiest way to start mixing drinks and the formula behind many of the world's most popular drinks.
- Fill a tall glass to the top with fresh ice.
- Add 1.5 oz (45 ml) of spirit.
- Top with 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) of chilled mixer.
- Add a squeeze of citrus if you like and stir gently once.
| Spirit | Great mixers |
|---|---|
| Gin | Tonic, soda + lemon, ginger ale, grapefruit soda |
| Vodka | Ginger beer + lime, soda + lime, cranberry, orange juice, tonic |
| Rum | Cola + lime, ginger beer, pineapple juice, coconut water |
| Whisky / bourbon | Soda, ginger ale, cola, apple juice |
| Tequila | Grapefruit soda, soda + lime, ginger beer |
| Campari / Aperol / vermouth | Soda, tonic, orange juice |
Recipes list millilitres with approximate US ounces (30 ml ≈ 1 oz). "Top up" means fill the glass with the mixer. Simple syrup = equal parts sugar and water, stirred until dissolved; it keeps for about a month in the fridge.
Two-ingredient drinks
Gin & Tonic
Lighter- Gin50 ml (1¾ oz)
- Chilled tonic water150 ml (5 oz)
Fill a glass to the top with ice, add gin, pour tonic slowly down a bar spoon to keep the bubbles, stir once.
Lots of ice keeps it colder and less diluted, not more.
Whisky Highball
Lighter- Scotch, Japanese or any whisky45 ml (1½ oz)
- Very cold soda water135 ml (4½ oz)
Fill a tall glass with ice, add whisky, stir to chill, top with soda and stir once gently.
Hugely popular in Japan. Ratio of 1:3 whisky to soda.
Screwdriver
Lighter- Vodka45 ml (1½ oz)
- Orange juice120 ml (4 oz)
Build over ice and stir.
Fresh-squeezed orange juice makes a big difference.
Black Russian
Spirit-forward- Vodka50 ml (1¾ oz)
- Coffee liqueur20 ml (¾ oz)
Build over ice and stir. Add 30 ml cream on top for a White Russian.
Sweet and smooth, but mostly spirit — sip slowly.
Bourbon & Ginger
Lighter- Bourbon45 ml (1½ oz)
- Ginger ale120 ml (4 oz)
Build over ice, squeeze in a wedge of citrus and stir.
Also great with Irish whiskey.
Three-ingredient drinks
Moscow Mule
Medium strength- Vodka50 ml (1¾ oz)
- Fresh lime juice15 ml (½ oz)
- Ginger beer120 ml (4 oz)
Fill a mug with ice, add vodka and lime, top with ginger beer and stir gently.
Spicy ginger beer makes a noticeably better mule than sweet ginger ale.
Dark ’n’ Stormy
Medium strength- Dark rum60 ml (2 oz)
- Ginger beer100 ml (3¼ oz)
- Lime juice10 ml (¼ oz)
Fill a glass with ice and ginger beer, add lime, then float the dark rum on top.
Two ingredients plus lime — one of the easiest impressive drinks.
Cuba Libre (Rum & Cola)
Lighter- White or golden rum50 ml (1¾ oz)
- Cola120 ml (4 oz)
- Lime juice10 ml (¼ oz)
Squeeze the lime into an ice-filled glass, add rum and top with cola.
The squeeze of lime is what separates a Cuba Libre from a plain rum and coke.
Paloma
Lighter- Tequila blanco50 ml (1¾ oz)
- Fresh lime juice15 ml (½ oz)
- Grapefruit soda120 ml (4 oz)
Salt the rim if you like. Fill with ice, add tequila and lime, top with grapefruit soda and stir.
Mexico's favourite tequila highball — simpler than a margarita.
Cape Codder (Vodka Cranberry)
Lighter- Vodka45 ml (1½ oz)
- Cranberry juice120 ml (4 oz)
- Lime juice10 ml (¼ oz)
Build over ice and stir.
Add a splash of soda for a lighter version.
White Russian
Medium strength- Vodka50 ml (1¾ oz)
- Coffee liqueur20 ml (¾ oz)
- Cream30 ml (1 oz)
Build vodka and coffee liqueur over ice, then float the cream on top.
Stir before drinking for a creamy, dessert-like drink.
Ranch Water
Lighter- Tequila blanco45 ml (1½ oz)
- Fresh lime juice20 ml (¾ oz)
- Sparkling waterTop up
Build over ice and top with sparkling water.
A dry, low-sugar Texan favourite.
Gin Rickey
Lighter- Gin50 ml (1¾ oz)
- Fresh lime juice20 ml (¾ oz)
- Soda waterTop up
Build over ice and top with soda.
No sugar — bone dry and very refreshing.
Amaretto Sour
Lighter- Amaretto45 ml (1½ oz)
- Fresh lemon juice30 ml (1 oz)
- Simple syrup7.5 ml (¼ oz)
Shake with ice and strain over fresh ice. Add 15 ml bourbon for extra depth.
Contains almond flavour — check for nut allergies with your guests.
Hot Toddy
Lighter- Scotch or any whisky45 ml (1½ oz)
- Honey15 ml (½ oz)
- Fresh lemon juice15 ml (½ oz)
Dissolve honey in 120 ml hot (not boiling) water in a mug, add lemon and whisky and stir.
Comforting — but alcohol does not cure a cold and can dehydrate you.
How to make them taste better
- Use more ice, not less. A full glass of ice melts more slowly.
- Keep mixers cold and fresh. Small cans or bottles stay fizzier than large bottles.
- Fresh citrus beats bottled. Cut limes and lemons just before using.
- Garnish with purpose. A citrus wedge or peel adds aroma you notice with every sip.
- Measure. Free-pouring leads to unbalanced — and stronger — drinks.
Highballs are ideal for parties: easy to make, easy to adjust and easy to make lighter. Our party drinks calculator tells you how much spirit, mixer and ice to buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest cocktail for a beginner?
A gin and tonic, whisky highball or rum and cola with lime. Each needs only one spirit and one mixer poured over ice.
What cocktails can I make with just vodka?
Moscow Mule (with ginger beer and lime), Screwdriver (orange juice), Cape Codder (cranberry juice), Vodka Soda with lime, Black Russian (coffee liqueur) and a Bloody Mary.
