19 Easy Cocktails to Make If You Spent Most of Your Energy Figuring Out the Dinner Menu
Even if you're short on time, you can whip up these cocktails.
Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele
Don't get us wrong: We have no issue with going the extra mile to make a fancy cocktail that calls for a slightly more involved garnish, a few rounds in a cocktail shaker, or maybe even a double-strain. But when you're cooking dinner on Tuesday night at 7 PM or don't have the energy to spare, a Manhattan cocktail, Gin & Tonic, or Aperol Spritz fits the moment. That doesn't mean that simple has to be boring — a French 75 always feels celebratory, and you'll never find us complaining about another round of Saketinis. As long as you have a well-stocked home bar with a few of your favorite spirits, some club soda, tonic water, and a lemon or two, you can make our favorite cocktails that come together in five minutes or less. Cheers!
Americano
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter
The unsung hero of aperitivo hour, the Americano is the equally simple, low-ABV (alcohol by volume) cousin of the iconic Negroni.
Kalimotxo
At first glance, combining red wine and cola sounds like sacrilege, but don't knock it until you try a Kalimotxo (sometimes written as it is pronounced, Calimocho). This easy-drinking combination originated in the 1920s, in the Old Port area of Algorta, a coastal town in the Basque region of Spain. You don't have to wait until you have a bottle of wine that has gone bad to make this at home; use an inexpensive red wine, something you would use for cooking.
Cappelletti Spritz
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon
If you love Aperol and Campari, we've got you covered. This floral, gorgeous spritz calls for Cappelletti, a fortified wine infused with bitter Alpine herbs for a spice-forward, orangey, bittersweet flavor.
Rum and Orange Cocktail
Amaro Montenegro, an Italian digestif, brings strong flavors of orange to this pleasantly bitter cocktail. The drink starts out warm, with light, molasses-y sweetness coming through the first sip, but packs a pleasantly bitter bite. It's a touch smoky and delightfully strong. Finish it with a dash of grapefruit bitters, and garnish with a grapefruit peel twist.
Campari Spritz
Swap out Aperol for its slightly more bitter cousin Campari, and mix in a little blood orange juice, Prosecco, and grapefruit-flavored sparkling water for an altogether refreshing cocktail. On a hot summer day, sit back, and dream of sitting in a café on the Italian Riviera.
Dirty Shirley
Remember drinking Shirley Temples when you were a kid? The cocktail for children has made a comeback, albeit one suitable for adults only. A shot of vodka added to the mixture of ginger ale and grenadine gives it a slight edge, but the maraschino cherry on top keeps things whimsical. Feel free to cut the ginger ale with sparkling water to cut the sweetness, or to swap in lemon-lime soda for the ginger ale if you prefer.
French 75
Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele
Whether you enjoy this historic cocktail in a Champagne flute, a coupe, or even a tall glass, the French 75 is a timeless and delicious cocktail that brings some joy (and a sneaky punch of booze) to any occasion.
Saketini
Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele
Junmai sake makes for a delicate, herbaceous twist on the classic Martini. We're also obsessed with the elegant ribbon cucumber garnish that takes the simple cocktail to the next level.
Gin & Tonic
Is there a wrong time of day for a Gin & Tonic? The herbaceous, juniper-forward flavor of botanical London Dry Gin is perfectly carried by tonic water's sweetness in this classic, refreshing cocktail.
Screwdriver
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon
You've likely had a Mimosa or Bellini, but when was the last time you enjoyed a Screwdriver? If you've got vodka and freshly squeezed orange juice, you can make this citrus-forward, brunch-friendly cocktail in minutes.
Negroni
Negronis are bracing and delightfully bitter, made with gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. Feel free to switch up the vermouth here, from sweet ones like Martini & Rossi and Carpano Antica Formula to bittersweet ones like Punt e Mes.
Fifty-Fifty Martini
This Martini's easy-to-remember ratio makes it the perfect after-work cocktail to throw together when you're too exhausted to think. Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle recommends Boodles gin and Dolin vermouth.
Classic Vodka Gimlet
All you need to make this simple cocktail is vodka, ice, Rose's lime juice, and a lime wedge for garnish. Then just shake, strain, and you're good to go.
Spaghett
Want a simple drink with the spirit of a Negroni but the ease of a beer? Try a Spaghett, a hybrid of the two. This refreshing spiked beer is a popular shift drink in restaurants and bars, and an easy choice on a hot afternoon. You can add a squeeze of lemon if you like, but the light beer and bitter aperitif complement each other nicely on their own.
Aperol Spritz
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food styling by Lucy Simon
The iconic Aperol spritz calls for just three ingredients: Aperol, Prosecco, and club soda. This spritz is, by and large, a crowd favorite during warmer weather — perhaps a result of its cheery orange hue or a subconscious association between summertime and the Italian coast — but it can be enjoyed year-round.
Pomegranate Spritz
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Liberty Fennell
Bottled pomegranate juice makes for a tart, boldly colored spritz. Even if you only have a few minutes to spare before your guests arrive, the cinnamon sugar rim sets this simple sipper apart from the competition.
Sidecar
Matt Taylor-Gross / Styling by Lucy Simon
The Sidecar is a surprisingly versatile classic. Even though it calls for Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, or even Orange Curacao will technically do the trick. As always, freshly squeezed lemon juice — not the bottled stuff — is the way to go.
Apple Cider Margarita
Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele
Apples and tequila might sound like an odd couple, but it turns out that they’re the dynamic duo your taste buds never knew they needed. We love the cinnamon stick and apple slice garnish that make this cocktail perfect for fall.
Manhattan Cocktail
The Manhattan is one of the most popular whiskey cocktails, and has been enjoyed for over a century. The earliest known printed recipe for the Manhattan was published in O. H. Byron's 1884 Modern Bartenders' Guide. The book cites two versions: one made with French vermouth, the other with Italian. The drink is traditionally made with rye whiskey, but some bartenders prefer to use bourbon. You can add a splash of juice from the jar of maraschino cherries if you'd like to add fruity sweetness to the drink, or alternatively, garnish with a lemon peel.
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