Easy Cocktails: 35 Simple, 3-Ingredient Drinks to Make at Home

It can be fun to watch a bartender carefully add a litany of ingredients to a mixing glass: layers of different spirits, unusual liqueurs, custom tinctures, bizarre bitters. A bar is a great place to get familiar with unusual bottles and sample drinks that take more effort than just opening the cupboard and filling a few jiggers.

At home, though, most of us want a drink we can assemble with what we have on hand—nothing that takes an overnight infusion or 12 different bottles.

If your home bar is really bare (and you're up for a trip to the grocery store for produce), you may want to start with our one-bottle drink series: all of those recipes are centered around just one spirit. (And if you want to take this approach a step further, might I suggest checking out my book, The One-Bottle Cocktail?) But if you're a little better stocked, or if you're considering one more bottle to add to your collection, the easy cocktails below will be your new house drinks.

All of these are made with three ingredients or fewer, bitters included. Optional garnishes don't count in the three items; feel free to get fancy or skip 'em altogether, depending on what you have on hand.

Gin Drinks

Martini

If you make it with vodka, call it a "kangaroo." But other than that, this classic is pretty darn flexible.

You can have it dry, while making jokes about looking at a bottle of vermouth, or you can actually use a little vermouth. (Try a fresh bottle, and you might be surprised by how great it is.) Or you can make your martini the way we—and many of our favorite bartenders—prefer: two parts gin to one part vermouth, stirred until well chilled.

In case you're wondering, here are our thoughts on the best gin for the job.

Sherry Martini

Like vermouth, sherry is a fortified wine. But unlike vermouth, it draws its distinctiveness from the funky powers of yeast and oxidation—and the wine itself—rather than added herbs and spices. Here, dry sherry adds its characteristic saline and nutty, bright, downright savory flavors to a simple martini. It doesn't really need a garnish, but a slice of jamón ibérico plays up the savory aspect even more.

Dig into our guide to sherry for more information about varieties and how best to enjoy this stylish aperitif.

Green Ghost

The last word is one of our favorite gin cocktails, but if you don't have maraschino liqueur on hand, you can still make this three-ingredient sibling. The herbal flavors of Chartreuse marry well with the botanicals in gin, and fresh lime juice makes it lively.

Obituary Cocktail

If you're already friendly with the martini, you might want to make the acquaintance of this drink: The obituary starts with gin and dry vermouth, but adds a little absinthe or pastis, for an anise flavor that brings the gin and vermouth's herbal aromatics to life.

Negroni

If you're into cocktails at all, you've probably had a negroni or 20. You'll get the basic recipe by clicking through, though you hardly need it: The drink is equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.

It's a cocktail that's spawned a million easy variations, but you can also play around with the classic itself. Experiment with using a Navy-strength gin, such as Perry's Tot: The boozier spirit has the muscle to grapple with the Campari. You may also want to try adjusting the ratios to your taste, or giving alternative amari, like Gran Classico, a try.

White Negroni

There's more than one way to make this sibling of the classic negroni, and part of the fun is in the experimentation. If you can find Suze, Salers, or Bonal, those aperitifs will add a wonderful bitterness to the combo, but you can also try it with Cocchi Americano, as in this recipe. Some folks use rich, floral Lillet, while others turn to blanc/bianco vermouth. Your ratios will depend on which ingredients you choose, but tasting your way through the options is a pretty good way to spend an evening.

Frozen Negroni

Yes, it's basically a negroni adapted for your blender. But this frozen drink is so good, it's worth calling out here anyway. For the best balance when the drink is frozen, the bittersweet Campari and sweet vermouth are dialed back a bit from the amounts in the original formula.

The key to easy hosting and a frosty drink that doesn't immediately melt all the ice in your blender? Store a batch of the cocktail in your freezer overnight.

Auld Draper

The hardest part of making this drink is tracking down a bottle of Byrrh, but now that most top-notch liquor stores carry it, even that shouldn't be too rough. What is Byrrh, anyway? It's a richly aromatic fortified red wine that contains quinine, making the flavor akin to a light port with a mildly bitter edge. (There's coffee and bitter orange in there, too—it's delicious stuff!) Try it alone, then try it this way, with a little gin and orange bitters.

Brown Gin

Back in the 1800s, sailors with the British Navy would treat their seasickness with Angostura bitters. But straight bitters are kind of intense, so they'd mix them with gin to help them go down easier. And so the pink gin was born. This brown-hued version amps up the spice a little, for a citrus- and clove-scented drink that's bitter and delicious.

Whiskey Drinks

Old Fashioned

The old fashioned is one of those drinks that prove that a cocktail doesn't need to be complicated to be good. Booze, sugar, and bitters are all you need; bourbon and rye are pretty standard, but you can also experiment with other spirits, especially good aged tequila or rum.

This recipe keeps its distance from fussy fruit and soda water, but if you slip in a Luxardo cherry and an orange peel and gently press 'em with your muddler before adding the whiskey, we won't tell.

Frisco Sour

Bénédictine is sweet and herbal, and it's wonderful with whiskey. (And you can stop there, actually, if you want. Just mix a few ounces of rye with a quarter ounce of Bénédictine and a dash or two of bitters for a variation on the old fashioned; the Bénédictine replaces the simple syrup and enlivens the cocktail, adding all sorts of herbal flavors.) But if you want something a little more bright and bracing, you'll need a lemon, too. In the frisco sour, spicy rye stars and the Bénédictine adds interest, while the citrus cuts through and keeps things dry.

Boulevardier

It's probably the best-known negroni variation, but the boulevardier deserves a spotlight of its own. This combo of whiskey with Campari and sweet vermouth is one of the most delicious simple drinks we know. Try it with both rye and bourbon, and see which way you like it.

Man About Town

If I had to choose between a classic negroni and a boulevardier, I'd lean toward the brown-spirited one. If you feel the same way, I urge you to try this rye variation on the cocktail, from Gramercy Tavern in New York. Instead of Campari, it calls for vegetal, bittersweet Cynar. It's a deep, rich drink, with a punch of rye spice and a lush, bitter finish.

Manhattan

Spicy rye meets sweet vermouth in this old-school cocktail. Yes, you can make it with bourbon, too, but you'll want a bourbon with rye in the mash bill and a slightly higher proof. Angostura bitters bring each element together; you can garnish with a nice brandied cherry (no fluorescent red ones, please!) or an aromatic lemon twist.

Rob Roy

You don't need to use fancy (and pricey) single-malt Scotch for this variation on the Manhattan; any decent blended Scotch will meld nicely with rich sweet vermouth and spicy Angostura.

Not a big fan of vermouth? It could be that you've tasted only oxidized bottles. Grab a fresh one and be sure to store it properly—in the fridge, for up to one month.

Gold Rush

Ever had a bee's knees? It's a great simple gin sour made with honey. If you lean more toward bourbon than gin, though, give this a try—it's the same thing, more or less, but made rich with whiskey.

Blushing Betty

Have you ever tried slicing a juicy grapefruit in half, sprinkling it with sugar, and sliding it under the broiler? You end up with something tangy and bright, but also rich and caramelized—flavors we've captured in this simple drink. Even better, there's no broiler work required: Bourbon adds the toasty caramel notes that deepen the fresh grapefruit flavor nicely.

Moto Guzzi

I'm a little obsessed with Punt e Mes, an Italian vermouth that has a streak of unrelenting bitterness along with rich winey flavors. It's great stuff on its own, so it doesn't need much to make a great mixed drink. Paired with an equal measure of high-proof bourbon, it's the easiest Manhattan variation you can make, no extra bitters required.

Tequila Drinks

Margarita

Knowing how to make a good margarita is an essential skill for any home drink-maker. Note: It does not start with a bottled mix.

Instead, this perfectly balanced cocktail demands good blanco tequila, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice. (Some would say the salted rim is required, which would take this over the three-ingredient limit, but I'd say that's up for debate.) Where's the sugar? Turns out you don't actually need any as long as you're working with good triple sec, like Cointreau.

Rum and Cachaça Drinks

Daiquiri

A little lime and sugar help a bottle of rum shine; there's no need for any other fruit, and getting your blender involved makes an entirely different concoction. It's especially satisfying in warm weather, and can be a fabulous vehicle for exploring whatever new bottle of rum you track down.

Cuba Libre

It might seem like just a rum and Coke, but the Cuba libre has more to offer, especially if you squeeze a lime in and then muddle the spent lime shell to get a little citrus oil in the mix. This easy drink is great with any aged rum, but it also shines with a funky, grassy rhum agricole instead.

Barbados Cocktail

Gotta love a simple drink that really shines. Here, you'll bring together the deep molasses flavor of dark rum (we used Coruba) with spicy-tropical Velvet Falernum and fresh lime. It's a little boozy, a little sweet, and plenty bright thanks to the lime.

Dark & Stormy

This spicy-sweet-boozy-tart drink is a vacation classic: Just be sure to pick up a bunch of limes, a bottle of rich Gosling's Black Seal Rum, and some spicy ginger beer when you roll into the beach town of your choice. This version is served in pretty layers, but you'll want to stir before serving so that you don't get a mouthful of straight lime.

Caipirinha

Turn on the samba music and break out the cachaça for this easy Brazilian drink. All you need to do is crush up some fresh lime quarters with sugar and add the booze, then shake with ice till it's frosty-cold.

Vodka Drinks

Great Gatsby

Lillet Blanc is a floral and citrusy aperitif that's wonderful with grapefruit; here it gets fresh juice and a little vodka to cut through the fruity flavors. Drink it with pre-dinner snacks, or pair it with biscuits and marmalade at brunch.

Moscow Mule

Even if you're not a huge fan of vodka, this classic drink is worth considering for summer parties. It's a cool and crisp combo of vodka and fresh lime, sweetened and spiced with a long pour of ginger beer. Copper mugs are the standard serving vessel, but we won't judge if you use one half of your cocktail shaker (or a regular glass).

Brandy Drinks

Sidecar

Why are margaritas—which are just sours made with tequila, Cointreau, and lime—so much more popular than sidecars, which are the same thing, except with cognac and lemon? We're not sure, but if you like a good margarita, we urge you to give the brandy version a try. It's warm and mellow and delicious, especially if you use a nice cognac.

Japanese Cocktail

You may have heard that cognac has been reembraced by the cocktail world, but this drink is no newbie. (You could have read about it back in 1862, when Jerry Thomas wrote his guide for bartenders.)

The Japanese Cocktail is rich and nutty, thanks to the mix of smooth cognac and orgeat (a tasty almond syrup), plus bitters. If you can't find orgeat near you, you can order it online or make your own at home.

Aperitifs, Amari, Sparkling Wine, and More...

Adriatique

Sometimes it feels like every cocktail is just a tiny variation on another. But then you come across a drink like this one, from Boston bar star Jackson Cannon, and it's like experiencing a new category of cocktail for the very first time.

Amaro Montenegro and Aperol provide a bittersweet core that extends the flavors of fresh orange juice, making this the perfect pre-dinner drink to get your appetite going. Since this isn't too high in alcohol, you might want to mix up a pitcherful.

Campari Spritz

This slightly beefier version of an Aperol spritz is meant to be served with appetizers like cured meats and olives—so it's no surprise that an olive garnish tastes delicious between sips. Warning: This drink may leave you pining for a vacation in Italy.

Courting Two Sisters Cocktail

If you're making this drink, step one starts by examining your bottles of vermouth. As we mentioned above, if they've been around since your birthday party two years ago, step two involves dumping the contents down the drain. In a three-ingredient cocktail, you want the good, fresh stuff.

Once you've had a chance to restock, it all comes together: juicier red and crisper blanc vermouth, plus a touch of anise from the absinthe, mingled together and stirred till refreshingly cold. This is a great pre-dinner drink.

Sparkling Suze Cocktail

When you're trying out a new cocktail ingredient, it's nice to keep it simple so you can really get a sense of what the stuff tastes like. Suze, a bittersweet, slightly vegetal French aperitif, is practically a cocktail in a bottle, so it doesn't need much. St-Germain elderflower liqueur highlights the aperitif's floral side, and Cava adds a little fruity fizz.

Grapefruit and Ginger Sparkler

Hosting brunch? You could always make mimosas, but this easy combo is a little more fun, doctoring up affordable bubbly (cheap-ish Prosecco, Cava, or Crémant is fine) with Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur. Fresh grapefruit juice puts its bright and bitter talents to work, preventing the balance from tipping too sweet.

Negroni Sbagliato

Maybe you've heard the story—this drink's supposedly a bungled version of the classic, made with bittersweet Campari, rich sweet vermouth, and (whoops!) Prosecco instead of the gin. It's perfect for a day when you're not quite ready for stiffer spirits.

Bitter Mimosa

Do you like your drinks a little bitter? Then you should probably have Cynar in your home bar. You can start by subbing it into any drink that calls for Campari, or give this easy brunch drink a try. It's bright like a classic orange juice mimosa, but instead of being sweet and fruity, grapefruit and Cynar give the cocktail brightness, bitterness, and a touch of mystery.