5 Restaurant-Quality Cocktails You Can Make at Home

With isolation measures still in place, many people around the world are looking for ways to revisit some of their favorite places at home. This includes the movie theater, the pub, and even favorite restaurants. Though you may not have a bartender on staff in your kitchen or den, it is still possible to recreate some of the most popular drinks of all time from the comfort of home. Below, you will find five of the best to get you started.

#1 – Iced or Frozen Margarita

Everyone has a favorite Mexican restaurant. Tacos, chimichangas, sopapillas, and the classic margarita are always welcome at the end of a long day. Though you may not be able to go out to eat right now, you can absolutely make a delicious iced or frozen margarita at home. Just mix 2oz of your favorite tequila, an ounce of Cointreau, and an ounce of fresh-squeezed lime juice. For a frozen treat that makes four yummy drinks, mix 6oz tequila, 4oz. triple sec, 6oz fresh lime juice, and 4 cups of ice. You can use agave nectar in either recipe if you prefer a sweeter drink.

#2 – Dirty Martini

The classic dirty martini is the perfect salty treat to enjoy at the end of the day. It’s also incredibly simple to make and requires only four ingredients. To make it, add 2.5oz of gin or vodka (depending on your preferences) to a shaker cup along with half an ounce of dry vermouth, olive juice, and some olives to garnish. Add a few ice cubes and shake, then strain it into your favorite cold cocktail glass. If you like, you can garnish with olives.

#3 – Cosmopolitan

The classic Cosmopolitan is light and refreshing, and it’s really easy to make a perfect one at home. Just mix 2oz of your favorite vodka with an ounce of cranberry juice cocktail (or 100% cranberry juice if you like it extra tart), ¾ ounce of fresh lime juice, and ¾ ounce of triple sec. Though it’s traditionally garnished with an orange twist, a smidge of lime zest and a lime wedge is fantastic, too. You can also use reduced-sugar cranberry juice cocktail or make your own cranberry juice at home for a healthier drink.

#4 – Mojito

A mojito is another refreshing classic that might taste complex but is easy to make at home. To start, make a simple syrup with one part water and one part sugar on the stovetop. Just heat gently and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Then, muddle the mint in the bottom of a shaker and add 2oz white rum, ¾ ounce of fresh lime juice, and half an ounce of your simple syrup. Shake it well, then strain into a highball or pint glass and top it with club soda for some bubbles. You can garnish with a mint leaf, a lime wedge, or both.

#5 – Mimosa

Mimosas are fantastic for brunches and lazy days around the house. They’re also some of the simplest cocktails to make at home with only two ingredients: champagne and orange juice. The best mimosas are made with fresh-squeezed juice, although bottled juice works well. Mix 2.5oz of champagne with 2.5oz of orange juice and pour it into a champagne flute.

Whether you’re a fan of a salty dirty martini or an extra sweet mojito, these restaurant-quality drinks are delicious and simple to make. The best part about making them on your own is that you can easily adjust or replace ingredients as you wish in order to create your own signature drinks.