A shorter shopping list, a better drink
You do not need a fully stocked bar to make a good cocktail. These ten recipes use no more than three drink ingredients, with ice and garnishes counted separately. A few, including the Martini and Bellini, need just two. Start with a bottle you already have and choose a mixer or two to match.
Choose tart, bitter, creamy, or sparkling
For fresh lime flavor, try a Margarita or Daiquiri. A Moscow Mule adds ginger beer and fizz. Prefer a drink to sip slowly? The Martini is dry, the Negroni bittersweet, and the Manhattan rich with rye and sweet vermouth. Piña Colada brings coconut and pineapple, while a Bellini pairs peach purée with Prosecco.
Keep the measurements precise
With so few ingredients, proportions make a noticeable difference. Measure each pour, use fresh citrus where the recipe calls for it, and follow the shaking or stirring steps. Simple does not have to mean improvised.
