After a long and hard day, you need more than just a glass of whiskey or pinot noir. A cocktail adds the extra punch that you need to soothe your senses and just put a perfect conclusion to your hectic day. Here are some top cocktail recipes to open up a world of possibilities.
Setting Up Your Home Bar
Nowadays, cocktails are not something you can only enjoy in a dimly lit bar. Everyone these days knows a thing or two about making a few delicious cocktails that would knock your socks right off. The challenge people face is knowing the right tools and spirit to stock up on.
Bar Essentials: What to Stock
A well-rounded bar makes mixology at home fun and easy to handle. Here are some quick fixes you need if you want to attempt even easy cocktail recipes.
Tools
To make cocktails at home, you need tools that can help you measure, mix, strain, and garnish. Here are a few tools you might consider as a beginner:
- Jigger: A double-sided measuring tool for accurately pouring liquids.
- Cocktail Shaker: As its name suggests, it is used for drinks that are shaken.
- Bar Spoon: A long spoon with a spiral handle for stirring the drinks in a tall glass.
- Muddler: A tool for crushing fresh herbs, fruits, and other ingredients to release flavor.
- Citrus Juicer/Press: For extracting fresh juice from citrus fruit that improves flavor.
- Corkscrew: A classic tool for opening wine bottles.
Ingredients
| Category | Why do you need it |
| Bourbon/Whiskey | For classic cocktails. |
| Vodka | Good for many mixing recipes. |
| Tequila/Mezcal | Adds a different base spirit. |
| Gin |
Botanical flavor palette. |
| Rum | For tropical, tiki, or citrusy cocktails. |
|
Liqueurs / Apéritifs |
For flavor, balance, and complexity. |
| Wine / Sparkling wine | Useful for wine cocktails and creative twists. |
Top Cocktail Recipes To Make You A Star at House Parties
Mixology is much like chemistry, you need to know the right ingredients and portions, and voila, magic. Here are some of the best cocktail recipes to make at home for self-care or to add a “wow” factor while hosting guests.
1. Negroni ft. Aviation Gin
Easy to make and refreshingly bitter is how a Negroni is most popularly described. With a rich history that goes back to an Italian count, this is one of the top cocktail recipes in history. Aviation gin is considered a good choice for a Negroni, as its blend of floral, citrus, and spicy notes goes extremely well with the bitter Campari and sweet vermouth.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Garnish: orange peel
Recipe
- Add the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth into a mixing glass that is filled with ice. Stir them well until it is well-chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a glass over a large ice cube.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
2. Margarita ft. 100 Años Blanco Tequila
Margarita is one of the most popular party liquors in North America, and for good reasons. Combining the tartness of lime and the sweet flavor profile of orange liqueur with tequila’s distinct taste is a crowd-pleaser at all times. 100 Años Blanco Tequila goes harmoniously with the other ingredients and gives a crisp taste that lingers on.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1/2 ounce orange liqueur
- 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 ounce agave syrup
- Garnish: lime wheel
- Garnish: kosher salt (optional)
Recipe
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup. Shake until it is chilled.
- Strain it into a glass over ice.
- You can also add a zing by garnishing with a lime wheel and a salt rim.
3. New York Sour ft. Bourbon 30
Bourbon 30 is the most premium liquor you can find for a satisfying New York Sour. This is one of the most popular bourbon cocktails that comes from the mid-19th century. It is quite simple to execute, yet its rich and complex flavor palette has made it one of the top cocktail recipes when someone is busy before a house party.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white (optional)
- 1/2 ounce red wine
Steps
- Firstly, pour ice into your shaker. Add the whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (optional), and shake well until it is chilled.
- Strain the liquid into a glass on ice.
- Slowly pour red wine on the back of the bar spoon so it floats over the drink and creates a sunset-like beauty.
4. Mimosa ft. Luc Belaire Gold
What fun are brunches with the ladies if they don’t have a good wine cocktail like a mimosa? Composed of sparkling wine and orange juice, a mimosa is a must-have if you want a fruity punch to complement sunbathing. The pear, peach, and tropical fruit notes with a hint of brioche in Luc Belaire Gold go heavenly with the citrusy orange juice.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces orange juice
- Sparkling wine, chilled.
Steps
- Pour the orange juice into a champagne flute.
- Top with the sparkling wine.
Uncork Your Inner Bartender Today
Mixology is a highly creative field. If you know your craft, you can make deceptively complex drinks with very few ingredients. However, to make the top cocktail recipes, you need the best liquor collection. After all, if you do not have the right base, the drink just will not fly. Uptown Liquor is here to provide you with a curated collection of liquor at home, where you can order liquor online from them.
Conclusion
With Uptown Liquor, you can discover the best spirits online to make amazing cocktails that win hearts and taste buds. Whether it is wine or whiskey, Uptown Liquor has your needs covered. Let’s go on a ride filled with delicious adventures.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cocktail Recipes Made At Home:
Q1. What is one of the best gins for a Negroni?
A1. Aviation gin has become a popular choice for Negronis.
Q2. Does a New York Sour need egg whites?
A2. Egg whites are optional in a New York Sour.
Q3. What is one of the most popular wine cocktails?
Q3. Mimosa is one of the easiest-to-make popular wine cocktails across the US.
