We’ve all been to a fancy cocktail bar where we were served a gorgeous drink and thought to ourselves, “wow, I wish I could make that at home.” Luckily, there are lots of delicious and beautiful drinks out there that look and taste elaborate but are actually quite simple to make. Serve one of these eight, easy-to-make craft cocktails the next time you’re looking to impress someone.
While this recipe calls for a significant list of ingredients, we promise the result is worth the extra trip to the store. Simple to make and ridiculously delicious, your friends will be beyond impressed with your cocktailing skills when you whip up this frothy drink at your next gathering.
The Essentials
bourbon
Liqueur
fig jam
View Full Recipe
Veggie cocktails have taken off as people try to strike a healthy balance between partying and wellness. This mezcal-spiked beet juice cocktail from NYC’s newly reopened Ward III is equally sweet, spicy and refreshing, which makes it perfect for a midday pick-me-up.
The Essentials
Mezcal
Pimm's
Ginger juice
View Full Recipe
The Mimosa’s simple mix of orange juice and sparkling wine is delicious, but the old formula can get boring if you’re drinking it for brunch often. This version of the classic bubbly cocktail adds amaro, dry curaçao and wheat beer with tropical banana notes to give it a sophisticated twist.
The Essentials
Dry Curaçao
Amaro CioCiaro
orange juice
wheat beer
View Full Recipe
In this variation on the Absinthe Frappe, Will Elliot of Maison Premiere adds a touch of creamy orgeat to soften the absinthe’s bracing herbal flavor. Tangy grapefruit and lemon juices give this easy-to-make drink an irresistible zing.
The Essentials
Aquavit
Orgeat
Absinthe
View Full Recipe
Lovers of beer and tiki get the best of both worlds with this pretty gin cocktail. Passion fruit liqueur, falernum and orgeat lend tropical notes, while a topper of Miller High Life gives it a carefree vibe that’ll make you rethink what a fancy cocktail ought to be.
The Essentials
Orgeat
Gin
beer
View Full Recipe
This apple cider cocktail hits the perfect note between sour and sweet, while smoky scotch and bitter Campari add complexity. While this tall sipper tastes impressive, even novice home bartenders can make it in a cinch.
The Essentials
scotch
Campari
apple cider
View Full Recipe
It takes a little extra effort to make the dill simple syrup called for in this recipe, but we promise it’s worth it in the end. Carrot and orange juice combine to give the moonshine cocktail a stunning color that looks way more complicated than it actually is.
The Essentials
moonshine
carrot juice
dill syrup
View Full Recipe
Bloody Maria lovers, take note: this variation on the tequila brunch drink is downright addicting. Calamansi juice and a touch of fish sauce give it an exotic flavor, and a chilled shrimp garnish makes it passable as a hearty snack.
The Essentials
Tequila
yellow pepper puree
calamansi juice
View Full Recipe
Published on