26 Easy Cocktails That Only Need 3(!) Ingredients
And that's counting the garnish.
The beauty of mixing up cocktails is that, more often than not, the easiest cocktails are also the most delicious. Which, we think, only adds to how refreshing these 26 easy cocktails are. No matter if you're a whiskey-only type, a vodka/gin/tequila purist, or often just opt for a glass of wine, we've got 3-ingredient or fewer cocktail for everyone.
Classic cocktails become classic for a lot of reasons. Personally, we think many of them (like margaritas and martinis) are so classic because they 1) require very little ingredients, and 2) you don't need to memorize any crazy proportions or techniques to feel like a bonafide mixologist at home. But that doesn't mean they lack complexity either. Many of these cocktails are well worth the splurge on a nice bottle of liquor, so definitely don't scrimp when it comes to those Old Fashioneds or Manhattans. If anything, get some fun bitters to shake up a new cocktail every happy hour.
Sure, a shot is technically a one-ingredient "cocktail," but one to two more ingredients (plus ice) can make a truly memorable drink. Take that shot of vodka and add it to your favorite mixer to make a Cape Codder (with cranberry juice), a Seabreeze (with cranberry juice and grapefruit juice), or a Screwdriver (with orange juice). Our new favorite cocktail, the Kalimotxo, actually contains only two ingredients. If you've yet to be introduced to the Kalimotxo, now is the time. It's a simple and delicious Spanish cocktail that just requires your favorite red wine, Mexican coke, and a squeeze of lemon (trust us, it's good).
Classic Manhattan
There are few cocktails more storied (or simple!) than the Manhattan. First stirred up in 1894 by a bartender at New York City's Waldorf Astoria, the defining characteristic is that it uses Scotch whiskey. Change up your bitters with a few dashes of walnut, lavender, or black cherry for a fun twist.
Get the Classic Manhattan recipe.
Classic Mimosa
Nothing kicks off brunch quite like a mimosa. If you prefer your cocktails on the sweeter side, bump up the orange juice to 3 ounces per glass, or go for a sweeter bottle of bubbly. To play up the orange flavor, try adding a dash of orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau, or a few dashes of orange bitters.
Get the Classic Mimosa recipe.
Gimlet
This cocktail couldn't be simpler with only 3 ingredients, shaken and served. We love garnishing with a lime wheel and a bit of lime zest. It adds a flavorful intensity that comes from the oils that are released when a lime is zested and complements the herbaciousness of the gin.
Get the Gimlet recipe.
Old Fashioned CocktailOld Fashioned Cocktail
Ah, the whiskey Old Fashioned. Oaky and sweet, with a hint of citrus on the finish, it’s truly a bourbon lover's drink. Because you only need a few ingredients to make this classic cocktail—sugar, bitters, and a large ice cube—you’ve really got to make them count.
Get the Old Fashioned Cocktail recipe.
Vodka Tonic
Similar vibe to a vodka soda, vodka tonic is a little bit sweeter. Adding citrus is a nonnegotiable for us. We love lemons and limes, but blood orange slices add a fun pop of color and zing too!
Get the Vodka Tonic recipe.
Kalimotxo
All it takes to make a Kalimotxo is two ingredients: Coke and red wine. We know it might seem crazy, but this combo truly is something special. Though it's a simple drink, we do have a couple tips. Firstly the red wine you buy should be cheap. We're mixing it with Coke, so need to spend more than $10. No need to buy Spanish, but if you want to go for authenticity, get a Tempranillo or a Rioja.
Get the Kalimotxo recipe.
Perfect Cosmopolitan
And just like that, this amazing throwback cocktail brings us right back to Sex and the City. Perfect with a cheeseburger and fries.
Get the Perfect Cosmopolitan recipe.
Classic Margaritas
The margarita, now one of the most popular cocktails in the world, is thought to have started out as the variation on another Prohibition-era drink called the "Daisy." Spanish for "daisy," the marg swapped in tequila for the requisite brandy and lime juice for lemon juice, and a classic was born.
Get the Classic Margaritas recipe.
Negroni
Something about the bittersweet, botanical flavors of the Negroni make us feel like we're on vacation. This classic Italian cocktail amps up the notes of juniper in gin with sweet vermouth and herbaceous Campari. The best part? No crazy ratios to memorize. Just stir equal parts of all three and that’s it!
Get the Negroni recipe.
Screwdriver Cocktail
If you asked people what is the first “cocktail” they’ve ever had, they’d probably say it was a screwdriver. It’s a stalwart of college parties and boozy brunches for its simplicity and accessibility. Love two-ingredient cocktails? Why not try out another fruity classic, like the Cape Codder. Or get a little fancy with a vodka tonic.
Get the Screwdriver Cocktail recipe.
St. Germain Spritz
If you're a fan of refreshing, low-alcohol drinks like the ever-popular Aperol spritz, you're going to love this sweet and floral cocktail.
Get the St. Germain Spritz recipe.
Classic Vodka Martini
Just three simple ingredients in this classic cocktail. Quality vodka and vermouth are key here—since they make up the drink, the cheap stuff just won't do. (You can save that for our Peanut Butter Cup Martini 😂.)
Get the Classic Vodka Martini recipe.
Cape Codder
No tools necessary for this drink! Simply pour vodka and cranberry juice into a glass and serve. If you want to go the extra mile (like we so often do), you can add a splash of lime juice and garnish with a lime wedge. Not only does the acid from the lime juice brighten up the drink, but we think the pinky-red and green are pretty gorgeous together.
Get the Cape Codder recipe.
Ranch Water
A sort of effervescent, less-sweet version of a margarita, only 3 ingredients are required for ranch water: tequila, lime juice, and seltzer. (Preferably Topo Chico; some claim it’s not a real ranch water without it!) We like adding a splash of orange liqueur, like Cointreau, for a little sweetness and citrus flavor too.
Get the Ranch Water recipe.
Black Russian Cocktail
You may have heard of the classic White Russian, a creamy coffee cocktail that gained popularity in the 1990s, but its predecessor the Black Russian delivers on simplicity and strong coffee flavor. This two-ingredient, spirit-forward cocktail combines vodka and coffee liqueur served over ice, making it a flavorful dessert cocktail perfect after a nice dinner out, especially when garnished with an orange slice or a Maraschino cherry.
Get the Black Russian Cocktail recipe.
Salty Dog Drink
Crisp, grapefruity, refreshing, and only three ingredients?! The Salty Dog just became our go-to summer cocktail. Sign us up.
Get the Salty Dog Drink recipe.
Cherry Bomb Mimosa
Maraschino cherry juice, pineapple juice, and bubbly make this hot pink drink a summertime brunch must. It's the true cherry on top.
Get the Cherry Bomb Mimosa recipe.
Seabreeze Drink
A Seabreeze is a refreshing and simple cocktail of vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice, garnished with a lime wedge. It’s basically the love child of a Cape Codder (fancy for vodka-cran) and a Salty Dog (a descendant of the Greyhound cocktail).
Get the Seabreeze Drink recipe.
Dark and Stormy
Deceptively simple to mix up, the Dark 'N' Stormy delivers a refreshingly complex wave of spice and zing. Want it with a twist? Try our Frozen Dark 'N' Stormy!
Get the Dark 'N' Stormy recipe.
Aperol Spritz
The Aperol Spritz, also known as the Spritz Veneziano, is an Italian classic that has an iconic bittersweetness reminiscent of burnt orange and tart rhubarb. When paired with Prosecco and a bit of soda water, it makes an amazing cocktail to drink in the warmer months.
Get the Aperol Spritz recipe.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine and if wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
