Being stuck at home doesn’t mean you can’t still have amazing cocktails! So here are 6 easy cocktail recipes to make for your next virtual happy hour.
1. Espresso Quarantini
This is the perfect pick-me-up to get your weekend started right. It’s rich and decadent, yet not too sweet.
Original recipe by Kaho Lo
Ingredients
- 2 oz Irish whiskey
- 3/4 oz Baileys
- 1/2 oz Creme de cacao
- 3 dashes Chocolate bitters
- 2 shots Espresso
Instructions
- Hard shake all ingredients with ice.
- Double strain into a coupe.
- (Optional) Garnish with chocolate and caramel sauces in a pretty pattern.
2. Halp Me Toddy
Here is the ultimate comfort cocktail for those that enjoy warm beverages. Perfect for those chilly days in or if you’re feeling a little under the weather.
Inspired by recipe from Saveur Magazine
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 2 bags Chai tea
- 8 oz Water
Instructions
- In a teapot or other small container, add tea bags and hot water and steep for 5 minutes.
- Discard tea bags.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir until the honey is dissolved.
- Serve in tea cups and garnish with lemon.
3. ChamWow!
Time to make use of that old bottle of Chambord sitting in the back of your liquor cabinet. Also, feel free to substitute the egg white with vegan foamer or omit entirely.
Original recipe by Kaho Lo
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- 3/4 oz Chambord
- 1 oz Lemon juice
- 1/4 oz Honey syrup
- 1 Egg white
Instructions
- Shake all ingredients except the egg white with ice.
- Discard the ice.
- Add egg white and dry shake for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Strain into a coupe.
- (Optional) Garnish with Angostura bitters, lemon, and a maraschino cherry.
4. The Last Sermon 2.0
This (almost) equal parts drink has a versatile template that’s easy to remember. Therefore, think of it as base spirit, herbal liqueur, sweet liqueur, and citrus.
Original recipe by Kaho Lo
Ingredients
- 3/4 oz Pineapple rum Plantation brand preferred
- 3/4 oz Yellow chartreuse
- 3/4 oz Lime juice
- 1/2 oz Falernum Look for John D. Taylor or The Bitter Truth
- 1/4 oz Allspice dram a.k.a. pimento dram
- Mint
- Nutmeg
Instructions
- Rub mint leaves inside a glass.
- Shake all ingredients with ice for 40 seconds.
- Double strain into the minty glass.
- Grate nutmeg over the top.
- (Optional) Garnish with mint leaves and lime.
5. Malena
For those evenings when you want something dark and boozy. Extremely sippable due to the addition of sweet port wine.
Recipe by Dushan Zaric of Employees Only NYC
Ingredients
- 1 oz Rye whiskey
- 1 oz Campari
- 3/4 oz Ruby port
- 2 dashes Orange bitters
- 5 drops Orange blossom water
Instructions
- Briefly stir all ingredients over ice.
- Strain into a glass with one large ice cube.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
6. Mai Rosé Tai
Finally, no cocktail list is complete without bubbles. A fancy tiki riff that’s better than any Mimosa.
Inspired by recipe from Smuggler’s Cove SF
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz Blended aged rum Chairman's Reserve, Doorly's 5, El Dorado 5, Real McCoy 5, etc.
- 1/4 oz Black blended overproof rum Hamilton 151, Lemon Hart 151, or Plantation OFTD
- 1/2 oz Orange curaçao Pierre Ferrand, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier
- 1/4 oz Orgeat Small Hand Foods
- 1/4 oz Rich simple syrup 2:1 sugar:water, demerara sugar preferred
- 1/4 oz Lime juice
- 4 oz Sparkling rosé
Instructions
- Stir all ingredients except rosé with ice.
- Strain into a champagne flute.
- Top with rosé.
- (Optional) garnish with lime twist and mint leaf.
Want some food to go with these easy cocktail recipes? Try some of these tips.
