Five Easy Alcohol Only Cocktails For Home

Here at The Cocktail Society it’s our mission to make cocktail culture more accessible to the world, one cocktail at a time. So it’s no surprise we love alcohol only cocktails.

They’re easy to make, don’t require a ton of ingredients, and if made right can taste amazing.

Our team have put together a list of cocktails that are delicious, have limited ingredients and are booze only. So get dressed up, cook something delicious and raid that home bar.

Refreshing alcohol only Cocktails: The Negroni

Created by the enigmatic Count Camillo Negroni in the early 1900’s, the Negroni has quite rightly had a renaissance…in fact more than a renaissance, its hit celebrity status. What’s more it’s a) delicious and b) super easy to make.

Ingredients

25ml Gin
25ml Sweet Vermouth
25ml Campari
Orange Zest

Method

Put cubed ice into a rocks glass and add all ingredients. Stir five times and garnish with an orange zest

Classy alcohol only cocktails: The Manhattan

The ultimate in sophistication and class, the Manhattan is as classic as it comes. Don’t be put off by the whisky, the cocktail is smooth, really tasty and definitely worth the experiment if you are unsure on whisky.

The recipe below is the classic version, but there are countless twists on the Manhattan, providing you with multiple options to try.

For example, try changing the 25ml of Vermouth to an equal mix of Sweet and Dry Vermouth and this gives you a Perfect Manhattan.

That’s not just our opinion, that’s literally what it’s called!

You can also try experimenting with different types of whisky. The original drink cooked up sometime in the 1880s called for Rye American whiskey which can add a nice, spicy edge to the drink.

The possibilities are endless with this timeless classic.

Now, we bet you can’t guess where it was created?

Ingredients

50ml Bourbon Whisky
25ml Sweet Vermouth
2 dash Angostura Bitters

Method

Add all ingredients into a mixing glass and stir ten times.  Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Read more: how to strain cocktails

Characterful alcohol only cocktails: The Bijou

If complexity and character is your thing then the Bijou is most definitely the one. Big gin notes are mellowed by sweet vermouth and then given a shot in the arm by Chartreuse, a liqueur made from herbs and spices.

Ingredients

50ml Gin
25ml Sweet Vermouth
15ml Chartreuse
2 Dashes Bitters (preferably orange)

Method

Add all ingredients into a mixing glass and stir ten times. Strain into a martini glass.

Original alcohol only cocktails: The Godfather

Aptly named, this drink is delish and the godfather of simple cocktails. Amaretto and Bourbon are literally a match made in heaven and we think once you have tried this there will be no going back.

Ingredients

25ml Bourbon Whisky
25ml Amaretto

Method

Ice up a rocks glass and add all ingredients. Give a stir and serve. Orange zest garnish optional.

Edgy alcohol only cocktails: Black Russian

The brooding cousin of the White Russian, the Black Russian is another simple cocktail created by those clever drinkers in the 1940’s. It was said to have been created as an antidote to the doom and gloom of the second world war.

Ingredients

25ml Vodka (preferably a creamy potato vodka)
25ml Coffee Liqueur

Method

Ice up a rocks glass and add all ingredients. Give a stir and serve.

What to try after you’ve mastered alcohol only cocktails?

Once you’ve tried out the delicious combinations above, why not try making gomme? This easy to make sugar syrup is a mainstay of hundreds of cocktails and will open up many more options for you.

If you want to discover more cocktails – check out our recipe collections in our Clubhouse blog.