Sharing a drink with friends is one of the most enjoyable ways to create lasting memories. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply unwinding after a long day, having the right drink can enhance the experience. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore 50 delightful drinks you can enjoy with your friends. Each drink comes with a detailed description, including ingredients, preparation methods, and tips for serving, ensuring you have everything you need to make your gathering unforgettable.
1. Classic Mojito
Ingredients:
– Fresh mint leaves
– 1 lime (cut into wedges)
– 2 tablespoons sugar
– 1 cup ice
– 1.5 ounces white rum
– 1/2 cup soda water
How to Make It:
1. In a glass, muddle mint leaves and lime wedges to release the mint’s aroma and lime juices.
2. Add sugar and mix until dissolved.
3. Fill the glass with ice and pour rum followed by soda water.
4. Stir well and garnish with a sprig of mint.
2. Margarita
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces tequila
– 1 ounce lime juice
– 1 ounce orange liqueur (like Cointreau)
– Salt (for rimming the glass)
– Lime wedge (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Rub the rim of the glass with lime and dip it in salt.
2. Shake tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur with ice.
3. Strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.
3. Pina Colada
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces white rum
– 1 ounce coconut cream
– 1 ounce heavy cream
– 6 ounces fresh pineapple juice
– 1/2 cup crushed ice
How to Make It:
1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
2. Pour into a chilled glass.
3. Garnish with a pineapple slice and a cherry.
4. Cosmopolitan
Ingredients:
– 1.5 ounces vodka
– 1 ounce cranberry juice
– 0.5 ounces Cointreau
– 0.5 ounces lime juice
How to Make It:
1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with a lime wheel or twist.
5. Whiskey Sour
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces whiskey
– 3/4 ounce lemon juice
– 1/2 ounce simple syrup
– Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Shake whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice.
2. Strain into a glass filled with ice.
3. Garnish with a cherry and a slice of lemon.
6. Sangria
Ingredients:
– 1 bottle red wine
– 1/4 cup brandy
– 1/4 cup orange juice
– 1/4 cup sugar
– Assorted fruits (lemons, limes, oranges, berries)
How to Make It:
1. In a large pitcher, combine wine, brandy, orange juice, and sugar.
2. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Add sliced fruits and let it chill for a few hours.
7. Daiquiri
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces white rum
– 1 ounce fresh lime juice
– 1 ounce simple syrup
How to Make It:
1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a lime wheel if desired.
8. Mai Tai
Ingredients:
– 1.5 ounces white rum
– 0.5 ounce dark rum
– 0.5 ounce orange curaçao
– 0.5 ounce orgeat syrup
– 1 ounce lime juice
How to Make It:
1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.
3. Garnish with an orange slice and a mint sprig.
9. Aperol Spritz
Ingredients:
– 3 ounces prosecco
– 2 ounces Aperol
– 1 ounce soda water
– Orange slice (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
2. Add prosecco, Aperol, and soda water.
3. Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.
10. Moscow Mule
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces vodka
– 1/2 ounce lime juice
– 4 ounces ginger beer
– Lime wedge (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. In a copper mug, add vodka and lime juice.
2. Fill with ice and top with ginger beer.
3. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.
11. Long Island Iced Tea
Ingredients:
– 1/2 ounce vodka
– 1/2 ounce gin
– 1/2 ounce tequila
– 1/2 ounce white rum
– 1/2 ounce triple sec
– 1 ounce simple syrup
– 1 ounce lemon juice
– Cola (to top)
How to Make It:
1. Shake all spirits, simple syrup, and lemon juice with ice.
2. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice.
3. Top with cola and stir gently.
12. Bellini
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces peach puree
– 4 ounces prosecco
How to Make It:
1. In a champagne flute, add peach puree.
2. Slowly pour prosecco over the puree.
3. Stir gently and serve.
13. White Russian
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces vodka
– 1 ounce coffee liqueur
– 1 ounce heavy cream
How to Make It:
1. In a glass with ice, add vodka and coffee liqueur.
2. Pour cream over the top and stir to combine.
14. Dark and Stormy
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces dark rum
– 3 ounces ginger beer
– 1/2 ounce lime juice
How to Make It:
1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add rum and lime juice, then top with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with a lime wedge.
15. Creamsicle Cocktail
Ingredients:
– 1 ounce vanilla vodka
– 1 ounce orange juice
– 1 ounce cream
How to Make It:
1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled glass and enjoy.
16. Rum Punch
Ingredients:
– 1 cup light rum
– 1/2 cup dark rum
– 1/2 cup orange juice
– 1/2 cup pineapple juice
– 1/4 cup grenadine
How to Make It:
1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or pitcher.
2. Serve over ice and garnish with fruit slices.
17. Apple Cider Mimosa
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces apple cider
– 2 ounces champagne
– Cinnamon sugar (for rimming the glass)
How to Make It:
1. Rim a champagne flute with cinnamon sugar.
2. Pour apple cider and top with champagne.
3. Stir gently and serve.
18. Shirley Temple
Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup ginger ale
– 1/2 ounce grenadine
– Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Pour the ginger ale into a glass over ice.
2. Add grenadine and stir gently.
3. Garnish with a cherry.
19. Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces vodka
– 1 ounce espresso
– 1 ounce coffee liqueur
– Coffee beans (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with coffee beans.
20. Paloma
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces tequila
– 1/2 ounce lime juice
– Grapefruit soda to top
– Salt (for rimming glass)
How to Make It:
1. Rim a glass with salt and fill with ice.
2. Add tequila and lime juice.
3. Top with grapefruit soda and stir.
21. Tom Collins
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces gin
– 1 ounce lemon juice
– 1 ounce simple syrup
– Soda water to top
– Lemon slice (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. In a shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice.
2. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice.
3. Top with soda water and garnish.
22. Gin and Tonic
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces gin
– 4 ounces tonic water
– Lime wedge (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Pour gin and top with tonic water.
3. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.
23. Blackberry Bramble
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces gin
– 1 ounce lemon juice
– 0.5 ounce simple syrup
– 0.5 ounce blackberry liqueur
How to Make It:
1. Shake gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice.
2. Strain into a glass with crushed ice.
3. Drizzle blackberry liqueur on top.
24. Raspberry Lemonade
Ingredients:
– 1 cup raspberries
– 1 cup lemonade
– 1 ounce vodka (optional)
– Fresh mint (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Blend raspberries with lemonade until smooth.
2. If desired, add vodka.
3. Serve over ice and garnish with mint.
25. Hot Chocolate with Baileys
Ingredients:
– 1 cup hot chocolate
– 1 ounce Baileys Irish Cream
– Whipped cream (for topping)
How to Make It:
1. Make your favorite hot chocolate recipe.
2. Stir in Baileys.
3. Top with whipped cream and serve.
26. Arnold Palmer
Ingredients:
– 1/2 iced tea
– 1/2 lemonade
How to Make It:
1. Mix equal parts iced tea and lemonade in a glass filled with ice.
2. Stir well and enjoy.
27. Cucumber Cooler
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces gin
– 1 ounce lemon juice
– 1 ounce simple syrup
– Slices of cucumber
– Mint leaves (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Muddle cucumber and mint in a shaker.
2. Add gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice.
3. Shake well and strain into a glass.
28. Strawberry Daiquiri
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces white rum
– 1 ounce lime juice
– 1 ounce simple syrup
– 1/2 cup fresh strawberries
How to Make It:
1. Blend strawberries, rum, lime juice, and syrup until smooth.
2. Pour into a glass and garnish with a fresh strawberry.
29. Nutty Irishman
Ingredients:
– 1 ounce Baileys Irish Cream
– 1 ounce Frangelico
– 1 ounce whiskey
How to Make It:
1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a whiskey glass with ice.
30. Pineapple Ginger Sparkler
Ingredients:
– 1 cup pineapple juice
– 1/2 cup ginger ale
– Lime slices (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. In a glass, combine pineapple juice and ginger ale.
2. Stir gently and garnish with lime.
31. Lemon Drop Martini
Ingredients:
– 1.5 ounces vodka
– 0.5 ounce triple sec
– 1 ounce lemon juice
How to Make It:
1. Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.
2. Garnish with a lemon twist.
32. Spiked Cherry Limeade
Ingredients:
– 1 cup limeade
– 1 ounce vodka or rum
– Fresh cherries (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Mix limeade with alcohol in a glass with ice.
2. Garnish with fresh cherries.
33. Ginger Peach Iced Tea
Ingredients:
– 2 cups brewed black tea
– 1/2 cup peach nectar
– Ginger ale to top
– Peach slices (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Combine black tea and peach nectar.
2. Serve over ice and top with ginger ale.
3. Garnish with peach slices.
34. Strawberry Lemonade Spritzer
Ingredients:
– 1 cup lemonade
– 1/2 cup sparkling water
– Fresh strawberries (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Mix lemonade and sparkling water in a glass with ice.
2. Garnish with fresh strawberries.
35. Mango Mimosa
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces mango puree
– 4 ounces champagne
How to Make It:
1. In a champagne flute, add mango puree.
2. Top with champagne.
36. Tropical Sangria
Ingredients:
– 1 bottle white wine
– 1/2 cup rum
– 1 cup pineapple juice
– Assorted tropical fruits (pineapple, mango, kiwi)
How to Make It:
1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher.
2. Stir gently and refrigerate before serving.
37. Fireball Whisky and Apple Cider
Ingredients:
– 1 ounce Fireball whisky
– 1 cup apple cider
– Cinnamon stick (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Heat apple cider and pour into a mug.
2. Add Fireball whisky and stir.
3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
38. Mocha Frappe
Ingredients:
– 1 cup coffee
– 1 cup milk
– Chocolate syrup
– Whipping cream (for topping)
How to Make It:
1. Blend coffee, milk, and chocolate syrup with ice until smooth.
2. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream.
39. Berry Smoothie
Ingredients:
– 1 cup mixed berries
– 1 cup yogurt
– 1/2 cup milk
How to Make It:
1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
2. Serve in a chilled glass.
40. Lavender Lemonade
Ingredients:
– 1 cup lemonade
– 1 teaspoon dried lavender
– Water to steep
How to Make It:
1. Steep lavender in hot water for 10 minutes. Strain.
2. Combine lavender water with lemonade and serve over ice.
41. Orange Creamsicle Float
Ingredients:
– 1 cup orange soda
– 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
How to Make It:
1. In a tall glass, pour orange soda.
2. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
42. Blackberry Mint Julep
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces bourbon
– 1 ounce simple syrup
– Fresh blackberries and mint
How to Make It:
1. Muddle mint and blackberries in a glass.
2. Add ice, bourbon, and simple syrup.
3. Stir gently and garnish with mint.
43. Sea Breeze
Ingredients:
– 1.5 ounces vodka
– 4 ounces cranberry juice
– 1 ounce grapefruit juice
How to Make It:
1. Pour vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice into a glass filled with ice.
2. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.
44. Chocolate Martini
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces vodka
– 1 ounce chocolate liqueur
– 1 ounce cream
How to Make It:
1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a martini glass.
45. Honey Basil Lemonade
Ingredients:
– 1 cup lemonade
– 1 tablespoon honey
– Fresh basil leaves
How to Make It:
1. Muddle basil in a glass.
2. Add honey and lemonade. Stir well and serve over ice.
46. Spicy Paloma
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces tequila
– 1 ounce lime juice
– Grapefruit soda
– Jalapeño slices (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Pour tequila and lime juice into a glass with ice.
2. Top with grapefruit soda.
3. Garnish with jalapeño slices.
47. Coconut Mojito
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces coconut rum
– Fresh mint leaves
– 1 ounce lime juice
– 1 ounce simple syrup
– Soda water to top
How to Make It:
1. Muddle mint and lime juice in a glass.
2. Add rum and syrup, then fill with ice.
3. Top with soda water.
48. Violet Fizz
Ingredients:
– 1.5 ounces gin
– 0.5 ounce creme de violette
– 1 ounce lemon juice
– Soda water to top
How to Make It:
1. Shake gin, creme de violette, and lemon juice with ice.
2. Strain into a glass and top with soda water.
49. Bourbon Smash
Ingredients:
– 2 ounces bourbon
– Fresh mint leaves
– 1 ounce simple syrup
– Lemon slices
How to Make It:
1. Muddle mint and lemon slices in a glass.
2. Add bourbon and simple syrup, then fill with ice and stir.
50. Watermelon Cooler
Ingredients:
– 2 cups watermelon chunks
– 1 ounce lime juice
– 1 ounce simple syrup
– Mint (for garnish)
How to Make It:
1. Blend watermelon until smooth.
2. Strain into a glass and add lime juice and syrup.
3. Serve over ice and garnish with mint.
Conclusion
Whether you are hosting a casual gathering, a festive party, or a cozy night in, having the perfect drinks is essential for creating a fun atmosphere. With these 50 drinks to have with friends, you’ll have a diverse menu that caters to every taste preference. From classic cocktails to refreshing mocktails, each recipe is designed to delight your friends and elevate your get-together. So, gather your ingredients, invite your friends over, and enjoy making and sipping these delightful beverages together! Cheers!