Stirring up a few downright good mixed drinks couldn't be simpler. Chill some ice cubes before you scroll through this slideshow—you're going to want to sample all of these.
34 Seriously Good Mixed Drinks That Will Make You the Best Home Bartender
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Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet
The concept of an old-fashioned dates back to the early 1800s and includes whiskey, bitters, cherry juice, sugar and water. This old-fashioned recipe, which is extremely popular in Wisconsin, uses brandy in place of whiskey and lemon-lime soda instead of water for a milder cocktail. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Also check out what are bitters and how do you use them in cocktails?
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Moscow Mule
You do not have to go to a trendy cocktail bar to have a top-notch drink. Start with just three simple ingredients to make this ultra-refreshing cocktail.Check out these easy mixed drinks.
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Cranberry Mimosa
We love making cranberry mimosas on a slow Saturday morning or during the holidays.
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Perfect Lemon Martini
Time to relax with a refreshing lemon drop martini! The combination of tart lemon and sweet liqueur will tingle your taste buds. —Marilee Anker, Chatsworth, California
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Irish Creme Drink
We top off holiday celebrations with this creamy beverage. With sweetened condensed milk and ice cream, it's like a liquid dessert!—Fred Schneider, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
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Gimlet
From the Royal Navy's boats to your kitchen, the gimlet has always been a simple-yet-sophisticated cocktail. Made with gin, lime juice and simple syrup, it's perfect for fancy parties and everyday gatherings.
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Mint Julep
It wouldn’t be Kentucky Derby Day without this mint julep recipe! But, really, this Kentucky Derby mint julep recipe is good anytime. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Pina Colada
Velvety-smooth texture and a taste of the tropics are what this tropical drink delivers. The easy-to-make pina colada recipe can be mixed and chilled ahead of time. When ready to serve, just blend for a creamy and delicious beverage. —Linda Schend, Kenosha, Wisconsin
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Fresh Lime Margaritas
This basic fresh margarita recipe is easy to modify to your tastes. Try it frozen or with strawberries. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Cranberry-Jalapeno Martini
I describe this cocktail as slightly tart, a little sassy and completely delicious. I make a big batch when I'm hosting a party because it tends to disappear quickly. Garnish with fresh mint and cranberries for an extra-special touch. —Kelli Haetinger, Virginia Beach, VirginiaAlso check out how to use bitters in more than just cocktails.
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Apricot Brandy Slush
While spending the summer in New Mexico, we tasted this refreshing golden color tea beverage enhanced with something borrowed from the cocktail world: apricot brandy.—Shirley Miller, Williamsport, PA
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Martini Recipe
When making a cocktail as naked as a martini, every move counts. Here is how to make a martini recipe like a true bartender.
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Bloody Maria
Tequila, lime and jalapenos give the brunch classic a fresh Mexican twist.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, WIsconsin
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Easy White Sangria
Not too heavy or heady, this easy white sangria is a perfect refresher when you want a sip of sunshine.
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Tipsy Iced Coffee
My family loves this frozen coffee with Amaretto and whipped cream. Serve it at brunch or as an after-dinner treat.—Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California
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Aviation Cocktail
An unusual mix of gin, maraschino cherry liqueur, lemon juice and creme de violette, the Aviation cocktail is a real knockout. It creates a gin-based drink that is strongly floral, a bit fruity and a whole lot of fun. —Susan Bronson, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
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Bee’s Knees Cocktail Recipe
Bees Knees is a classic Prohibition-era cocktail, originally concocted to mask the harshness of bathtub gin. Today it’s a beloved cocktail in its own right, fully living up to its delightful name. Creating a syrup with honey and water allows sticky-sweet honey to dissolve into the gin and lemon juice. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Singapore Sling
Pretty in pink! The rosy-cheeked and world-famous Singapore Sling was first created in 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. This gin-based cocktail also includes pineapple and lime juices, curacao and Benedictine. Grenadine and cherry liqueur give it its signature hue. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Peach Bellini
The bellni was born at Harry’s Bar in Venice, and is now a universally loved brunch cocktail and summertime sipper. A homemade peach syrup makes these bright and luscious. Just add Prosecco for a fizzy finish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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White Negroni
The white Negroni is a riff on its crimson cousin, this time using gin and light-hued, botanical-rich Lillet blanc and Suze Gentian to create the trademark balance of floral and citrusy with bitter and sweet. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Rusty Nail
This sophisticated after-dinner sipper couldn’t be simpler. Combine just two ingredients—scotch and Drambuie—and serve on the rocks with an orange peel. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Paper Plane
For a simple to prepare cocktail with a big impact, try the beautifully complex Paper Plane: just equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and fresh lemon juice. It’s bright, boozy, bitter, and perfectly balanced. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Mezcal Negroni
Smoky mezcal stands in for gin in this riff on a classic Negroni. Its robust, earthy flavor is a dynamic companion to bitter Campari and botanical vermouth. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Dark ‘n Stormy
The Dark n’ Stormy is a spicy, refreshing drink with a long tradition among sailors in Bermuda. The cocktail’s moody color is reminiscent of a storm cloud, the result of using dark rum…the most traditional being Gosling’s black rum. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Pisco Sour
This sweet-tart cocktail is a mainstay in Peru and Chile. The egg white gives it a velvety texture. Find pasteurized egg whites near the eggs at the grocery store. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Strawberry-Basil Cocktail
This cocktail of sun-ripened strawberries and tender basil is so refreshing without being overly sweet. It’s our favorite. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina
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Pear-Apple Cocktail
Ah, the memories we made when we went to Hawaii and concocted this drink for our first toast on the island. That makes this drink special. —Noelle Appel, Arlington, Texas
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Sparkling Peach Bellinis
Folks will savor the subtle kiss of peach flavor in this elegant brunch beverage. — Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Maple Blackberry Mojito
This refreshing blackberry cocktail is how you take advantage of prime berry season during the summer months. I've also used other types of fruit, including raspberries, kiwi and strawberries. —Donna Noel, Gray, Maine
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Chocolate Martini
The variations on martinis seem endless. But this sweet chocolate martini recipe is both creative and sophisticated in taste and presentation. It's a fine way to finish or even start a meal.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Black-Eyed Susan
The Kentucky Derby has the mint julep; the Preakness has the black-eyed Susan. The drink is a sunny mix of vodka, rum, and pineapple and orange juices to toast your special events.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Pomegranate Cosmo
Every soiree needs a signature drink. Sugar dresses up this simple cosmo that lets you enjoy a cozy evening with friends and still shake things up. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine
For a festive holiday drink or something to keep you cozy during those cold winter months, you’ll love this warming slow-cooker mulled wine.—Taste of Home Test KitchenUp Next: Check out these 15 types of cocktail glasses that serious mixologists recommend.
