You want to make cocktails at home, maybe you’ve even bought a shaker on a whim – but how do you actually get started? It’s a strange and complex world out there, especially for a beginner.
Below, you’ll find a brief (but thorough) guide to the equipment, ingredients and recipes you’ll need to get started on your cocktail journey. It includes shopping lists, step-by-step instructions and expert recommendations to make cocktails easy.
Let’s get started!
How to use this guide
This guide is broken into three parts:
If you already have all the equipment you need (see the equipment section for a list), skip to the Ingredients section. In this section, you’ll find several ‘Packs’ of ingredients, based on the five main spirits used in cocktails.
Pick one of these packs (or multiple, if you’re feeling daring) and buy the ingredients listed there. Then move on to Recipes.
In Recipes, you’ll find recipes for a Highball, an Old Fashioned and a Sour, separated by individual pack. Each recipe also contains guidance on how to build, stir and shake a cocktail as necessary for each type.
In short:
- Buy the Equipment.
- Pick a Pack.
- Follow the Recipes for the Pack.
And you’ll have everything you need to make some delicious cocktails!
Cocktail Equipment
You need:
- A Cobbler cocktail shaker OR a Boston shaker and Hawthorne strainer
- A set of suitable cocktail glasses
- A spoon for stirring
- A glass for mixing (one half of a shaker is fine)
- A decent amount of good ice (see below for what ‘good’ means)
- A sharp knife for slicing fruit
- A vegetable peeler for making garnishes
- A fruit juicer (any kind)
Don’t have these yet? Read below.
Cocktail ShakersCocktail Shakers
Can’t have cocktails without a cocktail shaker! Generally, there are two common types: the Boston and the Cobbler. Both work just as well as one another, and your choice will mostly come down to availability and convenience.
A Boston has two halves. Sometimes they are both made of metal and sometimes one is made from glass. You put ingredients in one half, place the other half on top and sharply tap it to seal it.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you decide to buy a Boston, you’ll also need to buy a strainer. More on those in the next section.
A Cobbler has three parts: a large glass, a top with a built-in strainer, and a lid. They are made from lots of different materials, but most are metal. You put ingredients in the large glass, put the top and the lid on, and then shake with one hand firmly on the lid. The lid can then be removed, and your freshly shaken cocktail can be poured through.
Unlike a Boston, you won’t need an extra strainer if you buy a Cobbler.
Should I buy a Boston or a Cobbler?
I would recommend buying a Cobbler to start with. They are easier to use and don’t need you to buy an extra strainer. But if all you can get is a Boston, that will work fine too.
Cocktail Strainers
Cocktail strainers serve to keep the ice from your shaker from falling into your drink. If you don’t use one (also known as a ‘free pour’), the ice could melt and overdilute your drink. Plus it looks untidy and cocktails are fancy.
There are two types of strainer: a Julep and a Hawthorne. You’ll know the difference by the ‘spring’: a Hawthorne has one, and a Julep doesn’t. Both work the same way, however, with both being placed over the top of your shaker (though the Julep is usually placed in at an angle).
Remember, you don’t need one of these if you have a Cobbler-style shaker with a built-in strainer.
Should I buy a Julep or a Hawthorne?
I recommend a Hawthorne. They are easier to use, though a little harder to clean. Remember to take the spring off when washing it to make sure you clean it thoroughly.
Cocktail Glasses
There are dozens of different kinds of glasses that cocktails go into, and while a Martini should ideally go into a Martini glass, any vessel will serve in a pinch. If all you’ve got are regular water glasses, that will be fine.
However, to get the full experience, I recommend the following glasses to make the drinks in this article:
- A Collins or highball glass.
- A rocks glass.
- A coupe.
Cocktail Spoons
Some cocktails are shaken, and others are stirred. A tablespoon will work if that’s all you have, but some people prefer the long-handled ‘barspoon’ with a twist in the shaft. You don’t need one, but it may make stirring easier if you do get one.
Ice for Cocktails
Ice is just as important an ingredient for cocktails as the expensive spirits and liqueurs. Bad ice (like the kind you get from a built-ice ice dispenser in a fridge) melts too quickly and overdilutes your drink, resulting in a weak, flat cocktail.
Try to make your ice yourself in ice trays in your freezer. In a pinch (or a hurry), ice from the local supermarket or bodega can work, but make sure to shake or stir extra hard with lots more ice to chill your drink as quickly as possible without giving the ice time to melt.
Cocktail Garnishes
Garnishes are as diverse as the cocktails they sit upon, but there are only three we’ll use in this guide:
- The Wheel.
- The Twist.
- The Peel.
All of these will be made with the citrus you buy in the ingredient packs.
For a wheel, simply slice the citrus across its widest part, and again to make a wheel. Cut a small slice into the side, and slot it onto the glass.
For a twist, use a vegetable peeler to cut some skin around the widest part of the citrus, trying to avoid as much of the white ‘pith’ as possible. Twist it around your spoon handle, then place it on the side of your glassware once it retains its shape.
For a peel, use a vegetable peeler to cut some skin from the citrus from top to bottom, then gently squeeze it lengthways skin side out over the drink. You’ll see a spray of liquid come from the peel. This is called ‘expressing the oils’. Then drop the peel into the drink.
Cocktail Ingredient Starter Packs
To begin your cocktail journey, pick one of these packs. Each one will teach you how to make 3 different cocktails from only 5 separate ingredients. Preferably, choose one featuring a base spirit that you like. If you aren’t sure, I recommend the Vodka Pack.
Vodka PackVodka is a clean, almost flavourless spirit that lends itself well to refreshing, bright cocktails. It makes for a fantastic go-to base spirit for new mixologists.
Sound good? Buy the following:
- 1L bottle of vodka
- 8-10 lemons
- 250g caster sugar
- 1l dry ginger ale
- Small bottle orange bitters
Gin is likely the most popular base spirit for cocktails in history. Much like vodka, it usually offers a clear, clean taste, but has added ‘botanicals’ that provide it with a herby, spicey or citrus-y flavour, depending on the brand.
- 1l bottle of London Dry gin
- 8-10 lemons
- 250g caster sugar
- 1l bottle of diet tonic water
- Small bottle of orange bitters
Whiskey is often drank neat, but it also makes for a fantastic baseline spirit for cocktails. Of all the packs, this is perhaps one of the most important to choose a good brand for. Bad vodka is bad, but bad whiskey is worse.
- 1l bottle of blended Scotch whisky
- 8-10 lemons
- 250g caster sugar
- 1l bottle of dry ginger ale
- Small bottle of Angostura bitters
While people might think of tequila in terms of shots (often with regrettable aftermaths), it’s also an excellent option for cocktails. Traditionally made from agave, the flavour tequila provides is absolutely unique among spirits, providing a spicy, almost vegetal flavour.
- 1l bottle of silver tequila
- 8-10 limes
- 250g caster sugar
- 1l bottle of soda water
- Small bottle of chocolate bitters
The quintessential ‘tropical’ spirit, rum is likely one of the most diverse base spirits ever made, with flavours ranging from soft and subtle through to bold and fiery.
- 1l bottle of white rum
- 8-10 limes
- 250g brown sugar
- 1l bottle of cola
- Small bottle of orange bitters
Starter Pack Recipes
Now that you have your ingredients, lets get into the actual recipes.
The Highball
Say This To Impress your Guests: A highball is named chiefly after the vessel in which it is served; a highball glass, such as a Collins glass. It is generally made up of 2 ingredients: a baseline spirit and a mixer, often carbonated. In this case, we’re adding some citrus to the mix to make things a little brighter. It still has all the hallmarks of a regular highball: bubbly, refreshing and a little lower in alcohol than other options.
This is a ‘built’ cocktail, in that it is ‘built’ in the glass without having to stir or shake the ingredients in another vessel.
Vodka PackMoscow Mule
- 60ml vodka
- 15ml Lemon Juice
- Dry Ginger Ale
Add all ingredients to a tall glass filled with ice. Stir briefly to mix. Garnish with a lemon wheel. Add a straw. Serve!
Gin & Tonic
- 60ml gin
- 15ml lemon juice
- Diet Tonic Water
Add all ingredients to a tall glass filled with ice. Stir briefly to mix. Garnish with a lemon wheel. Add a straw. Serve!
Whiskey & Dry
- 60ml whiskey
- 15ml lemon juice
- Dry ginger ale
Add all ingredients to a tall glass filled with ice. Stir briefly to mix. Garnish with a lemon wheel. Add a straw. Serve!
Tequila Soda
- 60ml silver tequila
- 15ml lime juice
- Soda water
Add all ingredients to a tall glass filled with ice. Stir briefly to mix. Garnish with a lime wheel. Add a straw. Serve!
Cuba Libre
- 60ml white rum
- 15ml lime juice
- Cola
Add all ingredients to a tall glass filled with ice. Stir briefly to mix. Garnish with a lime wheel. Add a straw. Serve!
The Old Fashioned
Say This To Impress Your Guests: The Old Fashioned is one of the first ‘mixed drinks’ ever recorded, originally appearing in 1806 in The Balance and Columbian Repository in New York. Also known as a ‘bittered sling’, this drink eventually became known as the Old Fashioned 45 years later after punters complained that all the liqueurs and absinthes that were being added were spoiling the drink. As such, they demanded the ‘old fashioned’ recipe, and a legend was born.
Technically, an Old Fashioned is made with whiskey and bourbon, but other base spirits can be used instead, as long as you switch up the bitters too. This is also a great drink to practice stirring technique with.
How to stir: Add all ingredients to a wide glass with one big chunk of ice (or several smaller pieces if you need to). The glass half of a Boston shaker is fine for this. With a long-handled spoon, stir in such a way that the curve of the spoon is always facing inwards. Any more vigorous than this, and you’ll break up the ice and overdilute the drink. But don’t stress about it too much! It’ll still taste great.
What the heck is simple syrup? The Old Fashioned and Sour recipes all feature some kind of simple syrup. This is an incredibly easy-to-make but important recipe for cocktails. Here’s how to make it:
- Place 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan
- Place 1 cup of water in the small saucepan
- Gently heat it until the sugar is totally dissolved.
- Don’t let it boil.
- Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool.
- Store in a sealed container in a cool place for up to 2 weeks.
Vodka Old Fashioned
- 60ml vodka
- 15ml simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon peel. Serve!
Gin Old Fashioned
- 60ml London Dry gin
- 15ml simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon peel. Serve!
Classic Old Fashioned
- 60ml whiskey
- 15ml simple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon peel. Serve!
Tequila Old Fashioned
- 60ml silver tequila
- 15ml simple syrup
- 2 dashes chocolate bitters
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with a lime peel. Serve!
Rum Old Fashioned
- 60ml white rum
- 15ml brown sugar simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with a lime peel. Serve!
The Sour
Say This To Impress Your Guests: Sours are some of the most common cocktails in the world. The most popular cocktail in the United States, the Margarita, is a kind of sour. You may see some of them being made with egg white – but they don’t have to. They are light, refreshing, and exceptionally easy to make, combining only 3 ingredients and shaking for dilution.
How to Shake: Always add your ingredients one by one into your shaker before you add the ice, starting with the least expensive. This is so if you mess up the measurements, you don’t waste the pricey stuff. Add the ice, then close the shaker with either a) a sharp tap if you’re using a Boston 2-piece shaker, or b) with the lids if you’re using a cobbler 3-piece shaker.
With the Boston, make sure it is closed properly by trying to pick it up with the top half – the bottom half should come with it. If it doesn’t, give it another tap and try again.
Hold the shaker firmly in both hands and shake it in a vigorous up and down motion. There’s no right or wrong way to shake; just do what’s comfortable for you. And make sure you shake it HARD for a Sour. You want to dilute that citrus juice right right down!
You’ll know when it’s done because a layer of frost will form over the shaker and your hands will start to hurt from the cold. Some bartenders can also ‘hear’ when the drink is down, due to the ice melting. Listen out if you fancy, but a count of 15 usually also works for me.
Vodka PackVodka Sour
- 60ml vodka
- 30ml simple syrup
- 20ml lemon juice
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Serve!
Gin Sour
- 60ml London Dry gin
- 30ml simple syrup
- 20ml lemon juice
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Serve!
Whiskey Sour
- 60ml whiskey
- 30ml simple syrup
- 20ml lemon juice
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Serve!
Simple Margarita
- 60ml silver tequila
- 30ml simple syrup
- 20ml lime juice
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Serve!
Daiquiri
- 60ml white rum
- 30ml brown sugar simple syrup
- 20ml lime juice
Add all ingredients to your stirring vessel with ice. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled. Strain into a short rocks glass. Garnish with a lime twist. Serve!
What’s next?
Once you’ve mastered these 3 basic recipes, you’re well on your way to becoming everybody’s favourite party host. But if you’re thirsty for more, try another recipe pack. There’s a lot of overlap between them, so there won’t be much extra spending, and you’ll be able to add another 3 completely unique drinks to your repertoire without having to learn any new skills.
Keep an eye out for the next installment of this series where I’ll take you through a few truly classic recipes and reveal one simple secret that’ll let you invent your own cocktails in a single step.
Until then, happy mixing. Cheers!