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The Easiest Two-Ingredient Cocktails You Should Make

You don’t always need to leave the house to get a good drink. Whether you’re having some friends over or you want a delicious drink after a long day, two-ingredient cocktails are a great go-to to help make things simple. 

Red drink with ice strawberry and mint leaves

Many of the drinks on this list have common items that you probably already have at home, including things like soda, tonic water, and juice.

So, you’ll probably just need to buy the correct types of alcohol to accompany these mixers if you don’t already have them readily available.

Use this list of the best two-ingredient cocktails to kick off your drink-making inspiration. 

You only need two ingredients to make these timeless cocktails!


Martini

Martinis are a great drink no matter what the occasion because of their simplicity.

All you need to make a classic martini is gin or vodka and some vermouth.

Shake up equal parts of each alcohol to get the perfect taste. I like to add some green olives for a little extra flavor. 

If your bar is fully stocked, check out other types of martinis to make.


Mimosa

There are a variety of mimosa possibilities out there, but the most common recipe has orange juice.

To make them, simply combine equal parts juice and champagne to make this deliciously fruity and bubbly drink.

You’re also getting a healthy dose of vitamin C at 67% of your recommended daily intake! I’m a big fan of citrus, so I love mimosas.


Black Russian

If you want a little coffee kick, Black Russians combine vodka and Kahlúa to make the perfect iced pick-me-up.

You’ll typically use two parts vodka and one part Kahlúa to create these, as the Kahlúa is sweet.

You need more vodka to cut that sweetness a bit. I love coffee, so adding coffee flavor to a cocktail is a yes for me!


Cape Codder

While you might not recognize the name, the Cape Codder is a classic vodka cocktail you’ve probably tried already.

Cape Codders are a delicious tart blend of your favorite vodka with some cranberry juice.

Typically, depending on how strong you want your drink, you’ll use about two parts vodka and three to four parts cranberry juice.

If you want a little zip, I like to add a lime wedge in mine for a little citrus kick.


Dark ‘n’ Stormy

While the name sounds ominous, the drink itself is bright orange.

Dark ‘n’ Stormy cocktails contain about two parts rum and three parts ginger beer, providing you with a refreshing drink with a little spicy kick to it.

I like to add lime slices to mine to make it more fresh-tasting.


Gibson

The Gibson is slightly similar to the martini, but the ratios are different, and you must use gin rather than having a choice between gin and vodka.

You’ll need to shake up 2 ½ ounces of gin and a half ounce of vermouth to make one drink.

See also  7 Essential Pimm’s Cocktails to Try

You can drink it the way it is or add some pickled pearled onions like I do to give it a little savory and sweet taste.


Gin and Tonic

The names of the ingredients are right in the name of this drink!

You’ll need to combine two parts gin with four parts tonic water. You can use normal tonic water or diet, depending on your taste.

To make mine more interesting, I like to add a rosemary sprig and some lime wedges.


Rusty Nail

If you like whiskey, the rusty nail could be your next favorite.

Rusty nails combine about two ounces of whiskey and ¾ of an ounce of Drambuie liqueur.

Interestingly enough, this drink has a sweetness to it, and it goes down rather smoothly.

I like to add an orange peel and large ice cubes to mine.


Screwdriver

A screwdriver drink is a little similar to a mimosa, but the alcohol type and measurements are different.

To make one, you’ll typically combine one part (one to one and a half ounces) vodka with six to eight parts orange juice.

I like to add ice and some orange slices in mine for an extra citrus zip. This is a great brunch drink in lieu of mimosas!


Vodka Soda

This is another drink that has the ingredients in its name as you’re using vodka and club soda.

Typically, you’ll use two parts vodka and then fill the rest of the glass with club soda and ice.

You can add lemon wedges to give it more flavor. I love the simplicity of this drink.


Kir

If you’re not big on hard liquor, the kir uses wine as its base.

You’ll typically need around half an ounce of crème de cassis, which is dark red alcohol made with black currants.

Add that to a glass, and then fill up the rest of the glass with a white wine of your choosing.

I love this drink as it is very fruity and barely tastes like alcohol. 


Brave Bull

Due to the tequila, Brave Bulls are drinks that you need to slowly sip on to enjoy.

These drinks usually involve two parts tequila and one part Kahlúa. Some people refer to this as a Black Russian, but with tequila.

Pour the mixture over ice and add a little lemon peel like I do to get a little extra zip!


Garibaldi

The Garibaldi is a fruity drink that is refreshing to the palate, so it’s a great drink to have with breakfast or after dinner for a palate cleansing.

The drink combines about one and a half ounces of Campari, an Italian bitter liqueur, and freshly-squeezed orange juice.

See also  Top 7 Cocktails for Sunday Funday Day Drinking

Pour it over some ice and add an orange peel. I like to rub the peel on the rim of the glass for extra flavor.


Cuba Libre

The Cuba Libre is a very simple drink that is a favorite to many because it doesn’t taste that strong.

It combines one part rum and three parts Coca-cola, or another brand of cola.

It’s a smooth drink and has a nice sweetness to it. I like to add some lime wedges to get a little citrus in there.


Campari and Beer

For this drink, you’ll need to pour about two parts, or two ounces, of Campari into a tall glass and then fill the rest of the glass with your favorite beer.

The drink will typically become a mesmerizing dark red, and I think it tastes even better with some lemon wedges. It’s kind of like a beer spritzer.


Shandy

This is one of my go-to summer drinks, as it is very refreshing with the combination of lemonade and beer.

To make it, you’ll need to combine equal parts of lemonade and your favorite beer.

Add a lemon wedge if you want an extra lemony flavor.

Check out some of our favorite shandy beers so you don’t have to mix anything at all!


Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz cocktails are great to serve before or after a meal because they have an apéritif in them.

This cocktail combines three parts prosecco and two parts Italian bitter, Aperol.

You can also add some club soda for extra fizz. Fill the drink with ice and add an orange slice for garnish. I think this is a delicious light drink.


Pimm’s Cup

Pimm’s Cup is another light drink that is great for relaxing.

It combines about 1 ½ to two ounces of Pimm’s liqueur, which has a gin base, with ginger ale.

Just fill a glass with ice, pour in the Pimm’s, and fill the rest of the glass with ginger ale.

I like to add frozen fruit to mine, as it adds a berry flavor and acts like ice cubes.


The Godfather

Godfathers combine Scotch and amaretto to create a spicy, nutty, and slightly sweet cocktail.

It combines equal parts, one ounce each, of Scotch and Italian amaretto, and then you can pour it over some ice.

I like to add an orange peel for garnishing and rubbing on the rim of the glass when I enjoy mine.


Bellini

Bellinis, or peach Bellinis, are sweet and tasty drinks that give you the taste of summer any time of year.

They combine two parts peach purée and four parts prosecco, creating a refreshing and beautiful drink.

I like to put some peach wedges in mine for an added peachy taste and a little fruity snack.


Greyhound

If you’re not a fan of sweet fruity drinks, the Greyhound has a tart taste that might satisfy your palate.

They use one and a half ounces of vodka and five ounces of grapefruit juice.

See also  19 Best Blue Cocktails to Drink

This drink tastes best over some ice, and I recommend adding grapefruit slices for extra flavor. 

Grapefruit juice offers you 100% of your vitamin C for the day and can aid in heart and gut health!


Scotch and Soda

Scotch and soda is just what it sounds like, but it doesn’t involve cola soda.

All it involves is about two parts or ounces of your favorite Scotch, and then the rest of the drink is just some simple club soda.

You can garnish with any citrus fruit you want, but I like to use lemon when I have this drink.


Bourbon Lemonade

Bourbon lemonades are very fresh tasting, and I think they make a great drink to have with a meal.

These drinks use about two parts bourbon and six parts lemonade.

While the drink tastes okay when chilled, I highly recommend using ice. Add mint leaves for added freshness.


Simple Paloma

Palomas are tequila-based cocktails that make use of citrus fruits.

I’ve seen some people make them with lemon-flavored soda, but most Palomas use grapefruit-flavored soda, water, or juice.

The drinks typically combine one part tequila and three to four parts grapefruit-flavored soda.

You can add grapefruit and lime slices for extra zip.


Skinny Margarita

Skinny margaritas have this name, as they omit some extra unneeded calories.

They usually combine about two parts tequila and two parts citrus juice by shaking them.

You can choose the citrus you want, but most people like to use lime juice.


Tequila Soda

This drink slightly reminds me of a gin and tonic, but with different alcohol.

The general recipe usually uses around two parts of tequila, and then the rest of the glass gets filled with club soda.

Tequila can be a little sweet sometimes, so I like throwing some lime slices or wedges in it to cut some of that out.


Vodka Tonic

A vodka tonic is just a gin and tonic with different alcohol.

It combines about two parts, or ounces, of vodka, and then the rest of the glass gets filled with tonic water and some ice.

I think lemon and lime wedges make a great garnish with this drink.


Whiskey and Ginger Ale

Typical whiskey and ginger ale cocktails have equal parts of a whiskey of your choosing and ginger ale.

For a single serving, I’d say use about two ounces of each and always use ice.

You can enjoy it like this or add some lime wedges, as lime goes perfectly with ginger.


Gimlet

A gimlet is an old-school cocktail, and it’s a classic for a reason.

There are a lot of modern takes on the gimlet, but the classic recipe consists only of gin and lime juice.

Shake 2 1/2 ounces of your favorite gin with 1/2 ounce of lime juice with ice and pour into a cocktail glass. You can garnish with a lime slice as well!

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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