The term “home mixologist” always conjures up dreadful imagery of being stuck on somebody’s sofa while the host steps behind the bar, smooth like an amateur magician at a kiddie party, and throws anything they can find into a shaker, as if the process and its rigor will magically transform everything inside the tin jar into an unputdownable elixir. Instead, you get strewn jetsam from a shipwreck floating in a sticky glass—a warm, insipid, imbalanced drink that you are expected to exalt to please your disappointed host.
Well, we can change that. The trick lies in doing your homework. Plan the drinks, have the recipes down pat, make sure you have everything at hand before you start, and follow the recipes exactly—do not get “creative.” It also helps to practice beforehand if needed and, when serving, ensure the minimum possible delays between preparing and presenting.
Feels pretty straightforward, right? What nobody will tell you is that the key lies in choosing the right drinks to pursue. It’s like when you go skiing and get the pro skis just so others don’t judge you, but then you struggle on the slopes for the rest of the day, thereby giving many more people ample time and space to judge you endlessly.
Choose drinks that are easy to make. No matter how proficient you are, remember: When having people over, you are not just bartender but also the host. Your duties will entail more than just mixing drinks. So, plan for drinks that are easy to put together, quick to concoct, and great to look at and taste. That is the main exercise—the rest is just showmanship.
So, here are the drinks to go after. Since recipes and variations of these different cocktails abound, I’m not including specific measurements, but you can find a recipe you like online.
1 DAIQUIRI: This drink involves combining light rum with three ingredients that are always around the kitchen—ice, limes (for lime juice), and sugar. You can blend them or shake them and garnish with a simple slice of lime. It is an easy drink, and the best part: If you change the rum for other spirits, like gin, you get a whole new classic cocktail.
2 OLD FASHIONED: This cocktail is low on the effort scale but ranks high for connoisseurship. It involves stirring Bourbon whiskey with sugar over a large cube of ice (or lots of small cubes) and finishing it off with a splash of bitters. That’s it! Typically they’re garnished with a thick slice of orange and/or a premium maraschino cherry, but you can also serve it as is.
3 SAZERAC: Imagine making an Old Fashioned but in a “dirty” glass—one that previously held absinthe, which was then thrown away before you started making your drink. That’s a sazerac! You just can’t make this stuff up—there are some truly zany stories behind the origins of veritable classics.
4 MARGARITA: Honestly this drink is effectively a daiquiri with tequila instead of rum and one small change: Instead of sugar, you use an orange liqueur like Triple Sec or, even better, Cointreau. Blend or shake, and you have an amazing margarita. My trick: I float a tinge of peaty whisky on top as garnish for a hint of smoke. Another party gimmick: Make it with mezcal instead of tequila, and you get a meatier drink.
5 FIZZY COCKTAILS: Champagne or Prosecco with any fruit-based pulp or fresh juice makes for a fancy breakfast drink. It feels light and unlike inebriation at all, even on a Monday morning. Just make sure everything is deathly chilled before deploying.
6 MOJITO: A maximum effort drink but extremely popular, a mojito involves muddling mint leaves with grain sugar and light rum in a glass. Top this mixture up with lots of crushed ice and add soda water, lemonade, or a mix of the two. Voilà! Switch up the rum with vodka for more mass appeal, or with Brazilian cachaça for “citizen of the world” vibes.
So, there you have it: some refreshing drinks that you can make at home without breaking a sweat—or any fancy glassware!
