21 Easy 3-Ingredient Cocktail Recipes for Any Occasion

When it comes to cocktails, sometimes simple really is best. With just three ingredients, you can shake, stir, or pour your way to something elegant, refreshing, and totally satisfying. These easy 3-ingredient cocktails are proof that you don’t need a long list of fancy liqueurs to make a great drink.

Whether you’re hosting a party, relaxing at home, or looking for a quick crowd-pleaser, these recipes deliver big flavor with minimal effort.

From timeless classics to creative twists, these 21 cocktails are perfect for any occasion.

1. Classic Margarita

Bright, tangy, and endlessly crowd-pleasing — the classic margarita never goes out of style. With just tequila, lime juice, and triple sec, it’s a simple cocktail that always delivers.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz tequila
2. 1 oz triple sec
3. 1 oz fresh lime juice

Steps:

1. Shake all ingredients with ice until chilled.
2. Strain into a salt-rimmed glass over fresh ice.
3. Garnish with a lime wheel.

2. Gin and Tonic

Crisp, refreshing, and effortlessly elegant, this iconic highball is as simple as it gets.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz gin
2. 4 oz tonic water
3. Lime wedge

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add gin and top with tonic water.
3. Garnish with a lime wedge.

3. Whiskey Sour

Smooth, tart, and perfectly balanced — a timeless favorite for whiskey lovers.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz whiskey
2. 1 oz lemon juice
3. 1 oz simple syrup

Steps:

1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
3. Garnish with a cherry or lemon slice.

4. Vodka Cranberry

Light, fruity, and refreshing — perfect for any casual gathering.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz vodka
2. 4 oz cranberry juice
3. Lime wedge

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and cranberry juice.
3. Squeeze in lime and stir gently.

5. Paloma

A zesty, refreshing tequila cocktail with a sparkling grapefruit twist.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz tequila
2. 4 oz grapefruit soda
3. Lime wedge

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add tequila and top with grapefruit soda.
3. Garnish with lime.

6. Aperol Spritz

Bright, bubbly, and bittersweet — the ultimate warm-weather cocktail.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz Aperol
2. 3 oz prosecco
3. 1 oz soda water

Steps:

1. Add ice to a wine glass.
2. Pour in Aperol, prosecco, and soda water.
3. Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.

7. Rum and Coke

Simple, sweet, and classic — this easy mix never fails.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz rum
2. 4 oz cola
3. Lime wedge

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add rum and top with cola.
3. Squeeze in lime and stir.

8. French 75

A sparkling gin cocktail that feels sophisticated yet easy to make.

Ingredients:

1. 1 oz gin
2. 1/2 oz lemon juice
3. 3 oz champagne

Steps:

1. Shake gin and lemon juice with ice.
2. Strain into a champagne flute.
3. Top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

9. Screwdriver

Just vodka and orange juice — simple, bright, and delicious.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz vodka
2. 4 oz orange juice
3. Orange slice for garnish

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and orange juice.
3. Stir and garnish with an orange slice.

10. Dark ’n’ Stormy

A bold, gingery rum cocktail with a hint of spice.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz dark rum
2. 4 oz ginger beer
3. Lime wedge

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add ginger beer and top with dark rum.
3. Garnish with lime.

11. Mimosa

Perfect for brunch — light, bubbly, and festive.

Ingredients:

1. 3 oz chilled champagne
2. 3 oz orange juice
3. Orange twist

Steps:

1. Pour orange juice into a champagne flute.
2. Top with champagne and garnish.

12. Tequila Sunrise

A stunning, layered cocktail that tastes as good as it looks.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz tequila
2. 4 oz orange juice
3. 1/2 oz grenadine

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice and pour in tequila and orange juice.
2. Slowly add grenadine to create a layered effect.
3. Garnish with an orange slice.

13. Black Russian

Strong, dark, and smooth — a coffee-flavored favorite.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz vodka
2. 1 oz coffee liqueur
3. Ice

Steps:

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
2. Pour vodka and coffee liqueur over ice and stir.

14. Kir Royale

An elegant French cocktail perfect for celebrations.

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 oz crème de cassis
2. 4 oz champagne
3. Lemon twist

Steps:

1. Pour crème de cassis into a flute.
2. Top with champagne and garnish.

15. Cuba Libre

A rum and coke with an extra burst of lime for tropical flair.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz light rum
2. 4 oz cola
3. Juice of half a lime

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add rum and cola, then squeeze in lime juice.
3. Stir gently.

16. Campari Soda

Simple, bitter, and refreshing — a perfect aperitif.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz Campari
2. 4 oz soda water
3. Orange slice

Steps:

1. Add Campari and soda water to a glass with ice.
2. Stir gently and garnish.

17. Bay Breeze

Tropical and tart — a beach vacation in a glass.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz vodka
2. 3 oz cranberry juice
3. 1 oz pineapple juice

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add vodka, cranberry, and pineapple juice.
3. Stir and garnish with a lime wedge.

18. Gin Rickey

Light, crisp, and low-calorie — a refreshing classic.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz gin
2. 1/2 oz lime juice
3. Soda water

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add gin and lime juice.
3. Top with soda and stir.

19. Malibu Pineapple

A sweet, tropical favorite that tastes like summer.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz coconut rum
2. 4 oz pineapple juice
3. Pineapple wedge

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add coconut rum and pineapple juice.
3. Stir and garnish.

20. Vodka Soda

Clean, classic, and endlessly customizable.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz vodka
2. 4 oz soda water
3. Lime wedge

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and soda water.
3. Garnish with lime.

21. Irish Coffee

A cozy cocktail that combines coffee, whiskey, and cream for the perfect nightcap.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz Irish whiskey
2. 4 oz hot coffee
3. Whipped cream

Steps:

1. Pour hot coffee into a mug.
2. Stir in whiskey and top with whipped cream.