Cheers to These 20 Cheap Drinks That Are Ridiculously Easy to Make at Home
And they all require just four ingredients or less.
I love going out to bars as much as the next girl. Wine bars, dive bars, hotel bars, sports bars, you name it. If there's alcohol, I'll be there. But there's one thing I don't love about going out for drinks, which I'm assuming you too can relate to: it can be SO. EFFING. EXPENSIVE. Like, tell me why I've paid $15 for a watered-down gin and tonic. It doesn't make sense. But, friends, it doesn't have to be this way.
It's 2023, and I'm just going to come out and say it: staying in is the new going out. And the at-home cocktail? It's the new shitty-drink-the-angry-bartender-poured-you. This year, we're getting high on our own supply—and by that I mean we're getting tipsy on the alcohol that's already on our bar carts. It's a lot easier than you might think to craft some of the classic cocktails you're wont to order when you're out and about—and they're way, way easier on your wallet.
Below, I've rounded up 20 of the best cheap cocktails you can make at home, and I'm certain there's at least one on there that will please your palate. The best part? Every single recipe requires just four ingredients or fewer (and some only need two!) so chances are you won't even need to hit the liquor store. It doesn't get much simpler than that. Happy sipping!
Ranch Water
If you're from Texas, chances are you've already consumed one of these refreshing bevvies—and it was probably made with a Topo Chico. It's made by mixing a shot of tequila with a long pour of club soda and a solid squeeze of lime. Not too sweet, not too sour, and not too hard to throw back one too many.
Ingredients: Tequila blanco, lime, club soda
Mimosa
You know them, you love them, and you hate the 3 pm post-brunch hangover you get after drinking too many of them. Cop a bottle of cheap champagne (we actually have a list of our 14 budget-friendly favorites) and the OJ of your choice (from concentrate is fine!), and you're good to go. You can also use pineapple, peach, mango, or literally any other fruit juice if you wanna shake things up.
Ingredients: Sparkling wine, orange juice
Gin and Tonic
It's simple, it's classic, and it feels a lot more classy than a vodka-soda for some reason. Don't forget a lime wedge to really adultify things.
Ingredients: Gin, tonic water, lime for garnish
Strawberry Vodka Lemonade
The ingredients are literally in the name: this sweet and summery cocktail contains just strawberries, vodka, and lemonade. If you're feeling fancy, you can get make your own lemonade and then muddle some fresh strawberries. Or, if you're looking for a truly low-maintenance recipe, you can buy a jug of strawberry lemonade and add your vodka of choice. Honestly, if you wanted, you could chug a little from the jug and pour the vodka straight in to save dishes. I'm not judging.
Ingredients: Strawberries, lemonade, vodka
Classic Margarita
News flash: You don't have to go to your favorite Taco Tuesday-approved restaurant to get a good marg. Trust me, they're actually easy to make at home. Shake together tequila blanco and triple sec (I prefer Cointreau) from your bar cart along with some fresh lime juice, and you'll save yourself a ton of $$$. Add salt or sugar to the rim if you wanna go all out.
Ingredients: Tequila blanco, triple sec, lime
Moscow Mule
Somehow spicy and sweet at the same time, the Moscow Mule has been a classic cocktail for decades, typically served up in a chic copper mug. They're super cheap and easy to make at home, just do not—I repeat, DO NOT—swap ginger ale for ginger beer. It just won't taste the same.
Ingredients: Vodka, lime, ginger beer
Aperol Spritz
The easiest way to transport yourself to Europe without actually hopping a flight, an Aperol spritz is, and forever will be, my favorite cocktail. And Aperol isn't that expensive! Use the 3-2-1 method for the perfect sip: three parts sparkling wine, two parts Aperol, and one part club soda.
Ingredients: Aperol, sparkling wine, club soda, orange for garnish
Dark and Stormy
A fabulous cocktail if you love dark liquor, a dark and stormy is the ultimate ~moody~ beverage. Bonus points if you garnish with a lime wheel and candied ginger.
Ingredients: Ginger beer, dark rum, lime juice
Cuba Libre
We love a basic mixed drink that has a fancy name, and that's exactly what a Cuba Libre is. It's a rum and coke, and it's a classic.
Ingredients: Rum, cola, lime
Lemon Drop
If a lemon drop is your shot of choice, you'll def love the cocktail version. Sweet and tart at the same time, it's an easy sip that seems way fancier than it is. Especially if you put it in a long-stem glass and sugar the rim!
Ingredients: Vodka, triple sec, simple syrup, lemon juice
Salty Dog
You really only need two ingredients for this perfectly tart bev: grapefruit juice and either vodka or gin (choose your liquor fighter!). It's basically a paloma, but way easier and a little stronger. FWIW, a salt rim and orange twist never hurt!
Ingredients: Vodka or gin, grapefruit juice
Gin Rickey
I can feel my mouth pucker just looking at this drink, and I like it. It's super refreshing and so easy to make—just combine a shot or two of gin with a squeeze of fresh lime (or the bottle of lime juice in the door of your fridge, whatever works), and top with club soda. You can also add simple syrup or a lil sprinkle of sugar if you like your drinks sweet. Just make sure you stir well!
Ingredients: Gin, club soda, lime
Cape Codder
Yes, this is a glorified vodka cran, and yes, that's totally fine. It's literally just four parts cranberry juice and one part vodka, with a lil squeeze of lime. No worries if you want to use the cheap vodka you used to pound in college—the cranberry will overpower the rubbing alcohol taste.
Ingredients: Vodka, cranberry juice, lime
Black Russian
If you love espresso martinis and/or strong cocktails, chances are you'll love a Black Russian. It's basically the after-dinner drink of your dreams if you're planning on going out later.
Ingredients: Vodka, coffee liqueur
Vodka Martini
Shaken or stirred, the choice is up to you. You might want to opt for a good(ish) vodka here, since it'll be one of the main flavors you're tasting, but if you don't want to splurge...just add a shit ton of olives. You classy gal, you!
Ingredients: Vodka, dry vermouth, olives
Tequila Sunrise
This fruity concoction is as tasty as it is gorgeous (look at that ombre effect!) thanks to a sold squirt of grenadine syrup, the same stuff that makes a Shirley Temple so sweet. You could whip up a batch of these for a girls' brunch, but be warned: they go down a little too smooth.
Ingredients: Orange juice, tequila, grenadine syrup
Daquiri
You can't always take a tropical vacation, but you can always make a daiquiri. Add ice and blend for a frozen treat or add strawberries to give it a lil fruity flavor.
Ingredients: Light rum, lime juice, simple syrup
Old Fashioned
One badass drink, coming right up. Make sure you put it in a nice rocks glass and it'll look hella expensive, even if you used the cheapest whiskey you could find at the liquor store.
Ingredients: Whiskey, bitters, sugar cube, cherry or orange for garnish
Tom Collins
Light and refreshing for a hot summer day—or let's be real, any type of day—the Tom Collins is a crowd favorite. Fresh lemon juice tastes best, but you can use whatever you've got.
Ingredients: Gin, club soda, lemon juice, simple syrup
Negroni
Just try not to feel like a baller while drinking a Negroni. It's impossible. They're strong, but if you can handle 'em you'll never go back. Add some sparkling wine to make it a Negroni Sbagliato.
Ingredients: Gin, red vermouth, Campari, orange for garnish
Hannah Chubb is the associate lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.
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