Simple Cocktails That Always Work When You Have People Over
Having people over is stressful enough without adding a full-blown bartending shift to the mix. When you have people over, you want options that pleases the crowd without demanding constant attention or perfect conditions.
With that in mind, we made this cocktail list making sure that nothing here relies on specialised tools, obscure bottles, or exacting technique. These are reliable choices designed for real homes and real gatherings, where the focus is on keeping things flowing smoothly rather than performing behind the bar. The result is a set of drinks that feel confident and well made, allowing you to stay present with your guests instead of micromanaging what’s in the glass. Read on.
Paloma
Bright and refreshing with a gentle citrus bite, this tequila-based favourite feels relaxed and sun-soaked, like a drink that belongs outdoors.
Ingredients
Tequila
Grapefruit Juice
Soda Water
How to prepare it:
Fill a tall glass with ice until it feels properly chilled in your hand.
Pour in 50 ml tequila and 75 ml fresh grapefruit juice.
Top with soda water to keep the drink light and refreshing.
Stir gently so everything comes together without killing the fizz.
Add a pinch of salt or a grapefruit wedge for extra bite.
French 75
All sparkle and sharp edges, this cocktail looks polite but hits hard, proving once again that anything involving champagne should never be underestimated.
Ingredients
Gin
Lemon Juice
Sparkling Wine
How to prepare it:
Add ice to a shaker and use it to chill the glass while you measure.
Pour 40 ml gin and 20 ml fresh lemon juice into the shaker.
Shake briefly until chilled, then strain into a flute or coupe.
Top slowly with sparkling wine to preserve the bubbles.
Let it settle for a moment before drinking.
Boulevardier
Rich, warming, and pleasantly bitter, this cocktail is made for slow sipping and unhurried conversations, preferably somewhere dimly lit.
Ingredients
Bourbon
Campari
Sweet Vermouth
How to prepare it:
Fill a short glass with ice and let it chill for a few seconds.
Pour 30 ml bourbon, 30 ml Campari, and 30 ml sweet vermouth over the ice.
Stir slowly and steadily for about 25 seconds.
Taste and adjust with another stir if needed.
Garnish with an orange peel for depth and aroma.
Bee’s Knees
Soft, floral, and beautifully balanced, this honey-sweetened drink smooths out sharp edges of gin while still feeling refined and intentional.
Ingredients
Gin
Lemon Juice
Honey Syrup
How to prepare it:
Fill a shaker with ice and let it cool down briefly.
Add 50 ml gin, 25 ml fresh lemon juice, and 20 ml honey syrup.
Shake until well-chilled and lightly frothy.
Strain into a chilled coupe or small glass.
Pause for a second, then sip and let the honey round things out.
Spicy Margarita
Familiar at first sip, then gently fiery, this version adds just enough heat to keep things interesting without overwhelming the classic flavours.
Ingredients
Tequila
Lime Juice
Chilli
How to prepare it:
Lightly muddle a few slices of fresh chilli in a shaker to release heat.
Add ice, then pour in 50 ml tequila and 25 ml fresh lime juice.
Shake firmly until chilled and properly mixed.
Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
Taste before adding salt, because restraint matters.
Gimlet
Clean, sharp, and quietly confident, this stripped-back cocktail lets gin and lime do all the talking, proving that simplicity can still feel precise and satisfying.
Ingredients
Gin
Lime Juice
Sugar Syrup
How to prepare it:
Fill a shaker with ice and let it chill for a moment.
Pour in 50 ml gin, 25 ml fresh lime juice, and 15 ml sugar syrup.
Shake firmly until well-chilled and properly diluted.
Strain into a chilled coupe or small glass.
Take a measured sip and appreciate how tight and focused it feels.
Paper Plane
Bright, crisp, and wonderfully balanced, this modern cocktail is surprisingly addictive for something this simple.
Ingredients
Bourbon
Aperol
Lemon Juice
How to prepare it:
Add ice to a shaker and let it chill while you measure.
Pour in 30 ml bourbon, 30 ml Aperol, and 30 ml fresh lemon juice.
Shake firmly until the shaker feels properly cold.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Take a sip and realise balance is doing most of the work here.
Espresso Martini
Smooth, bold, and undeniably indulgent, this coffee-forward classic is ideal when you want your drink to feel both energising and indulgent.
Ingredients
Vodka
Espresso
Coffee liqueur
How to prepare it:
Add plenty of ice to a shaker so the drink chills fast and hard.
Pour in 50 ml vodka, 30 ml freshly brewed espresso, and 20 ml coffee liqueur.
Shake aggressively until the shaker is ice-cold and thick foam forms.
Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
Let the foam settle for a second, then drink it like you mean it.