It seems there’s a holy trinity in many things, from the spiritual realm to the culinary world. In the arena of cocktails, there are many, many of these lauded trios. Turns out, when you have a great base spirit or two, you don’t need much else to create something that tastes divine.
The 3-ingredient cocktail is a wondrous thing, both easy to make and layered in terms of flavor. You can achieve an unexpected amount of depth when mixing with just three ingredients, provided you get your approach, ingredients, and ratios in order. These are classic drinks you can make in just minutes and make them a go-to for any situation, whether you’re really into rye whiskey or prefer something more tropical.
We’ve compiled a list of classic (and modern classic) 3-ingredient cocktails that are easy to make and don’t require anything fancy to replicate. With a bar of just a handful of bottles and a few other ingredients, you can make some awesome cocktails that would impress just about anyone.
Negroni
This cocktail is a harmonious blend of three of the most complementary ingredients ever. While there are endless riffs to be tinkered with, the base makeup of Campari, gin, and vermouth in equal parts is a thing of beauty. Try exploring different styles of gin as you mix this one up, as well as vermouths (there are some great Spanish versions). If you’re like us, you like a dry cocktail, so dial down your sweet vermouth addition or find a dryer option at your bottle shop.
Ingredients
- 1 part Campari
- 1 part gin (Botanist preferred)
- 1 part sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica preferred)
Method
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir for 15-20 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass with ice or large cube.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Dark ‘n’ Stormy
One of the best things rum can be treated to is a hearty splash of ginger ale. This cocktail capitalizes on this lovely marriage and you can even create a cool fade in the glass. Not to break the 3-ingredient mold, but if you have some decent bitters on hand, it makes for a nice addition to this vintage drink.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dark rum
- 3 1/2 ounces ginger ale
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
Method
- Fill a highball glass with ice and add rum.
- Top with ginger ale.
- Garnish with lime.
Aperol spritz
Chances are good you knew about this one even before the latest season of White Lotus immortalized it. The Aperol Spritz is an Italian classic, bursting with color and flavor and sending the imbiber straight to the Mediterranean. Born in Venice in 1920, this drink has much history and an equally bright future. It’s a great one for mild afternoons and does great as an aperitif or with lighter lunch fare.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Aperol
- 3 ounces Prosecco
- 1 splash of soda water
Method
- Combine Aperol and sparkling wine in a glass with ice.
- Top with soda water.
- Garnish with an orange wedge.
Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the classic cocktail universe. The OG 3-ingredient cocktail is simply bourbon, bitters, and sugar. Don’t like bourbon? Not a problem. Sub in rye, scotch, rum, or tequila. The Old Fashioned can be adjusted to accommodate nearly every spirit imaginable. You can also play around with different flavor profiles by using different types of
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup (1:1)
- 5 dashes of Angostura bitters
Method
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir for 15-20 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass with ice or a large cube.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Manhattan
The perfect Manhattan. Some of us know that a “perfect Manhattan” is a half-ounce each of sweet and dry vermouth along with two ounces of rye whiskey, but what about a perfect Manhattan? This is a lifelong road traveled by professional and home bartenders alike. Traditionally, the Manhattan has a ratio the same as the area code, 2:1:2, meaning 2 ounces of
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 ounces rye whiskey
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 5 dashes of Angostura bitters
Method
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir 15-20 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a Luxardo cherry and an orange twist.
Martini
We’re pretty sure there isn’t a more contested classic cocktail than the martini. Gin or vodka? (Gin.) Shaken or stirred? (Stirred.) Twist or olive? (Twist.) Dry or wet? (Dry.) We’re here to put it all to rest. After many trial and error tests (somebody has to do it), this is the best one. Period. A great martini is all about two things: the ratio of gin to vermouth and how cold it is. A perfectly made martini makes you smile. A 5:1 gin-to-vermouth ratio with a single dash of
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 ounces gin
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- 1 dash of orange bitters
Method
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir for 60 seconds.
- Strain into a frozen coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Daiquiri
“Some are born great. Others achieve greatness.” — William Shakespeare
The daiquiri is a perfect cocktail. Plain and simple. The combination of rum, lime, and sugar, shaken with ice is just, well, perfect. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Most people today hear the word “daiquiri” and expect a frozen, neon-colored, overly sugared abomination straight from 1996. In reality, a traditional daiquiri is as good as it gets. Bracingly cold with a punch of acidity and balanced by the sweetness of the sugar syrup, there’s literally no fault to be found. Try one and then thank us later.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rum
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup (1:1 sugar:water)
Method
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake for 15 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Margarita
Consistently topping the list of America’s most popular cocktails, the margarita holds that lauded position for a reason: it’s delicious. Because the classic margarita consists of just three ingredients, concentrating on the quality of those ingredients is paramount to crafting a stellar margarita. Don’t skimp on the choice of tequila or orange liqueur and skip the “sour mix.” Opt for freshly squeezed lime juice instead.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
Method
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake for 10-20 seconds.
- Strain into a salt-rimmed rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Boulevardier
While the Negroni continues to rise in popularity, with it has come an appreciation for its slightly lesser-known siblings like the Boulevardier. Historically speaking, the Boulevardier has always been a bourbon drink, although these days, most seasoned bartenders will tell you that the Boulevardier is more of a “whiskey Negroni” so if you like rye more than bourbon, feel free to sub in a good rye whiskey for the bourbon. For us, we’re going to stick to the traditional use of bourbon but also adjust the recipe to feature the whiskey a little more.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces bourbon
- 3/4 ounce Campari
- 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
Method
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir for 15-20 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Bee’s Knees
A cheeky riff on the gin sour, the Bee’s Knees is believed to have been a product of Prohibition, but no one knows for sure (though the name kind of gives it away). Bright and slightly floral, the shaken mix of gin, lemon juice, and honey begs to be enjoyed on a patio during the summer.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce honey syrup (2:1 honey:water)
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
Method
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake for 10-20 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Americano
Even though the Negroni may be more popular, its bubbly, taller brother is just as good. Lower in ABV, this Italian spritz can be enjoyed all day long without the fear of making a scene. The slightly bitter mix of Campari and sweet vermouth, topped off with soda water, makes for a perfect pre-dinner cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Campari
- 1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
- Soda water
Method
- Add the Campari and sweet vermouth to a tall glass filled with ice.
- Top with soda water.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Pineapple cocktail
Sometimes the universe combines two things (or people) and they become iconic matches made in heaven. Peas & carrots. Cher & Dionne. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. This can also be said about pineapple and Green Chartreuse. The beloved high-proof herbal elixir has been made by the Carthusian monks since the 16th century. Made from 130 different ingredients, the green variety of Chartreuse (there’s also a yellow version) packs an herbal punch with notes of pine and licorice. For some reason, combining what, on paper, seems like two extremely different ingredients produces something extraordinary. This cocktail was originally created by Craig Schoettler.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Green Chartreuse
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
Method
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake for 10-20 seconds.
- Strain into a tall glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a few sprigs of mint.
Cosmonaut
Created by the late, great Sasha Petraske, the Cosmonaut was his cheeky dig at the immensely popular Cosmopolitan. A much simpler cocktail than the original, the Cosmonaut is simply gin, lemon juice, and a spoon of raspberry preserves. Perfect for springtime, this little-known tipple makes for a nice change of pace when it comes to a sour.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
- 1 tsp raspberry preserves
Method
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Use a spoon to stir the ingredients in the tin to begin to dissolve the preserves.
- Add ice and shake for 10-20 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
Mimosa
The Mimosa, aka the drink that launched a thousand brunches, could be one of the easiest ones on our list. This classic mix of fresh orange juice, champagne, and orange liqueur is a staple at most morning events where there is drinking (and we strongly believe there should be more of those!). This recipe makes a pitcher of mimosas, so you’ll have enough to share or have a really good morning if you’re all alone!
Ingredients
- 3 cups chilled orange juice (fresh squeezed is strongly preferred)
- 1 750 ml bottle of chilled dry champagne
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
- Strawberries or orange slices for garnish
Method
- Pour the orange juice, champagne, and orange liqueur into a pitcher.
- Add the garnishes (if using) to glasses.
- Pour the mimosas into glasses and serve immediately.
