33 Crave-Worthy co*cktails Made With 3 Ingredients (or Fewer!) (2024)

By

Nicole Perry

Grapefruit Shandy

For day drinking, you can do no better than a grapefruit shandy, a low-octane concoction of grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and beer.

Gingersnap co*cktail

Cuddle up by the (real or imagined) fireplace with a sweet but not cloying tipple sourced from David Chang's famed Momof*cku Ko.

Sparkling Lillet Grapefruit co*cktail

This Champagne co*cktail is refreshing and pretty to look at, so try it with your next fancy brunch.

Homemade Butterbeer

French Martini

Easy Mint Julep

Sipping on this refreshing Southern co*cktail will instantly inspire visions of the Kentucky Derby . . . or Disneyland.

Pomegranate Champagne co*cktail

Ruby-colored, undeniably festive, and not too sweet, this pomegranate take on the Kir Royale — a classic Champagne and Chambord concoction — is sure to turn heads.

Guinness Milkshake

Will a frothy Guinness milkshake get you tipsy? Probably not, but that's hardly the point with a drink this luscious.

Martini

Can you imagine a better drink for Mad Men marathons than a martini?

French Martini

Cognac Sparkler

For a light apéritif, try a cognac sparkler, which owes its golden hue to cognac and sparkling apple cider.

Gin and It

Gin and It is a simple yet complex-flavored concoction of gin and Italian vermouth (get it?). To cut through this sweet and strong co*cktail, add a lemon wedge or twist as a garnish.

Grapefruit Mimosa

Aperol Spritz

Salty Dog

Coffee Martini

Combine two favorite drinks (coffee and vodka) into one drink, the coffee martini.

Beermosa

Beer and orange juice? Sign me up. Pick a refreshing beer that compliments fruit, such as a Blue Moon or Corona, and stir in some OJ for a refreshing beermosa.

Hibiscus Sparkling Wine co*cktail

It only takes two ingredients to make this beautiful floral co*cktail, but it's sure to impress any guest!

Dark and Stormy

Pared-Down Margarita

Throw away the sweet-and-sour mix and any notions you might have of cloyingly sweet, hangover-inducing margaritas, and instead shake up a pared-down and oh-so-refreshing version sourced from a much-lauded San Francisco tequila bar.

Mango-Grapefruit Mimosa

Add a tropical twist to your favorite brunch co*cktail with this mango-grapefruit mimosa recipe.

Gimlet

This simple gimlet recipe is a twist on a classic gin-and-tonic.

Cranberry-Infused Vermouth Martini

While this cranberry-studded stunner requires some (minor) advance planning in order to infuse the vermouth with cranberry flavor, it's quite easy to construct, and is well worth the minimal foresight involved.

Hummingbird

Delicate like the eponymous bird, the Hummingbird requires little but St. Germain, Champagne, and club soda (though a lemon twist can't hurt).

Gimlet

Take a card out of Katy Perry's book by sipping on some gin and juice . . . lime juice, that is! This classic green Gimlet is the perfect co*cktail for any occasion.

Negroni

This Negroni co*cktail is made with a touch of a bittersweet aperitif that will grow on you with every sip.

Classic Mimosa

Few drinks bring to mind the phrase "if it ain't broke . . ." than the classic mimosa, which clocks in at a mere two ingredients. Although, if you don't feel like taking advice from trite idioms, a splash of Grand Marnier in each glass certainly won't hurt.

Stinger

Sourced from a classic co*cktail bible, The Savoy co*cktail Book, the Stinger is a two-ingredient stunner that's most at home as a postmeal drink.

Irish Whiskey Highball

Grapefruit St. Germain Champagne co*cktail

Cranberry Vodka co*cktail

Tinto de Verano

This red wine spritzer is an inexpensive Spanish version of sangria, so it's a great option for party drinks.

Redheaded Ginger

If you're looking for a drink that's fruity, complex, and satisfying, this Lillet Rouge co*cktail is the perfect pick.