58 Cocktail Recipes You Need to Try

Author:
Lisa Hallam
Updated date:
Oct 21, 2022

Lisa loves trying new drinks of any sort, especially mixed ones. She also loves the social aspect that comes with drinking.

Whether you're a seasoned bartender or new to the art of cocktail-making, you'll fall in love with these unique mixed drinks.
Photo by No Revisions on Unsplash

Unique Cocktail Recipes

From tequila-based drinks to straight-up shooters and from fruity to spicy, this list is guaranteed to have something on it that you haven't yet tried. They're all very unique and will bring something special to the table each time. I dare you to try them all.

Standard Bar Measures

First, let’s ensure we know the basic measurements and types of drink glasses that are commonly used.

1 dash (or splash) = 0.03125 oz.
1 teaspoon = 0.125 oz.
1 tablespoon = 0.375 oz.
1 pony = 1 oz.
1 jigger = 1.5 oz.
1 wineglass = 4 oz.
1 split = oz.
1 cup = 8 oz.

Standard Drinkware

Wine glass: classically filled with only 5 oz.

Hurricane glass: holds an average of 20 oz.

Shot glass: holds an average of 1.5 oz.

Tequila Drinks

Whether you're a fan of the classic or modern tequila cocktail, you're sure to fall in love with one of these recipes.

Alamo Splash

1.5 oz. Tequila
1 oz. Orange Juice
0.5 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 Splash Lemon-Lime Soda

Instructions: Mix with crushed ice and strain into a Tom Collins glass.

Red Hooter

1 oz. Tequila
0.75 oz. Amaretto
Pineapple Juice
1 oz. Grenadine

Instructions: Pour tequila and amaretto over ice in a Tom Collins glass. Fill with pineapple juice, topped with grenadine, and garnished with cherry.

Blue Margarita

1.5 oz. Tequila
0.5 oz. Blue Curaçao
1 oz. Lime Juice

Instructions: Encircle rim of cocktail glass with lime juice, then dip rim in coarse salt. Pour ingredients over crushed ice, shake, then strain into a cocktail glass.

Cactus Berry

1.25 oz. Tequila
1.25 oz. Red Wine
1 oz. Triple Sec
6.5 oz. Sour Mix
1 splash Lemon-Lime Soda
1 dash Lime Juice

Instructions: Shake with crushed ice and pour into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass.

Catalina Margarita

1.5 oz. Tequila
1 oz. Peach Schnapps
1 oz. Blue Curaçao
4 oz. Sour Mix

Instructions: Shake with crushed ice and pour into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass.

Hairy Sunrise

0.75 oz. Tequila
0.75 oz. Vodka
0.5 oz. Triple Sec
3 oz. Orange Juice
2 - 3 dashes Grenadine

Instructions: Mix all ingredients, excluding the grenadine, in a blender. Pour blended mixture into a Tom Collins glass, and top off with grenadine and a slice of lime.

Hot Pants

1.5 oz. Tequila
0.5 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
1 tbsp. Grapefruit Juice
1 tsp. Powdered Sugar

Instructions: Shake with crushed ice, and then pour into an old-fashioned glass rimmed with salt.

Margarita

1.5 oz. Tequila
0.5 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. Lemon or Lime Juice

Instructions: Cover the rim of the cocktail glass with a lemon or lime wedge’s juice, then dip the rim into salt. Shake the ingredients with ice and then strain into the glass.

Mexican Madras

3 oz. Cranberry Juice
0.5 oz. Orange Juice
1 oz. Gold Tequila
1 dash Lime Juice

Instructions: Pour all ingredients into a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well, and strain into an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with an orange slice.

Purple Pancho

1 oz. Tequila
0.5 oz. Blue Curaçao
0.5 oz. Sloe Gin
2 oz. Lime Juice
2 oz. Sour Mix

Instructions: Shake with crushed ice and pour into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Silk Stockings

1.5 oz. Tequila
1 oz. Crème de Cacao
1.5 oz. Cream
1 dash Grenadine

Instructions: Shake ingredients with crushed ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and finish it off with some sprinkled cinnamon on the top.

Tijuana Taxi

2 oz. Tequila
1 oz. Blue Curaçao
1 oz. Tropical Fruit Schnapps
Lemon-Lime Soda

Instructions: Pour the tequila, curaçao, and schnapps over crushed ice in a Tom Collins glass. Fill with lemon-lime soda and then garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Vodka Drinks

Vodka is anything but boring with these delicious—and sometimes daring—concoctions.

Beer Buster

1.5 oz. 100 Proof Vodka
Chilled Beer or Ale
2 dashes of Tabasco Sauce

Instructions: Pour the vodka into a highball glass and then fill with the beer or ale. Add the dashes of Tabasco sauce, then stir lightly.

Black Russian

1.5 oz. Vodka
0.75 oz. Coffee Liqueur

Instructions: Pour over crushed ice into an old-fashioned glass.

Bull Frog

1.5 oz. Vodka
5 oz. Lemonade

Instructions: Pour over crushed ice in a Tom Collins glass, then garnish with a slice of lime.

Cape Codder

1.5 oz. Vodka
5 oz. Cranberry Juice

Instructions: Pour ingredients into a highball glass containing crushed ice. Stir vigorously, then garnish with a lime wedge.

Citronella Cooler

1.5 oz. Vodka
1 dash Lime Juice
2 oz. Lemonade
1 oz. Cranberry Juice

Instructions: Pour ingredients into a highball glass containing crushed ice. Stir vigorously, then garnish with a lime wedge.

Crocodile Cooler

1.5 oz. Citrus Vodka
1 oz. Melon Liqueur
0.75 oz. Triple Sec
2 oz. Sour Mix
Lemon-Lime Soda

Instructions: Pour all ingredients, excluding the soda, into a hurricane glass filled with crushed ice. Add the lemon-lime soda and stir, garnishing it with a cherry or lemon wedge.

Desert Sunrise

1.25 oz. Vodka
1.5 oz. Orange Juice
1.5 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 dash Grenadine

Instructions: Pour ingredients over crushed ice in a Tom Collins glass and top off with grenadine.

Electric Jam

1.25 oz. Vodka
0.5 oz. Blue Curaçao
2 oz. Sour Mix
Lemon-Lime Soda

Instructions: Pour ingredients over crushed ice into a Tom Collins glass. Top off with the lemon-lime soda.

Handball Cooler

1.5 oz. Vodka
Club Soda
1 splash Orange Juice

Instructions: Pour the vodka over crushed ice in a highball glass. Fill almost to the top with club soda, and then fill the remaining space with orange juice, stirring vigorously. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Harvey Wallbanger

1 oz. Vodka
4 oz. Orange Juice
0.5 oz. Galliano

Instructions: Pour both the vodka and orange juice over crushed ice in a Tom Collins glass. Stir vigorously, then float Galliano at the top.

Long Island Iced Tea

0.5 oz. Vodka
0.5 oz. Gin
0.5 oz. Light Rum
0.5 oz. Tequila
Juice of ½ a lemon
1 dash of Cola

Instructions: Pour ingredients over crushed ice in a highball glass. Add Cola for colour and garnish with a lemon.

Pink Lemonade

1.5 oz. Citrus Vodka
1 splash of Triple Sec
1 splash Lime Juice
2 oz. Sour Mix
2 oz. Cranberry Juice

Instructions: Pour ingredients over crushed ice into a Tom Collins glass. Shake, then garnish with a lemon wedge.

Gin Drinks

These refreshing, botanical cocktails are even better with a fresh garnish.

Alabama Fizz

Juice of ½ a Lemon
1 tsp. Powdered Sugar
2 oz. Gin
Club Soda

Instructions: Shake ingredients, excluding the soda, with crushed ice, then strain into a highball glass. Fill the remaining space with club soda and garnish with 2 sprigs of fresh mint.

Chelsea Sidecar

Juice of ¼ a Lemon
0.75 oz. Triple Sec
0.75 oz. Gin

Instructions: Shake ingredients with crushed ice, then strain into a cocktail glass.

Diamond Fizz

Juice of ½ a Lemon
1 tsp. Powdered Sugar
2 oz. Gin
Chilled Champagne

Instructions: Shake ingredients, excluding the champagne, with crushed ice and strain into a highball glass containing 2 cubes of ice. Fill the remaining space with champagne and stir vigorously.

Dry Martini

1.75 oz. Gin
0.5 oz. Dry Vermouth

Instructions: Mix vermouth and gin in a mixing glass, then strain into a cocktail glass. Serve with a twist of lemon peel or olive.

Fallen Angel

Juice of 1 Lime or ½ a Lemon
1.5 oz. Gin
1 dash Bitters
0.5 tsp. Crème de Menthe (White)

Instructions: Shake with crushed ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Serve with a cherry.

Floradora Cooler

Juice of 1 Lime
0.5 tsp. Powdered Sugar
1 tbsp. Grenadine
2 oz. Club Soda or Ginger Ale
2 oz. Gin

Instructions: Pour ingredients over crushed ice in a Tom Collins glass. Stir vigorously.

Fog Horn

Juice of 1 Lime
1.5 oz. Gin
Ginger Ale

Instructions: Pour ingredients, excluding ginger ale, over crushed ice in a highball glass. Top off with the ginger ale and stir. Garnish with a slice of lime.

Gin and Sin

1 oz. Gin
1 oz. Lemon Juice
1 tbsp. Orange Juice
1 dash Grenadine

Instructions: Shake with crushed ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Rum Runner

1.5 oz. Gin
Juice of 1 Lime
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 tsp. Sugar
1 dash Bitters

Instructions: Shake with crushed ice and strain over ice cubes into an old-fashioned glass rimmed with salt.

Frozen Drinks

These blended drinks are so delicious you'll want to have them all year round.

Blushin’ Russian

1 oz. Coffee Liqueur
0.25 oz. Vodka
1 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
4 Large Fresh Strawberries

Instructions: Combine ingredients in a blender and blend smoothly. Pour into a hurricane glass and then garnish with a chocolate-covered strawberry.

Blue Cloud Cocktail

1 oz. Amaretto
0.5 oz. Blue Curaçao
2 oz. Vanilla Ice Cream

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend smoothly. Pour into a hurricane glass, then top with whipped cream and a strawberry.

Blue Velvet

1 oz. Black Raspberry Liqueur
1 oz. Melon Liqueur
4 oz. Vanilla Ice Cream
Blue Curaçao

Instructions: Mix all ingredients, excluding the curaçao, into a blender with crushed ice and blend smoothly. Pour into a hurricane glass and top with whipped cream drizzled with curaçao. Top off with a cherry.

Canyon Quake

0.75 oz. Irish Cream Liqueur
0.75 oz. Brandy
1 oz. Amaretto
2 oz. Light Cream

Instructions: Mix ingredients in a blender with crushed ice and blend smoothly. Pour into a large wine glass.

Cranberry Cooler

1.5 oz. Bourbon
1.5 oz. Cranberry Juice
0.5 oz. Lime Juice
1 tsp. Sugar

Instructions: Mix ingredients in a blender with 1 cup of crushed ice and blend smoothly. Pour into a hurricane glass.

Creamy Gin Sour

0.5 cup Gin
0.5 cup Lime Juice
0.5 cup Lemon Juice
0.5 cup Heavy Cream
0.25 cup Triple Sec
1 tbsp. Sugar
10 oz. Club Soda

Instructions: Mix ingredients in a blender with 0.75 cup of crushed ice and blend to froth. Pour into large wine glass. Makes 4 - 6 servings.

Citron Neon

1.5 oz. Citrus Vodka
1 oz. Melon Liqueur
0.5 oz. Blue Curaçao
0.5 oz. Lime Juice
1 oz. Sour Mix

Instructions: Mix ingredients in a blender with crushed ice and blend smoothly. Pour into a hurricane glass, and garnish with a lemon wedge and cherry.

Frozen Daiquiri

1.5 oz. Light Rum
1 tbsp. Triple Sec
1.5 oz. Lime Juice
1 tsp. Sugar

Instructions: Mix ingredients in a blender with 1 cup of crushed ice and blend on low speed for 5 seconds, then on high speed until smooth. Pour into a wine glass and top with a cherry.

Frozen Fuzzy

1 oz. Peach Schnapps
0.5 oz. Triple Sec
0.5 oz. Lime Juice
0.5 oz. Grenadine
1 splash Lemon-Lime Soda

Instructions: Mix all ingredients into a blender, fill with crushed ice to reach level of liquid and blend smoothly. Pour into a wine glass and garnish with a lemon or lime wedge.

Shooter Drinks

These little things pack a big punch!

Affair

1 oz. Strawberry Schnapps
1 oz. Cranberry Juice
1 oz. Orange Juice

Instructions: Stir with crushed ice and strain into a shot glass.

B-52

0.5 oz. Coffee Liqueur
0.5 oz. Irish Cream Liqueur
0.5 oz. Grand Marnier

Instructions: Pour CAREFULLY into a shot glass in the order given to ensure that each ingredient floats on top of the preceding ingredient.