33 Crave-Worthy Cocktails Made With 3 Ingredients (or Fewer!)
:upscale()/2015/08/06/056/n/1922195/e47e1fde_edit_img_cover_file_2829728_1421419540_Cocktails-COVER.jpg)
What's full of showstopping flavor, is easy to make, and might not even necessitate a stop at the liquor store to procure its limited ingredient list? Why, these cocktails that clock in at a mere three ingredients (or fewer), of course! Keep reading for the simplest inspiration to streamline your cocktail hour, whether your tastes run toward that which is light and floral (the Hummingbird), robust and indulgent (a Guinness milkshake), or something in between. Cheers!
:upscale()/2015/01/15/002/n/1922195/5fe5c29d54eec553_Grapefruit-Shandy.jpg)
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.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/960/n/1922195/c78e259e3933f82b_b2c4cc09b28d603f_56fbe30b89ec5fe7_Gingerbread-Cocktail.xxxlarge_2x.jpg)
Gingersnap Cocktail
Cuddle up by the (real or imagined) fireplace with a sweet but not cloying tipple sourced from David Chang's famed Momofuku Ko.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/dca984dee7738592_nicole_3.jpg)
Sparkling Lillet Grapefruit Cocktail
This Champagne cocktail is refreshing and pretty to look at, so try it with your next fancy brunch.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/d84666f23d1c5ad7_anna_1.jpg)
Homemade Butterbeer
This Harry Potter-inspired drink is rich, warm, and flavorful — one might even call it magical.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/48d8b360db677a92_anna_2.jpg)
Easy Mint Julep
Sipping on this refreshing Southern cocktail will instantly inspire visions of the Kentucky Derby . . . or Disneyland.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/960/n/1922195/788703c22d64441a_2108a3950bb384b7_Kir-Royale-LARGE.xxxlarge_2x_1.42.42_PM.jpg)
Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
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.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/960/n/1922195/c64a7e030655ce51_ac7d0f6342986a87_guinness-float.jpg)
Guinness Milkshake
Will a frothy Guinness milkshake get you tipsy? Probably not, but that's hardly the point with a drink this luscious.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/943/n/1922195/a7d38d20052ca272_nicole_1.jpg)
Cognac Sparkler
For a light apéritif, try a cognac sparkler, which owes its golden hue to cognac and sparkling apple cider.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/960/n/1922195/8653ab1869a8e709_Gin-Cocktail-Recipe.png)
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 cocktail, add a lemon wedge or twist as a garnish.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/960/n/1922195/ee0539a4d80520fd_fda81a75dbd8cf06_Grapefruit-Mimosa.jpg)
Grapefruit Mimosa
For a bittersweet spin on the classic mimosa, pair zesty freshly squeezed grapefruit juice with Champagne.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/e38497ba23d632f9_nicole_4.jpg)
Aperol Spritz
This Aperol spritz recipe is like orange soda all grown up.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/943/n/1922195/5a642104e907c054_5dfc90c14c486486_Salty-Dog.jpg)
Salty Dog
The salted rim on this cousin of the Greyhound cocktail serves double-duty by providing visual interest and reining in grapefruit juice's bitter flavor.
:upscale()/2015/08/06/051/n/1922195/4c958cb3_8af47f23_coffeetini.jpg)
Coffee Martini
Combine two favorite drinks (coffee and vodka) into one drink, the coffee martini.
:upscale()/2019/11/12/695/n/1922195/c09cc8d95dcad2a0eddab0.26641430_beermosa-2-sq.jpg)
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.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/0e04e511686bfd5f_anna_3.jpg)
Hibiscus Sparkling Wine Cocktail
It only takes two ingredients to make this beautiful floral cocktail, but it's sure to impress any guest!
:upscale()/2014/12/30/960/n/1922195/f0daf3e67353460b_dce223a61caa1fa5_01120085.jpg)
Dark and Stormy
Robust dark rum plays nicely with tangy lime juice and fiery ginger beer for a low-fuss, high-impact cocktail.
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.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/9609937b497afac0_anna_4.jpg)
Mango-Grapefruit Mimosa
Add a tropical twist to your favorite brunch cocktail with this mango-grapefruit mimosa recipe.
:upscale()/2012/12/52/4/192/1922195/a528a441d7764c80_Cranberry-Infused-Vermouth-Martini.jpg)
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.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/943/n/1922195/c624330cbdb9eca6_nicole_2.jpg)
Hummingbird
Delicate like the eponymous bird, the Hummingbird requires little but St. Germain, Champagne, and club soda (though a lemon twist can't hurt).
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/09a038af60741fce_anna_5.jpg)
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 cocktail for any occasion.
:upscale()/2015/01/15/024/n/1922195/1b862687_b4c5724fee83f153_Negroni-Cocktail.jpg)
Negroni
This Negroni cocktail is made with a touch of a bittersweet aperitif that will grow on you with every sip.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/960/n/1922195/42aae7796a56b46f_b5101ae69f026e69_Mimosa.jpg)
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 cocktail bible, The Savoy Cocktail Book, the Stinger is a two-ingredient stunner that's most at home as a postmeal drink.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/960/n/1922195/5019cc2782f83b02_Irish-Whiskey-Highball-Recipe.png)
Irish Whiskey Highball
It doesn't get much simpler or more satisfying than a concoction of Irish whiskey, ginger ale, and a lemon twist.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/960/n/1922195/6dc508ebcb4a0b7f_81dcfe9cef085338_Grapefruit-Mimosa.jpg)
Grapefruit St. Germain Champagne Cocktail
Floral St. Germain liqueur balances out bittersweet grapefruit juice in this bright and fruity Champagne cocktail.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/82ebefad362f9f7a_anna.jpg)
Cranberry Vodka Cocktail
The old-fashioned meets cranberry vodka in this classic cocktail-inspired drink, and it's a glorious reunion indeed.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/031311a1d1e7af5e_nicole_1.jpg)
Tinto de Verano
This red wine spritzer is an inexpensive Spanish version of sangria, so it's a great option for party drinks.
:upscale()/2014/12/30/939/n/1922195/edb29a228f81e67e_nicole_2.jpg)
Redheaded Ginger
If you're looking for a drink that's fruity, complex, and satisfying, this Lillet Rouge cocktail is the perfect pick.
/2015/12/18/914/n/1922195/6d15aba3b17a7c4f_PS15_Food_Cocktails3Ingredients_Pin_Collage.jpg)