Two-minute cocktails for effortless hosting

A dark red cocktail in a tumbler with a twist of orange peel on the rim

A graphic design of a dark red and white cocktail with a wedge of lemon and ice

Cherry margarita

Craving a margarita but you don’t have triple sec or agave syrup? Try this fruity twist which uses maraschino cherry liqueur as a substitute.

Winter sangria

A riff on port and lemon from the 1970s, this wintry twist on sangria is a great way to use up any leftover port and also works well with red wine.

Pickle martini

A dirty martini is traditionally made with a dash of green olive brine, but you can use the brine from most jars of pickles – try gherkins, cornichons or even preserved lemons for an aromatic twist.

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A martini glass filled with vermouth and gin and topped with a pickle

Limoncello negroni

Limoncello is surprisingly good in a negroni in place of vermouth, served over ice and garnished with a lemon twist.

Pomegranate negroni

Pomegranate juice, dry gin and sweet vermouth create a simple and refreshing pre-dinner drink for two. Garnish with a slice of blood orange.

Pomegrante negroni in a tumbler glass garnished with a slice of blood orange

Whisky highball

Crisp, light and refreshing, a whisky highball is a true classic – and, with just two ingredients, it's a cocktail that's winningly easy to make.

Harvey wallbanger

A vibrant and classic brunch-worthy cocktail that's a great alternative to other orange juice based cocktails, like buck's fizz. It's easily scaled from 1-100.

How to serve pastis

Pastis is not a cocktail per se, but rather a classic French aperitif. It’s an aromatic spirit that you simply add water to.

Bottle of pastis with shot glasses next to it

Woo woo

Only four ingredients are needed to stir up this classic vodka cocktail. Its sweetness – which comes courtesy of peach schnapps and cranberry – is balanced nicely by tart, zingy lime.

Two pink cocktails in tall glasses garnished with a slice of lime

Blue lagoon

We can't resist a retro blue drink. Try our simple blue lagoon recipe and shake up an eye-catching vodka cocktail all your guests will enjoy.

Boulevardier

Think of the boulevardier as the negroni’s autumnal cousin, where using bourbon instead of gin adds a rich, rounded edge to the drink.

Classic bellini

This classic brunch cocktail – made using white peach purée and chilled prosecco also makes a lovely aperitif. Use yellow peaches if you can't find white.