You can control the sweetness level with the choice of champagne you buy and opting for fresh orange juice will take your Mimosa to the next level.

Related: Peach Bellini, Orange and Coffee Moscow Mule, Orange Mango Margarita, Sparkling Hibiscus Sangria, Cranberry Spritz, French 75

What champagne or sparkling wine is best for Mimosas?

While it’s up to your personal sweetness level, many choose to use a Brut Champagne or Spanish Cava option for Mimosas as the dryness balances well with the sweetness of the orange juice. If you like your drinks a little sweeter, you can opt for Prosecco or something that’s a little less tart.

What is the ratio of champagne to orange juice for Mimosas?

The classic ratio for Mimosas is 50% champagne and 50% orange juice. There are certainly some who prefer more champagne or more orange juice in their glass, so check with your guests to see if they have a ratio preference.

How do you make Mimosas in a batch for a crowd?

If you want Mimosas to be self-serve or to have a pitcher of them handy for refills, rather than pouring them one by one into individual glasses, you can add your whole champagne bottle to a pitcher and gently stir in the orange juice so you have a batch of them ready to go.

Mimosa Ingredients

• Orange Juice: While fresh orange juice is definitely the way to go, you can also use store bought as well in a pinch. Just opt for no pulp versions as you want your Mimosa to be as smooth as possible.
• Champagne (or sparkling wine): The champagne is what gives this bubbly drink its lightness, so opt for your favorite option on the sweetness scale to pair with your OJ.

Mimosas are classically served in a champagne flute (these stemless ones are fun!) as the design shape helps maintain carbonation.

Directions

Fill your champagne flute almost halfway with chilled champagne. Top off the rest of the glass with orange juice and enjoy!

Tips for Making

• If using fresh orange juice, make sure to strain your juice so you get a smooth liquid for your drink.
• Chill both your champagne and orange juice to get the perfect chilled cocktail (don’t add ice to chill it, that will negatively affect how bubbly your drink is).
• If you don’t have champagne flutes, wine glasses are the next best drinkware option.
• When pouring your champagne, let the drink pour down the side of the glass rather than pour it aimed at the bottom of the glass. Pouring it along the inside will help maintain carbonation.
• Add an optional garnish of an orange wedge or strawberry slice to the rim of the glass.

Mimosa Variations

• Grand Mimosa: Add a tablespoon of Grand Marnier to your glass before the other ingredients to enhance the orange flavor in your Mimosa.
• Sherbet Mimosa: Simply add a small scoop of fruity sherbet to the top of your Mimosa and you have a cool and delicious summer treat!
• Strawberry Grapefruit Mimosa: Add grapefruit juice and sliced strawberries in a cocktail shaker. After shaking, let the strawberries flavor the juice for a few hours before pouring into a glass and topping with champagne.
• Lemosa: Use lemonade instead of orange juice for a fresh take on the classic.

Serve these with our favorite brunch items!

• French Toast Casserole
• Overnight Cinnamon Rolls – Small Batch
• Tater Tot Casserole
• Sheet Pan Breakfast Sandwiches

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Mimosa

Course brunch, Drinks

Keyword champagne, mimosa

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 8 drinks

Calories 42kcal

Author Laura Gummerman

Ingredients

• 1 750ml bottle of champagne or sparkling wine
• 3 cups orange juice

Instructions

• Fill your champagne flutes almost halfway with chilled champagne. Top off the rest of the glass with orange juice and enjoy!

Notes

Tips for Making

• If using fresh orange juice, make sure to strain your juice so you get a smooth liquid for your drink.
• Chill both your champagne and orange juice to get the perfect chilled cocktail (don’t add ice to chill it, that will negatively affect how bubbly your drink is).
• If you don’t have champagne flutes, wine glasses are the next best drinkware option.
• When pouring your champagne, let the drink pour down the side of the glass rather than pour it aimed at the bottom of the glass. Pouring it along the inside will help maintain carbonation.
• Add an optional garnish of an orange wedge or strawberry slice to the rim of the glass.

Mimosa Variations

• Grand Mimosa: Add a tablespoon of Grand Marnier to your glass before the other ingredients to enhance the orange flavor in your Mimosa.
• Sherbet Mimosa: Simply add a small scoop of fruity sherbet to the top of your Mimosa and you have a cool and delicious summer treat!
• Strawberry Grapefruit Mimosa: Add grapefruit juice and sliced strawberries in a cocktail shaker. After shaking, let the strawberries flavor the juice for a few hours before pouring into a glass and topping with champagne.
• Lemosa: Use lemonade instead of orange juice for a fresh take on the classic.

Nutrition

Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 186IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.2mg

This drink gets its name from the casino and party scene in Las Vegas. The “bomb” part comes from the idea of a bomb shot (any shot where you drop a shot into a beer or energy drink Boilermaker-style).

More popular shot recipes: Green Tea Shot, Lemon Drop Shot, White Tea Shot, Jello Shots, Boilermaker, Jäger Bomb.

Ingredients

• Crown Royal – Canadian Whiskey.
• Peach Schnapps
• Cranberry Juice – From a bottle will work just fine.
• Energy Drink – Such as Red Bull

For this recipe, you’ll need a standard size highball glass or a pint glass. You will also need a shot glass.

How to Make a Vegas Bomb Drink

Begin by preparing a shot glass with Crown Royal. 

Next, prepare your highball glass or pint glass with cranberry juice, peach schnapps and chilled energy drink. 

Hold the shot glass above the larger glass and gently drop it in. 

After dropping the shot in, chug the whole thing quickly.

Why you’ll love the Vegas Bomb

• The combination of caffeine and alcohol makes it a fun choice for the first drink of the night.
• The experience of dropping the shot in is a fun bit of theatrics that pleases a crowd. Simply put, this recipe feels like a party.
• It’s a chance to say “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” You know you want to.

Tips for Making

• Some variations of this recipe omit the cranberry juice. It’s said to be a regional variation. 
• If you want to reduce the sugar, choose sugar-free Red Bull. 
• If your Red Bull wasn’t chilled, you can use a cocktail shaker with ice to mix the drink ingredients (minus the shot).

Variations of the Vegas Bomb Cocktail

• Skip the cranberry – Some variations of this recipe omit the cranberry juice. It’s said to be a regional variation.
• Royal Flush Shot – A Royal Flush Shot is made of Crown Royal, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice.
• Caffeine-free – If you want to skip the caffeine, replace the energy drink with a juice, lemonade or a lemon-lime soda.
• Amaretto Vegas Bomb – Replace the whiskey with amaretto for this variation.
• Cherry Bomb – If you replace the whiskey with cherry vodka, you almost have a Cherry Bomb. 
• Drink the two separately – If you don’t like the idea of a shot glass hiding inside your drinking glass (it hurts my teeth thinking about it too) or if you don’t love the big splash (bomb shots are a bit messy), an alternative way to enjoy this drink is to drink the shot before quickly chugging the second drink.

More Bomb Shot Recipes

The Vegas Bomb is a take on the Boilermaker shot. Here are more popular variations. These recipes are extremely popular with college students and for events like bachelorette parties.

• Boilermaker – The original drop-in shot is made by dropping a shot of whiskey or rye into into a lager beer.
• Irish Shot – The Irish version of a Boilermaker uses Guinness Stout, Irish whiskey and Irish cream liqueur.
• Jäger Bomb Shot – Drop a shot of Jägermeister liqueur into Red Bull to make this popular recipe- Jäger Bomb.
• Flaming Dr. Pepper – Drop a shot of amaretto and Overproof rum (often on fire) into a glass of beer for this dangerous shot recipe.
• Cherry Bomb – Drop a shot of cherry liqueur into a Red Bull with grenadine to create the Cherry Bomb shot.

FAQ

More Cocktail Recipes

• Classic Cocktails – Mint Mojito, Vieux Carré, Boulevardier, Salty Dog.
• Shots – Pudding Shots, Scooby Snack Shot, Mexican Candy Shot, Washington Apple Shot, Gummy Bear Shot.
• Mocktails (no alcohol) – Shirley Temple, Virgin Mojito, Agua Fresca, Butterbeer.

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Vegas Bomb

Learn to make the popular Vegas Bomb shot at home using Crown Royal, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and energy drink.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword Vegas Bomb, Vegas Bomb Shot

Prep Time 3 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Calories 133kcal

Author Elsie Larson

Equipment

• 1 pint glass
• 1 shot glass

Ingredients

• 1¼ ounce Crown Royal
• ¼ ounce peach schnapps
• 2 ounces cranberry juice
• 4 ounces Red Bull

Instructions

• Begin by preparing a shot glass with Crown Royal. 
• Next, prepare your highball glass or pint glass with cranberry juice, peach schnapps and chilled energy drink. 
• Hold the shot glass above the larger glass and gently drop it in. 
• After dropping the shot in, chug the whole thing quickly.

Notes

• Some variations of this recipe omit the cranberry juice. It’s said to be a regional variation. 
• If you want to reduce the sugar, choose sugar-free Red Bull. 
• If your Red Bull wasn’t chilled, you can use a cocktail shaker with ice to mix the drink ingredients (minus the shot).

Nutrition

Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg

This famous party drink goes by many names. In Finland, it’s called the “Akkuhappo,” which means battery acid. In Mexico, it’s called a “Perla Negra” or the Black Pearl. In Germany, it’s also known as the “Turbojäger” or Flying Stag. Flying comes from Red Bull’s marketing slogan, “Red Bull gives you wings” and a stag is from the iconic Jägermeister logo.

More Popular Shots: Green Tea Shot, Jello Shots, Lemon Drop Shot, Vegas Bomb.

Ingredients in a Jäger Bomb Cocktail

• Jägermeister Liqueur – A German digestif made with 56 herbs and spices. 
• Red Bull – Energy drink

For this recipe, you’ll need a standard size highball glass or a pint glass. You will also need a shot glass.

What is Jägermeister?

Jägermeister is a German herbal liqueur made from 56 different herbs, spices and botanicals. It was invented in Germany in 1934 by Wilhelm and Curt Mast. Jägermeister is very sweet, with notes of black licorice, ginseng and anise. It contains 35% alcohol, which is a bit lower in alcohol content than a liquor like vodka or whiskey. The Jäger Bomb is the most popular Jägermeister recipe.

How to Make a Jäger Bomb

Begin by filling a glass halfway with chilled Red Bull energy drink.

Pour one and a half ounces of Jägermeister into a shot glass.

Hold the shot glass over the glass of Red Bull and drop it in.

How to drink a Jäger Bomb

Technically there are two ways to enjoy a bomb shot. The first one being to drink the shot and then chug the drink. The far more popular way to enjoy this drink is to drop the shot into the drinking glass and then chug both drinks as one.

Tips For Making

• If you want to forgo the caffeine that Red Bull contains, you can substitute it with lemonade or a fruit juice for a similar experience.
• Shots are made for parties, but always drink responsibly. The CDC warns, “When alcohol is mixed with caffeine, the caffeine can mask the depressant effects of alcohol, making drinkers feel more alert than they would otherwise. As a result, they may drink more alcohol and become more impaired than they realize.” Due to the caffeine, we recommend this shot for the beginning of the night, not the end.

More Bomb Shots

• Boilermaker – The original drop-in shot is made by dropping a shot of whiskey or rye into a lager beer.
• Irish Shot – The Irish version of a Boilermaker uses Guinness Stout, Irish whiskey and Irish cream liqueur.
• Jägerbomb Shot – Drop a shot of Jägermeister liqueur into Red Bull to make this popular recipe.
• Vegas Bomb – Drop a shot of Crown Royal and peach schnapps into a glass of Red Bull and cranberry juice for this variation- Vegas Bomb.
• Flaming Dr. Pepper – Drop a shot of amaretto and Overproof rum (often on fire) into a glass of beer for this dangerous shot recipe.
• Cherry Bomb – Drop a shot of cherry liqueur into a Red Bull with grenadine to create the Cherry Bomb shot.
• Jäger Train – Some bars serve a Jager Train, which is multiple glasses lined up on the bar partially filled with Red Bull and shot glasses filled with Jagermeister balanced on the rim of the glasses.

More Recipes

• Cocktails – Whiskey Sour, Paper Plane, Salty Dog
• Appetizers – 30+ Easy Finger Foods for a Party
• Meals – 60+ Easy Dinner Ideas
• Mocktails (no alcohol) – Shirley Temple, Roy Rogers, Virgin Mojito

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Jäger Bomb

Learn to make a Jager Bomb cocktail using a shot of Jägermeister liqueur and Red Bull energy drink. This famous drink is a great way to start a party.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American, German

Keyword Jäger Bomb

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Author Elsie Larson

Equipment

• 1 pint glass
• 1 shot glass

Ingredients

• 1½ ounce Jägermeister Liqueur
• 4 ounces Red Bull

Instructions

• Begin by filling a glass halfway with chilled Red Bull energy drink.
• Pour one and a half ounces of Jägermeister into a shot glass.
• Hold the shot glass over the glass of Red Bull and drop it in.

Notes

• If you want to forgo the caffeine that Red Bull contains, you can substitute it with lemonade or a fruit juice for a similar experience.
• Shots are made for parties, but always drink responsibly. The CDC warns, “When alcohol is mixed with caffeine, the caffeine can mask the depressant effects of alcohol, making drinkers feel more alert than they would otherwise. As a result, they may drink more alcohol and become more impaired than they realize.” Due to the caffeine, we recommend this shot for the beginning of the night, not the end.

This tropical drink is enjoyed on beaches all over the world and it’s the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day wherever you are. Ready to make the perfect vacation drink?

Related: Mai Tai, Rum Runner, Piña Colada Snow Cone, Piña Colada Popsicles, How to Cut a Pineapple, Painkiller and 50+ Fun Cocktails to Make At Home.

Piña Colada Origins

The Piña Colada was originally invented in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Although the exact creator is not know, it may have been invented by bartender Ramón Marrero at the Caribe Hilton in 1954, although the Old San Juan Restaurant in Barrachina claims the drink was created in 1963 by one of their bartenders.

The name Piña Colada literally means “strained pineapple” in Spanish as fresh pressed and strained pineapple juice is what gives the drink its tropical flavor.

Which Rum is Best for Piña Coladas?

• White Rum: White rum is often what you might use for mixed cocktails as it’s less expensive and with other strong flavors present it may not matter as much. But given that Piña Colada is actually a very simple drink, I don’t recommend light rum, but you can use it if it’s what you have.
• Aged Rum: For a richer and more complex profile, use an aged rum. The notes of caramel, vanilla, and spice complement the mint and lime, resulting in a sophisticated Mojito experience.
• Dark Rum: If you prefer a more intense flavor, dark rum can add depth to your drink. It offers a distinct molasses-like sweetness.

Pina Colada Recipe- Ingredients

• Rum: While you can choose any rum you like for this drink, we suggest aged or dark rum over light, but you can experiment and see which is your favorite.
• Cream of Coconut: Don’t confuse this with coconut cream or coconut milk … cream of coconut is different in that it is sweeter and syrupier than the other counterparts, so make sure you’re getting the right thing (Coco López is a fan favorite).
• Pineapple Juice: Since the juice is a big portion of the drink, go for a better quality pineapple juice or consider even juicing fresh pineapple juice.

You can also garnish your drink with chunks of pineapple, cherries, or limes. The Piña Colada is traditionally served in a hurricane-style glass, although you can use any tall glass in a pinch.

How to make a Piña Colada:

Add your rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice to a blender.

Add your ice and blend just until the ice is crushed and slushy. Serve immediately with garnishes of your choice and enjoy!

Try this secret to make your Piña Coladas extra delicious:

Our best-kept secret is mixing coconut cream and coconut milk.

Doing this really brings out the best coconut flavor possible in the drink as just using cream of coconut is sometimes too sweet and also not as coconut-y or creamy.

Combine 1 (15-ounce) can of Coco López Cream of Coconut with 7 ounces full-fat unsweetened coconut milk in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until combined. Let cool completely before using.

You can store this in a container in the fridge for up to two weeks and adding a shot of rum will keep the shelf life a little bit longer. It will harden, so when you want to use it just take it out and let it come to room temperature.

How to Make a Pineapple Cup

For fun, you can hollow out a pineapple in which to serve your Piña Colada.

To hollow out the pineapple for your vessel, cut off the top of the pineapple. Then use a pineapple corer to remove the inside by pushing down and turning it. When you reach close to the bottom, pull the corer out.

If you’re unsure about how close you are to the bottom, you can do it in two steps. You just don’t want to puncture the bottom because we can’t have our Piña Coladas leaking. The core will remain in the middle and you can cut it out and discard it.

Tips for Making Piña Coladas

• Try using pineapple rum for an extra dose of pineapple flavor.
• Serving a Piña Colada in a hollowed out pineapple makes the drink look so festive and fun for summer.
• If you think Piña Coladas are too sweet, try adding some lime juice into the drink before blending as that will cut the sweetness with a tart lime flavor.
• Virgin Piña Colada- Recipe to make a piña colada mocktail follow this recipe and simply omit the rum. You won’t need any special NA liquor. This recipe makes an excellent mocktail by removing the liquor.
• Garnish ideas- Use the pineapple leaf (pineapple frond), pineapple slices or a pineapple wedge or maraschino cherries for a tropical garnish.

More Tropical Cocktails

• Blue Hawaiian
• Mojito and Mojitos by the pitcher
• Dark and Stormy
• Rum Punch
• Daiquiri – fresh or frozen
• Queen’s Park Swizzle

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The Best Piña Colada Recipe

Classic rum-based pineapple cocktail

Course Drinks

Cuisine Puerto Rican

Keyword cocktails, pina colada, pineapple, rum

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 person

Calories 516kcal

Author Natalie Jacob

Cost $5

Equipment

• Blender

Ingredients

• 1 ½ ounces aged rum
• 3 ounces coconut cream
• 6 ounces pineapple juice

Instructions

• Add your rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice to a blender.
• Add your ice and blend just until the ice is crushed and slushy. Serve immediately with garnishes of your choice and enjoy!

Notes

Tips for Making Piña Coladas

• Try using pineapple rum for an extra dose of pineapple flavor.
• Serving a Piña Colada in a hollowed out pineapple makes the drink look so festive and fun for summer.
• If you think Piña Coladas are too sweet, try adding some lime juice into the drink before blending as that will cut the sweetness with a tart lime flavor.

Try this secret to make your Piña Coladas extra delicious:

Our best-kept secret is mixing coconut cream and coconut milk.

Doing this really brings out the best coconut flavor possible in the drink as just using cream of coconut is sometimes too sweet and also not as coconut-y or creamy.

Combine 1 (15-ounce) can of Coco López Cream of Coconut with 7 ounces full-fat unsweetened coconut milk in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until combined. Let cool completely before using.

You can store this in a container in the fridge for up to two weeks and adding a shot of rum will keep the shelf life a little bit longer. It will harden, so when you want to use it just take it out and let it come to room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 516kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 31g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 544mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg

If you order a Boilermaker, the bartender typically will serve you both drinks separately, leaving it up to you whether to drop the shot into your beer. However you choose to enjoy it, a beer served with a shot of liquor is considered a Boilermaker.

More shot recipes: Green Tea Shot, Lemon Drop Shot, Kamikaze, White Tea Shot, Mexican Candy Shot, Mini Beer Shot, Jello Shots.

Ingredients

• Beer – Choose a basic lager beer (it’s not intended to be fancy).
• Whiskey – Usually bourbon or rye whiskey are used for this recipe.

You will need a standard size glass (a highball glass or a beer mug works fine) along with a shot glass to create this recipe.

Instructions

Simply by serving a cold glass of beer with a pairing of whiskey, you have technically created a Boilermaker. The two drinks can be enjoyed separately. That said, the most exciting way to enjoy a Boilermaker is how they serve it in London—by dropping the shot into the beer. 

Hold the shot above the glass of beer and gently drop it into the beer. The sound of a shot glass clinking and the splash of beer make this method a crowd-pleaser. 

Once the shot is in the glass, quickly drink the entire shot along with the beer as one.

Different Methods for Drinking

Alternatively, you may take a sip of the shot and a gulp of beer separately. Many high-end cocktail bars serve the shot and beer separately, although purists would insist you drop the shot into the beer before drinking. 

If you don’t enjoy the experience of drinking a beer with a shot glass inside it, you can pour the shot into the beer. You will miss the nice clink of the glasses, but by all accounts this is a less messy way to enjoy the drink.

Tips for Making

• We recommend bourbon or rye, but you can also use Irish whiskey (such as Jameson) or any whiskey you have on hand.
• There are two ways to enjoy this shot. This first is to slam the shot and then chug the beer. The second (and most popular) way is to drop the shot into the beer and chug the whole beverage.

More Bomb Shots

• Irish Shot – The Irish version of a Boilermaker uses Guinness Stout, Irish Whiskey and Irish Cream Liqueur.
• Jägerbomb Shot – Drop a shot of Jägermeister liqueur into Red Bull to make this popular recipe- Jägerbomb Shot.
• Vegas Bomb – Drop a shot of Crown Royal and Peach Schnapps into a glass of Red Bull and cranberry juice for this variation- Vegas Bomb Shot.
• Flaming Dr. Pepper – Drop a shot of Amaretto and Overproof rum (often on fire) into a glass of beer for this dangerous shot recipe.
• Cherry Bomb – Drop a shot of cherry liqueur into a Red Bull with grenadine to create the Cherry Bomb shot.

FAQ

More Recipes

• Cocktail Recipes – Old Fashioned, Sazerac, Boulevardier
• Dinner Recipes – 60+ Easy Dinner Recipes
• Appetizer Recipes – 30+ Finger Foods
• More Drink Recipes (no alcohol) – Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, Agua Fresca.

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Boilermaker

Learn to make a classic Boilermaker using lager beer and a shot of bourbon or rye whiskey. This famous drink is made with only two ingredients.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American, English

Keyword Boilermaker, Boilermaker Cocktail, Boilermaker Drink, Boilermaker Shot

Prep Time 3 minutes minutes

Servings 1 shot

Calories 168kcal

Author Elsie Larson

Equipment

• 1 pint glass
• 1 shot glass

Ingredients

• 1 ounce whiskey
• 8 ounces beer

Instructions

• Simply by serving a cold glass of beer with a pairing of whiskey, you have technically created a Boilermaker. The two drinks can be enjoyed separately. That said, the most exciting way to enjoy a Boilermaker is how they serve it in London—by dropping the shot into the beer. 
• Hold the shot above the glass of beer and gently drop it into the beer. The sound of a shot glass clinking and the splash of beer make this method a crowd-pleaser. 
• Once the shot is in the glass, quickly drink the entire shot along with the beer as one.

Notes

• We recommend bourbon or rye, but you can also use Irish whiskey (such as Jameson) or any whiskey you have on hand.
• There are two ways to enjoy this shot. This first is to slam the shot and then chug the beer. The second (and most popular) way is to drop the shot into the beer and chug the whole beverage.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 62mg | Sugar: 0.03g | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.1mg

The origin of dry martinis is up for debate as some say it was concocted by Julio Richelieu in San Francisco in 1906, while others believe it was at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York in 1911 by bartender Martini di Taggia. Whatever the case, the dry martini is a less sweet version of its classic martini predecessor. The dry version became popular during Prohibition as a way to mask the lesser quality taste of the bootleg gin that was available at the time.

Related: Vodka Martini Recipe (3 Ways!), Espresso Martini, Chocolate Martini Recipe, Lychee Martini

Do you use gin or vodka for a dry martini?

While gin is more commonly used for a dirty martini, it’s up to your personal preference to use vodka or gin as your base. A vodka-based version will have a smoother neutral flavor base while the gin’s stronger botanical flavor gives it a tart punch of flavor. Try both and see which you like best!

What type of gin is best for a dry martini?

Since the gin that you choose will be the main star of the drink, you want to choose a high quality gin like a London-style dry gin that will shine with its juniper flavor and woody notes. If you like a less juniper-forward gin, try choices like Hendrick’s or Aviation gin.

What makes a dry martini dry?

The term “dry” martini comes from comes from the fact that classic martinis were originally made with sweet vermouth and a sweet gin until the early 20th century. Switching to a dry gin and dry vermouth choice gives this martini its name. A dry gin doesn’t have any sweeteners added at the end of the distilling process and so it has a stronger herbal kick to the drink.

Dry also means a stronger proportion of higher-proof spirit to lower-alcohol mixer when describing cocktails (in this case that means much more gin than vermouth).

Ingredients

• Gin: The bulk of your drink will be made up with this so make sure that it’s a favorite of yours and high quality. Experiment with different choices to see which you like best!
• Dry Vermouth: Just a dash of a dry vermouth in the drink will add a lightly floral and tart flavor to the drink. You can also try out a sweet vermouth but dry versions tend to be the favorite.
• Olive or Lemon Peel Garnish (optional): If you want to doll up your martini a bit, don’t forget the lemon peel or olive garnish!

Directions

Add the gin (or vodka) and dry vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until drink is fully chilled.

Use a strainer to pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish with lemon peel or olive skewer. Enjoy!

Tips for Making A Dry Martini

• You’ll want to get the perfect amount of ice melt to your drink as that little bit of water changes the flavor the longer you shake or stir your martini in ice, so experiment with different amounts of time you let it chill over ice to find the right ice melt ratio for you.
• Choose a lemon peel for garnish if you want to add a dry citrus note, or go for the olive if you want a more savory and salty addition.
• A 6:1 or 5:1 ratio are the classic gin to vermouth combos, but play around with your ratios to see if you like yours more on the “wetter” or “drier” side.

Serving Suggestions

• A dry martini is delicious next to an olive tray stuffed with a variety of fillings.
• Try serving these with our 5 Easy Crostini Appetizers.

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Dry Martini

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword dry martini

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 drink

Calories 175kcal

Author Laura Gummerman

Equipment

• 1 martini shaker or mixing glass

Ingredients

• 2 ½ ounces gin or vodka
• ½ ounce dry vermouth
• lemon twist or olive for garnish (optional)

Instructions

• Add the gin (or vodka) and dry vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until drink is fully chilled.
• Use a strainer to pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish with lemon peel or olive skewer. Enjoy!

Notes

Tips for a Dry Martini

• • You’ll want to get the perfect amount of ice melt to your drink as that little bit of water changes the flavor the longer you shake or stir your martini in ice, so experiment with different amounts of time you let it chill over ice to find the right ice melt ratio for you.

• • Choose a lemon peel for garnish if you want to add a dry citrus note, or go for the olive if you want a more savory and salty addition.

• • A 6:1 or 5:1 ratio are the classic gin to vermouth combos, but play around with your ratios to see if you like yours more on the “wetter” or “drier” side.

Nutrition

Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 1mg | Iron: 0.01mg

Made with just five ingredients—rum, Campari, lime juice, pineapple juice and demerara syrup—this sophisticated cocktail is easy to make at home.

More Rum Drinks: Rum Runner, Mai Tai, Mojito, Piña Colada, Dark & Stormy, Cuba Libre, Blue Hawaii, Painkiller.

Ingredients in a Jungle Bird

• Rum – Choose a blackstrap or dark rum
• Campari – Or any Italian bitter
• Pineapple Juice – For sweetness and tropical flavor
• Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed
• Demerara Syrup – A simple syrup made using demerara sugar
• Garnish – With a pineapple wedge, cherry or lime slice

The traditional glassware choice for a Jungle Bird was a bird-shaped ceramic mug. I used a double old fashioned glass. If you want to be elaborate, these bird glasses are very fun as well.

Instructions

Begin by pouring the rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice, and demerara syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Shake for 10-15 seconds.

Strain over a glass with fresh ice.

Garnish with a pineapple wedge, cherry or lime slice.

Tips for Making

• Best Rum for a Jungle Bird – This recipe calls for blackstrap rum, while Jeff Berry favored Jamaican rum. The first written recipe called for generic dark rum, so we recommend sticking to a dark rum. 
• Substitutions – If you don’t have demerara syrup, you can substitute it for simple syrup. You can also substitute Campari for another Italian bitter (such as Aperol, which is slightly more sweet than Campari). 
• Garnish ideas – You can use pineapple fronds (pineapple leaves) to top the drink. This has a cool bird-like appearance. We used a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry secured together with a cocktail pick.

More Recipes to Try:

• Happy Hour favorites – Boulevardier, Daiquiri, Negroni, Vieux Carré, Jello Shots
• Dips – Taco Dip, Corn Dip, Cookie Dough Dip, Queso Recipe
• Appetizers – 30+ Finger Foods for a Party

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Jungle Bird Cocktail

Learn to make a Jungle Bird cocktail using blackstrap rum, Campari, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice and demerara syrup.

Course Drinks

Cuisine malaysian

Keyword Jungle Bird, Jungle Bird cocktail, Jungle Bird Recipe

Servings 1 cocktail

Calories 219kcal

Author Elsie Larson

Equipment

• 1 cocktail shaker
• 1 double old fashioned glass

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces blackstrap rum
• ¾ ounce Campari
• 1½ ounces pineapple juice
• ½ ounce lime juice
• ½ ounce demerara syrup

Instructions

• Begin by pouring the rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice, and demerara syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
• Shake for 10-15 seconds.
• Strain over a glass with fresh ice.
• Garnish with a pineapple wedge, cherry or lime slice.

Notes

Tips For Making 

• Best Rum for a Jungle Bird – This recipe calls for blackstrap rum, while Jeff Berry favored Jamaican rum. The first written recipe called for generic dark rum, so we recommend sticking to a dark rum. 
• Substitutions – If you don’t have demerara syrup, you can substitute it for simple syrup. You can also substitute Campari for another Italian bitter (such as Aperol, which is slightly more sweet than Campari). 
• Garnish ideas – You can use use pineapple fronds (pineapple leaves) to top the drink. This has a cool bird-like appearance. We used a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry secured together with a cocktail pick.

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

More classic cocktails: Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Gimlet, Sidecar, Sazerac.

Ingredients

• Gin – Choose a quality gin (I used Hendrick’s).
• Maraschino Liqueur – Such as Luxardo.
• Crème De Violette – Floral liqueur. This key ingredient gives the drink its color.
• Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed.
• Optional Garnish – Maraschino cherry, lemon twist.

The best glassware choice for this cocktail is a coupe glass.

Instructions

Begin by preparing a chilled coupe glass. Just pop it in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour before serving your cocktail. This step is optional 

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine gin, maraschino liqueur, violet liqueur and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Shake for 10-15 seconds until icy cold. 

Strain into the chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or a lemon twist.

What is Crème De Violette?

Violet liqueur is really made of violets. It is made by submerging violet petals in brandy or another neutral spirit for several days. The flavor of violet liqueur is similar to violet candies—sweet and floral.

History

The Aviation cocktail is a classic, pre-Prohibition-era cocktail. It was first documented at the turn of the 20th century in Hugo Ensslin’s book “Recipes for Mixed Drinks” in 1916. At the time, Hugo Ensslin was the head bartender at Hotel Wallick in New York City. 

During the 1960s, the drink’s key ingredient, crème de violette liqueur, disappeared from the market. As a result, this recipe fell out of popularity for a time. In the 1930s, Harry Craddock included a violette-less version of the Aviation in his famous book, “The Savoy Cocktail Book.” Sadly, this purple drink was all but extinct for more than 40 years.

In 2007, importer Haus Alpenz began importing Rothman & Winter crème de violette from Austria. This came at the perfect time as classic cocktails had a huge resurgence in popularity. Now you can find the Aviation on menus across the U.S. and beyond. Currently, The Bitter Truth and Giffard also now offer violet liqueurs that work well for this recipe.

Tips for Making

• It’s such a pro move to make a chilled cocktail glass. Just pop the glass into the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour before using.
• Squeeze the outside of a lemon peel over this drink before serving to release lemon essence for extra flavor.
• Use the best gin from your home bar for this cocktail since you can really taste the flavor.
• If you like sweeter cocktails, try adding 1/8 ounce simple syrup.

Variations

• Add a splash of Champagne to Crème De Violette for a Violete Royal cocktail.
• If you can’t get your hands on a bottle of violet liqueur, you can make this recipe without it. It is still delicious but lacks the distinctive lavender hue.

FAQ

More Recipes

• Similar Drinks – If you love this recipe, you have to try the Paper Plane cocktail and the Last Word cocktail.
• Appetizers – 30+ Easy Finger Foods for a Party
• Meals – 60+ Easy Dinner Ideas
• Mocktails (no alcohol) – Shirley Temple, Roy Rogers, Virgin Mojito

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Aviation Cocktail

Learn to make the classic Aviation cocktail using gin, maraschino liqueur, creme de violette liqueur and lemon juice.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword Aviation Cocktail, Aviation Cocktail Recipe, Aviation Drink

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Calories 216kcal

Author Elsie Larson

Equipment

• 1 coupe glass

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
• ½ ounce violet liqueur
• ¾ ounce lemon juice

Instructions

• Begin by preparing a chilled coupe glass. Just pop it in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour before serving your cocktail. This step is optional.
• In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine gin, maraschino liqueur, violet liqueur and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Shake for 10-15 seconds until icy cold. 
• Strain into the chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or a lemon twist.

Notes

• It’s such a pro move to make a chilled cocktail glass. Just pop the glass into the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour before using.
• Squeeze the outside of a lemon peel over this drink before serving to release lemon essence for extra flavor.
• Use the best gin from your home bar for this cocktail since you can really taste the flavor.
• If you like sweeter cocktails, try adding 1/8 ounce simple syrup.

Nutrition

Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.1mg

More refreshing cocktails: Tom Collins, Mint Mojito, Gin and Tonic, Long Island Iced Tea, Cuba Libre, Paloma Cocktail, Dark and Stormy, Jello Shots.

Ingredients in a Sea Breeze Cocktail Recipe

• Vodka – Choose a high quality vodka. 
• Cranberry Juice – Bottled cranberry juice (or cranberry juice cocktail) works just fine as freshly squeezed can be too bitter. 
• Grapefruit Juice – Freshly squeezed is best.

What does a Sea Breeze taste like?

A Sea Breeze tastes like a vodka cranberry with the addition of grapefruit juice, which adds interest and depth. If you are looking for drinks that cover the flavor of vodka, this is a good one. This is a perfect, easy cocktail for any home cook to add to your rotation.

Instructions

You won’t need a cocktail shaker for this recipe as you can mix it right in the glass. 

Add vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice to a highball glass with ice and stir. 

Garnish with a lime wheel or a lime wedge.

Tips for Making

• Substitutions – You can swap in citrus vodka instead of unflavored if you want a bit more citrus flavor. 
• Garnish ideas – In addition to a lime slice, some ideas are a grapefruit wedge, a sprig of fresh rosemary, lemon or mint leaves.

Variations

• Cape Codder – Omit the grapefruit juice and use only vodka and cranberry juice to make a Cape Cod (or Cape Codder- she goes by many names).
• Salty Dog – Omit the cranberry juice and add a salted rim- you have a Salty Dog.
• Bay Breeze – Add pineapple juice to the recipe and you have a Bay Breeze cocktail.  
• Club Soda – Top your drink with club soda for a Sparkling Sea Breeze.
• Sea Breeze Cooler – The sea breeze was first documented in The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock in 1930. The original version of the recipe contains dry gin, apricot brandy, lemon juice, grenadine and sparkling water.

FAQ

More Recipes

If you enjoyed the classic Sea Breeze cocktail, we suggest trying these recipes:

• Appetizers – 30+ Easy Finger Foods for a Party
• Meals – 60+ Easy Dinner Ideas
• More Cocktails – Painkiller Cocktail, Kalimoxto, Strawberry Mojito, Jello Shots
• Tropical drinks (no alcohol) – Tropical Smoothie, Dragon Fruit Smoothie, Virgin Mojito.

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Sea Breeze Cocktail READY TO PROOF

Create a classic Sea Breeze cocktail using vodka, cranberry and grapefruit juices.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword Sea Breeze, Sea Breeze Cocktail, Sea Breeze Drink

Prep Time 3 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Calories 157kcal

Author Elsie Larson

Equipment

• 1 highball glass

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces vodka
• 3 ounces cranberry juice
• 1½ ounces grapefruit juice

Instructions

• You won't need a cocktail shaker for this recipe as you can mix it right in the glass. 
• Add vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice to a highball glass with ice and stir. 
• Garnish with a lime wheel or a lime wedge.

Notes

• • Substitutions – You can swap in citrus vodka instead of unflavored if you want a bit more citrus flavor. 

• • Garnish ideas – In addition to a lime slice, some ideas are a grapefruit wedge, a sprig of fresh rosemary, lemon or mint leaves.

Nutrition

Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 41IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.4mg

How to make a Tequila Shot

Let’s make a perfect shot of tequila (also called tequila cruda). You will need salt, lime wedges and a tequila shot in a shot glass. To take the shot, you will first lick salt from your hand, then drink the shot and last suck a wedge of lime. This ritual makes a fun party activity!

Step 1. Moisten the back of your hand (often by licking) and sprinkle on a pinch of salt. You can use table salt or sea salt.

Step 2. Lick the salt off your hand. This will help to lessen the burn of the tequila.

Step 3. Drink your tequila shot.

Step 4. Suck on the lime wedge as a chaser. The sour lime will help balance the flavors.

Many tequila enthusiasts prefer to sip and savor the shot instead. This is also a great option and creates a very different vibe for your gathering. Choose the method that best fits your occasion. Whether you prefer to shoot or sip, next we will teach you to choose the right tequila.

Best Tequila for Shots

There are many types of tequila to choose from. We’ll help you choose a great tequila for your shot, or even a few to serve as a flight.

• Blanco Tequila – Made from blue agave plants, this is the most common and widely used type of tequila. If you are looking for one that works well for shots and cocktails, we recommend a blanco tequila. Some top rated brands are Patron Silver, Don Julio Blanco and 1800 Silver.
• Reposado Tequila (or aged tequila) – Reposado means “rested” and any tequila in this category has been aged in the barrel for at least two months. Some top rated brands include Villa One Reposado, G4 Tequila Reposado and Herradura Reposado Tequila.
• Anejo Tequila (aged in oak barrels for at least one year) – Similar to Reposado, the tequilas in this category have simply been aged for longer. These will typically be pricier than Reposado as well. Some top rated brands include ArteNOM Seleccion 1146 Añejo, Herradura Tequila Legend and Casa Noble Añejo.
• Gold Tequila – Gold tequila is also known as joven. It gets its golden color in three ways: by being blended with aged tequila, by being aged for a few weeks in barrels or by being colored with caramel coloring. Some top brands for gold tequila are Patron Anejo Tequila, 1800 Reposado Tequila and Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila.
• Mezcal – Mezcal is not necessarily tequila, but technically all tequilas are mezcal. I am including it here since it is typically shelved with tequila and makes a nice substitute in almost any tequila cocktail. Mezcal is made from agave plants, while tequila is only made from blue agave plants. Mezcal is made from a wide variety of agave plants. Mezcal has a stronger ABV than tequila and a smokier flavor. Some top rated mezcals include Mezcal Rey Campero Tepextate, Montelobos Mezcal Espadin and Mezcal Vago Elote.

Tools for Making Shots

• Shot Glasses – It’s fun to collect shot glasses in all shapes and sizes. I recommend a basic shot glass set, a fancy shot glass set and here’s a cute serving board for shot glasses at a party.
• Cocktail Shaker – A basic cocktail shaker is an important tool for your home bar. My personal favorite is this glass and gold cocktail shaker.

Tequila Shot Recipes

• Mexican Candy Shot – You will love a Mexican Candy Shot made of tequila and watermelon pucker. The tajin rim makes it extra special.
• Tequila Sunrise Shot – In a shot glass, pour half an ounce tequila and half an ounce orange juice. Then pour a splash of grenadine into the shot. It will naturally settle in the bottom of the glass, creating a sunset effect.
• Paloma Shot – In a shot glass, pour in half an ounce tequila and half an ounce grapefruit soda. Serve with a wedge of grapefruit as a chaser.
• Margarita Shot – Create a shot version of the classic cocktail. In a shot glass, mix half an ounce tequila and half an ounce margarita mix. For a fancy presentation, you can serve it with a salted rim and lime wedges.
• Mexican Coke Shot – In a shot glass, mix half an ounce tequila with half an ounce Mexican coke. Serve with a squeeze of lime juice.
• Wake The Dead Tequila Shooter – In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine half an ounce tequila blanco, half an ounce coffee liqueur and half an ounce espresso. Shake and pour into a shot glass to enjoy! 
• Red Hot Shot – In a shot glass, combine half an ounce cinnamon schnapps with half an ounce silver tequila. Rim the shot glass with ground up cinnamon candy.
• Cantarito Shot – In a shot glass, mix half an ounce reposado tequila, one fourth an ounce grapefruit juice and a splash of grapefruit soda to top. Rim with Tajin seasoning. Serve with a slice of lemon.
• Sangrita Shot – A Sangarita is a mixed juice made of tomato juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, Tabasco, black pepper, salt and jalapeño pepper. It is commonly served with a shot of tequila on the side. Garnish with a lemon wedge. 
• Jello Shots – Try our Strawberry Margarita Jello Shot.

Popular Tequila Cocktail Recipes

• Classic Margarita
• Paloma Cocktail
• Ranch Water
• Tequila Sunrise
• Watermelon Margarita
• Coconut Margarita
• Mexican Mule Cocktail

Recipes to Serve with Tequila Shots

• Taco Dip
• Taco Soup
• Agua Fresca
• Mango Salsa

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Tequila Shots

How to make a classic tequila shot

Course Drinks

Cuisine American, latin american, Mexican

Keyword tequila shot

Prep Time 1 minute minute

Servings 1 shot

Calories 104kcal

Author Elsie Larson

Equipment

• 1 shot glass

Ingredients

• 1 pinch sea salt or table salt
• 1½ ounces tequila
• 1 lime wedge

Instructions

• Moisten the back of your hand (often by licking) and sprinkle on a pinch of salt. You can use table salt or sea salt.
• Lick the salt off your hand. This will help to lessen the burn of the tequila.
• Pour a shot of tequila and drink quickly
• Suck on the lime wedge as a chaser. The sour lime will help balance the flavors.

Notes

• Reposado Tequila (or aged Tequila) – Reposado means “rested” and any tequila in this category has been aged in the barrel for at least two months. Some top rated brands include Villa One Reposado, G4 Tequila Reposado and Herradura Reposado Tequila.
• Anejo Tequila (aged in oak barrels for at least one year) – Similar to Reposado, the tequilas in this category have simply been aged for longer. These will typically be pricier than Reposado as well. Some top rated brands include ArteNOM Seleccion 1146 Añejo, Herradura Tequila Legend and Casa Noble Añejo.
• Gold Tequila – Gold tequila is also known as joven. It gets its golden color in three ways: by being blended with aged tequila, by being aged for a few weeks in barrels or by being colored with caramel coloring. Some top brands for gold tequila are Patron Anejo Tequila, 1800 Reposado Tequila and Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila.
• Mezcal – Mezcal is not necessarily tequila, but technically all tequilas are mezcal. I am including it here since it is typically shelved with tequila and makes a nice substitute in almost any tequila cocktail. Mezcal is made from agave plants, while tequila is only made from blue agave plants. Mezcal is made from a wide variety of agave plants. Mezcal has a stronger ABV than tequila and a smokier flavor. Some top rated mezcals include Mezcal Rey Campero Tepextate, Montelobos Mezcal Espadin and Mezcal Vago Elote.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 40mg | Potassium: 19mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.1mg