The Perfect Cocktails: My Go to Drinks

I have a secret to tell you…It doesn’t have to taste like rubbing alcohol to make you tipsy.

 The key to a perfect pregame, GNO, or night in…is your cocktail. Sometimes I’m feeling flirty or I might be feeling cozy, no matter what the moment always calls for a much needed cocktail. Your mood should 100% match your drink!  These are some of my signature go-to drinks to sip or bring to any function. Whether it’s the club or the comfort of your couch your night will be perfectly complete. No hangover! (sometimes)

Before I “grew up” I used to drink anything under the sun that would get the job done, sometimes not even liking what’s in my cup. But now that we’ve matured it’s time our drinks did too. Surprise! Your cocktail says alot about you. Lucky for you I’ve experimented and perfected these recipes so you don’t have to. I’ve got the methods and the ingredients you need on deck for your weekend (save this post to your notes!). I’ve also included some drinks you can order from absolutely anywhere just in case you’re ever feeling stuck and don’t know what to order. The answer is always Tequila–lol jk. Unless….

From sweet to not so sweet, bougie and classic, these are drinks I like to keep in my rotation to match the vibe. Trust me it’s a game changer. And I make the best cocktails by the way, ask around. I’m the bartender at every function– ugh,and I can’t ever catch a break! So if you want to be the best bartender everywhere you go with everyone asking you to make their drink or simply at home (because we don’t have to go out, we got the bar at home!) stay tuned. 

The Perfect Lemon Drop

The ultimate go to 

The Vibe: Flirty, Fresh, Crisp

Taste: Like candy

Strength: Medium. Perfect for when one turns into three. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz Vodka (I like titos shout out to all the dog lovers)
• Half of a lemon for FRESHLY SQUEEZED lemon juice (it makes the difference)
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 1 oz sweet and sour
• Optional: ½ oz flavored syrup (ex: strawberry, passionfruit, pomegranate,cherry juice, whatever your heart desires) 
• Sugar for rim

 tip: Use crystal light strawberry lemonade liquid drink mix or a lil cherry juice and thank me later. 

Instructions: Use your lemon wedge around your glass rim and dip your rim in sugar to coat. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake well. Pour directly from the shaker to your glass and enjoy!

Big Batch Lemon Drop Martini ( Fills a 1-Liter Bottle)

Perfect for parties, gatherings, and events. 

The Vibe: Pre-Games, parties, homecoming, birthdays etc. 

Flavor: Like candy 

Strength: Medium. For shots and drinks. 

Ingredients:

• 16 oz of vodka 
• 6-8 lemons for freshly squeezed lemon juice (required)
• 6 oz triple sec
• 4 oz simple syrup (adjust for sweetness)
• 2 oz water

tip: You’re going to need a funnel.

Instructions:

• Juice your lemons and strain out the seeds/pulp.
• Mix all the ingredients in a pitcher or directly in a 1-liter bottle using a funnel 
• Stir well and refrigerate

Noted Tips:

• Simple syrup tip: make your own by mixing equal parts sugar and hot water until dissolved. (2:1 sugar to water).
• Serving ideas: Add lemon wheels.
• Add flavored syrups if you wanna have fun (my favorite is strawberry).

Tipsy Stanley

For the beach, tailgates, pregaming and getting to the point.

The vibe: Drunk. 

Taste: Tropical, citrusy, sweet but not too sweet. Perfect if you like a tequila sunrise…

Strength: Strong and to the point 

 Ingredients ( for one 40 oz cup):

• 4 oz tequila blanco ( or reposado for the freak-nvm)
• 1.5 oz triple sec (optional)
• 3 oz pineapple juice 
• 3 oz peach juice
• 1.5 oz cranberry juice
• 1 lime for FRESHLY SQUEEZED lime juice 
• Sprite 
• Ice (of course)
• Optional: flavored syrups like cherry juice, passion fruit, or strawberry.

Tip: Add frozen fruit instead of ice so it doesn’t get watered down and cherries!

Instructions: Fill your Stanley halfway with ice and a handful of fruit or just fruit. Add everything except the soda, save that for the end. Top off with soda. Garnish with cherries and enjoy!

Lychee Martini

You’re feeling like that girl at an upscale restaurant or a “rich auntie” solo night in. ( also perfect for girls night if you really wanna show off)

The vibe: Soft, mysterious, luxurious. 

Taste like: Clean and delicately sweet

Strength: Medium

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz vodka 
• 1 oz lychee juice or syrup ( from canned lychees)
• ½ oz Cointreau or triple sec
• 1-2 whole lychees for garnish 
• optional: light squeeze of lemon juice 

Make it cute: Chill your glass, shake everything over ice until its ICY COLD, and drop in your lychees. Bonus points if you have the fancy gold cocktail toothpicks.  

Instructions: Add ingredients to shaker with ice and shake well. Pour in glass and enjoy. Boom. Simple!

Amaretto Sour

Sweet & sexy. You want something to sip on all night.

The vibe: Light, smooth, and a classic

Taste like: Sweet with a citrus kick

Strength: Light. Will make you a lil tipsy.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz amaretto liquor 
• 1 oz sweet and sour syrup 
• ½ oz of cherry juice
• Cherry for garnish

Instructions: combine ingredients and pour in glass over ice. Garnish with cherries. 

Chocolate Martini ( sorry I haven’t mastered the espresso yet)

Think chocolate milk for grown ups. Your feeling romantic or want something to replace dessert 

The vibe: Cozy,sexy,indulgent 

Taste like: Very sweet. Dessert in a glass

Strength: Strong 

Ingredients:

• 1 oz vodka ( vanilla vodka recommended) 
• 1 oz chocolate liquor. I like Godiva 
• ½  oz heavy cream 
• ½  oz Baileys liquor 
• ½ kahlua 
• Chocolate syrup for the glass

Tip: perfect for Galentines 

Make it cute: Drizzle chocolate syrup in glass before you pour. Add whip cream

Instruction: Add ingredients to the shaker with ice and shake well. Pour in glass and enjoy. 

Skinny Margarita 

It’s giving fresh, simple, and the best part–guilt free. 

The vibe: fresh, citrusy, low calorie

Taste like: sweet but not too sweet

Strength: Medium strong

Ingredients:

• 2 oz of tequila (your choice)
• 1 whole lime for fresh lime juice
• ½ oz agave syrup 
• ½ oz orange juice
• Tajin or salt for rim 
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions: Rim your glass with lime juice and dip rim with your choice of salt or tajin. Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice. 

THE Cosmopolitan (my personal favorite)

When you’re channeling your inner Carrie Bradshaw or feeling like That Girl. Sip with intention. 

The vibe: Flirty, nostalgic, feminine 

Taste like: Tart.

Strength: Strong

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz vodka
• 1 oz cranberry juice 
• ½ oz of triple sec
• Half a lime for fresh squeezed lime juice

Tip: when I make this at home I like to use Cran-Raspberry juice

Instruction: Add ingredients to the shaker with ice and shake well. Pour in glass and enjoy. 

Honorable mention drinks to order out

What to Sip:

• Diet coke, lime, tequila or vodka
• Red Bull ,vodka or tequila
• You can never go wrong with champagne add a cherry if your feeling fancy
• Tequila sunrise 
• French 75
• Shout out Cut Water 
• Shout out High Noons
• Mojito (tequila)
• Pineapple juice, tequila 

Final Sip:

From tangy sours to delicate martinis, these drinks are always fit for a mood.. These are my ride-or-dies that are hard to mess up and easy to find. 

And if you’re still drinking the same drink you ordered from freshman year of college honey….it’s time to upgrade. What will you be sipping this weekend? 

Cheers,

xoxo Hannah