A house party is a great occasion to sample a variety of cocktails. You don't have to buy rare and expensive ingredients to make them. You can get by with affordable alcohol, fruit and vegetable juices, syrups, and a basic set of spices. From this simple set you can make a real cocktail platter for every taste.
Vodka-based cocktails: simple and inexpensive
The most affordable alcohol ideal for cocktails is vodka. You will need very little for one portion. Vodka can be supplemented with juices, soda water, cream and other ingredients.
Try a simple mint and citrus alcoholic cocktail.
You will need:
- 0.25 liters of vodka;
- 0.5 cups of mint syrup;
- 0.5 cups of sparkling water;
- 1 orange;
- 0.5 lemons.
Mint liqueur can be used instead of syrup.
Squeeze the juice from an orange and half a lemon, grate the zest on a fine grater. In a shaker, mix juices with vodka and syrup. Pour the mixture into glasses, add some soda water to each and add a few ice cubes. Serve the cocktail with a straw.
A sweet coffee cocktail can be served as a dessert or digestif.
You will need:
- 1 glass of milk;
- 1 teaspoon of instant coffee;
- 1 egg;
- 3 teaspoons of sugar;
- 1 glass of vodka.
Mash the egg with sugar, add instant coffee. Boil the milk, cool it slightly and add portions to the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Cool, and then pour in the vodka and stir. Pour the cocktail into thick-walled, low glasses, each serving can be supplemented with a small amount of finely crushed ice.
One of the simplest cocktails made from freshly squeezed orange juice and vodka finds its connoisseurs at any party.
You will need:
- 0.5 glasses of vodka;
- 0.5 cups of orange juice.
Squeeze juice from oranges in advance and freeze it in the refrigerator. In a mixer, mix the juice and vodka, pour into glasses, add ice and serve immediately.
You can decorate your cocktail glass with a sugar rim. Brush the edge of the glass with egg white, then dip it in granulated sugar. Pour the cocktail carefully so as not to wash off the decor.
Simple yet sophisticated: brandy-based cocktails
To prepare such cocktails, you do not need expensive cognac. Take a good brandy - decent drinks are produced in many countries, from France to Armenia.
Try an unusual but delicious combination of cocoa, brandy and sour cream. The chocolate cocktail can be served with a cup of espresso.
You will need:
- 1 glass of cognac;
- 3 tablespoons of sugar;
- 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder;
- 3 tablespoons of water;
- 1 glass of sparkling water;
- 2 tablespoons of sour cream.
Cook syrup from cocoa, water and sugar. As soon as the mixture boils, remove it from the heat, cool, mix with sour cream, and then pour in the cognac and sparkling water. Whisk the mixture in a mixer and pour into glasses. Ice cubes can be served separately.
