5 Easy Cocktails With Just 3 Liquors? Here's the Easiest Self-Service Bar!

Most DIY bars end up descending into liquid chaos.The most forgiving liquors to mix tend to flow away quickly, becoming gin and tonics and Aperol spritzes, and in the end, you’re left with that bottle of Chartreuse from the back of the cupboard... and a whole lot of bad ideas. Don’t run down to the corner store to buy two bottles of prosecco and don’t start making and impromptu sugar syrup, and definitely don’t then combine it with lemon juice. It won’t at all end up being a cool take on a Spritz, but then again, I’m not at all talking from experience, so what would I know?

Point is: When alcohol flows, common sense goes, so it’s useful to have some direction up your sleeve.That doesn’t mean you have to play barkeeper for the night; you just need the aid of a menu. And for a little more magic, here’s the formula I’ve come up with: Buy 3 liquors and get 5 cocktail recipes that’ll suit drinkers of all proclivities. Better yet, we’ve made 5 printable recipe cards to lay out on your bar; whether you’re permitted to have a small gathering or it’s just your own household, we hope the extra touch brings some cheer. And just like that, your regular DIY bar chaos becomes a very organized chaos.

The very short shopping list...

There are no fancy sugar syrups to mix up ahead of time here: you just need liquor, glasses, plenty of ice, a few mixers (more on those below), and citrus fruits for garnishing. If you want to go the extra little mile, some maraschino cherries wouldn’t go amiss.
The only liquors you need to buy for this spread are, handily, also not bank breakers. You’ll just need the holy trinity of gin, vermouth, and Campari. When buying, here’s a quick note of what to look out for.

The liquors

1. Gin: To suit the recipes below, go for a dry gin (London- or Japanese-style are best). You want a gin that has telltale juniper and citrus notes that will play well with the vermouth and Campari. Don’t waste more delicate, floral gins which will risk being overpowered.
2. Vermouth: The drinks below feature sweet red vermouth, but if you prefer your drinks on the drier side, go for dry white vermouth, or just buy both.
3. Campari: The easy one to buy! Just buy Campari, or, if you must, another citrusy, red aperitif of your choice.

The only two mixers you need

1. Prosecco: Bubbles never go out of fashion, and because it comes into play for two drinks below. Go for a nice, dry Prosecco that won’t render drinks sickly sweet.
2. Soda water: Because a splash never hurts. Go for the bubbliest you can find as syrups tend to dull their fizz.

The 5 cocktails, plus printable recipe cards

Follow this link to print out a set of our 5 drinks cards for your next cocktail evening!

1. Negroni

The Negroni, made of equal parts gin, vermouth and Campari has risen to almost (just almost) Aperol spritz-level popularity. It’s said to have been invented by Count Camillo Negroni in 1919, when he asked a bartender to swap the soda water in his Americano (see below) order for gin. It’s bitter, sweet, and citrusy in equal parts and intensity. Though it’s often served as an aperitif, it’s a strong drink that’s excellent to work up to at the end of a meal.

2. Negroni Sbagliato

While you’re on your way to the Negroni, try the lighter Negroni Sbagliato, which translates as “mistaken Negroni”. Again, there’s a story here: It’s said to have been “accidentally” invented by a Milanese bartender who poured prosecco into a Negroni, instead of gin. Think of it as a souped up spritz.

3. Campari Spritz

But of course, if you want a spritz, you shall have one. Here we’re serving up a Campari spritz, admittedly my personal favorite. It’s less saccharine than an Aperol spritz and more complex in flavor, plus its warming red hue is perhaps a little more appropriate to the darker days of the year.

4. Gin and It

This here is basically a gin martini made with sweet vermouth (the “It” being short for Italian), rather than dry white (French) vermouth. It had its heyday back in the late 1800s but is more than worth mixing up today! It’s a sweeter variant, and rather than being served with an olive à la the dirty martini, or zest like a classic martini, you can pop in a maraschino cherry or two on a toothpick.

5. Americano

Apparently popular with Americans in Europe during prohibition era, the Americano combines Campari, vermouth, and soda water. It’s not too alcohol heavy and is highly refreshing thanks to the citrusy notes of Campari and the soda water, making it an excellent drink to start with.

Cheers! We hope you print and enjoy the recipe cards. Let us know your favorite cocktails to mix at home in the comments!