13 Inexpensive Cocktails to Make

Also known as Rum and Coke, Cuba Libre has a colorful history that displays the once harmonious relationship between the US and Cuba. Meaning “free Cuba,” the Cuba Libre coincides with the end of the Spanish American War when Coca-Cola first debuted as an import to Cubans who mixed it with their prized rum spirits. Coke’s syrupy sweetness is the perfect base for a rich yet alcohol-forward white rum.

A Texas-born thirst-quenching tequila cocktail, Ranch Water is a simple blend of tequila, lime juice, and soda water. It’s so popular that multiple alcohol companies produce their own canned cocktail renditions. You can use a cheap silver tequila to blend with freshly squeezed lime juice, topping it all off with refreshing and bubbly soda water.

Named after both a variety of gin and the bartender who created it, the Tom Collins is a three-ingredient cocktail that consists of gin, lemon juice, and soda. Gin is a botanical and herbaceous spirit that gets a lovely tangy kick from the lemon juice and a bubbly, light texture from the soda water.

Even if you don’t want to spring for the copper cups, you can still enjoy a Moscow Mule on a tight budget. This delicious vodka cocktail is a treasure trove of flavors, consisting of ginger beer, lime, and vodka. You can skip the fresh mint garnish to save money as well.

A simpler yet equally delicious prototype of the White Russian, the Black Russian is a two-ingredient cocktail composed of vodka and coffee liqueur. It’s a simple one-part vodka to 3 parts coffee liqueur that you can throw into a glass of ice and stir. This sweet and rich cocktail is full of caffeine and alcohol to keep the party going all night.

Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, and Massachusetts is one of the nation’s biggest cranberry producers. Thus, the Cape Codder is a refreshing Northern summer and fall cocktail that’s better known as a Vodka Cranberry. Cranberry juice is a tart and sweet mixer that all but camouflages vodka’s delicate flavor palate.

This historic gin beverage originated in Washington, DC, in the late 19th century but was made famous by the iconic novel The Great Gatsby. It’s a blend of lime, gin, and seltzer water. Seltzer water has no added minerals, which means you’ll get a more subtle taste of juniper and citrus with a bubbly finish.

Invented by the historic Bermuda rum company Gosling Black Seal, the Dark and Stormy showcases the distillery’s dark rum by mixing it with ginger beer. If you can’t find Gosling Black Seal rum, you can use any other dark rum brand. You can also cut costs by using Ginger Ale instead of ginger beer. The blend of spicy ginger with the rich notes of caramel and vanilla in dark rum makes this drink a fan favorite.

Tequila Sunrise is a citrusy tequila cocktail with gorgeous orange and red coloring that lives up to its name. Despite its impressive presentation, Tequila Sunrise is a simple cocktail to make by layering orange juice over tequila and topping it off with a dash of deep red grenadine.

The quintessential brunch cocktail, Mimosas are simple yet elegant. They’re an easy blend of equal parts orange juice and bubbly white wine. Many opt for the fancy and exclusive bottle of French Champagne, but you can find a bottle of perfectly dry bubbly white wine for low prices. This drink is a perfect balance of citrus and tannins.

A favorite cocktail for women drinkers, the Lemon Drop Martini originated during the Prohibition era as a San Francisco bartender’s attempt to please the female crowd. Consisting of lemon juice, orange liqueur, vodka, and sweetener, the Lemon Drop Martini is a light cocktail that’s equal parts sweet and tart.

If you want to embellish a Black Russian, simply pour in a dash of heavy cream, and you’ve made a White Russian. Made famous from the cult classic movie The Big Lebowski, White Russians are a blend of coffee liqueur, vodka, and heavy cream. There’s something so satisfying about watching the cream slowly expand into the vodka and coffee liqueur. Plus, it tastes like a coffee milkshake!

The Sea Breeze is the perfect drink to showcase fall fruit flavors. It’s a simple three-ingredient cocktail with grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, and vodka. The grapefruit juice adds a bitterness that works well with the sweet and tart cranberry juice and gives the cocktail a beautiful pink hue.