Bored of sitting down with friends around a barbecue with a beer? Here are five classic cocktails that you can make at home and feel proud of. These cocktails are simple and available at bars around the world; however, this time you don’t have to go to a bar.

Mentioned below are five classic cocktail recipes that you can make for entertaining guests.

Mojito

Ingredients

Rum – 2 ounces (dark or white)

Caster sugar – 2 tsp or simple syrup – 4 tsp

Lime – 1

Mint – 4 sprigs

Soda

Crushed ice

Method
Cut a lime into four quarters and place two of them into a tall glass. Add the mint sprigs, simple syrup or sugar, and then pour the rum. Use a muddler to muddle the mint sprigs and lime quarters along with the sugar and rum. Film the tall glass with crushed ice and pour the soda until half full. Use a spoon to tease some mixture that is at the bottom of the glass. Then add more soda until the glass is full.

Martini

Ingredients

Gin or vodka – 3 ounces

Dry vermouth – 1/2 ounce

Olives

Ice cubes

Method
Fill three-fourths of the shaker with ice cubes and add gin and dry vermouth. Close the shaker’s lid and shake it till you see some condensation forming on the outside. Then, strain the mixture into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. Finally, garnish this concoction with olives.

Margarita

Ingredients

Tequila – 2 ounces

Lime juice – 1 ounce

Agave syrup – 2 tsp

Ice cubes

Method
Prepare the glass before making the cocktail. Take a pre-chilled cocktail glass and rub the rim with a slice of lime to make the salt stick to it. Put two ice cubes in the empty glass and set it aside. Put few ice cubes, tequila, lime juice, and agave syrup into the shaker, and shake it until you notice some see water droplets on the surface of the shaker. Finally, pour the mixture into the glass gently without dislodging the salt on the rim. Your DIY margarita is ready to be served.

Mint julep

Ingredients

Bourbon – 2 ounces

Caster sugar – 1/4 ounce

Mint – 6 sprigs

Soda water

Crushed ice

Method
Add the mint sprigs and simple syrup into a highball glass or tumbler. Muddle the mint so that the juices mix well with the sugar. Add the bourbon and fill the glass with crushed ice. Stir the glass with a long spoon until the glass is frosted. Then fill the gaps with soda water and finally garnish the cocktail with some mint leaves.

Moscow mule

Ingredients

Vodka – 2 ounces

Ginger beer – 6 ounces

Lime juice – 1/2 ounce

Lime – 1 (sliced)

Mint – 2 sprigs

Crushed ice

Ingredients

The Moscow mule is best served in a copper mug infamously called the Moscow mule mug. Add some ice, vodka, and lime juice into the mug and stir well with a long spoon. Then top the mug with cold ginger beer. Garnish the mug with some iced lime and mint sprig.