BETTERSWEETDRINKS

THE DRINKS NOTEBOOK

Cocktails

Home cocktails with measured ingredients and clear steps. Recipes show prep time and, where the ingredients are measured, estimated calories and ABV per serving, so you can compare a light spritz with a strong stirred drink. Browse by spirit: vodka, rum or tequila.

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Cocktails

Halloween Witch's Brew Melon Sour

A bright green Halloween cocktail with melon liqueur, vodka, fresh lime and soda water. Shake one Witch's Brew Melon Sour in five minutes.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 198 kcal
  • ≈ 14.6% ABV

Cocktails

Poinsettia Cocktail

A Poinsettia cocktail with cranberry juice, orange liqueur and chilled Prosecco. Make this Christmas toast in five minutes, one glass at a time.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 138 kcal
  • ≈ 10.2% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Poison Apple Cider Mule

A Halloween apple cider mule with dark rum, lime and ginger beer. Build one crisp autumn cocktail in five minutes and garnish with red apple slices.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 210 kcal
  • ≈ 10.6% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Vampire Bite Margarita

A Halloween margarita with a pomegranate “blood” shot guests add themselves. Measured tequila, lime and orange liqueur; one drink in 10 minutes.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 213 kcal
  • ≈ 17.4% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Ghost White Russian

Make a Halloween White Russian with coffee liqueur, cream and an edible marshmallow ghost perched above the glass. One cocktail, ready in 10 minutes.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 349 kcal
  • ≈ 20.8% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Black Cherry Bourbon Smash

A dark cherry bourbon cocktail with fresh lemon and a little maple syrup, served over ice for a Halloween gathering.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 211 kcal
  • ≈ 13.5% ABV

Cocktails

Black Friday Maple Espresso Martini

A maple espresso martini with fresh coffee and a cocoa dusting for a Black Friday evening gathering. Ready in five minutes.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 211 kcal
  • ≈ 17.1% ABV

Cocktails

New Year's Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail

A ruby pomegranate and lemon sparkling wine cocktail for a New Year's toast. Ready in five minutes, with an alcohol-free option.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 105 kcal
  • ≈ 9.1% ABV

Cocktails

Christmas Cranberry Rosemary Spritz

A tart cranberry and rosemary Christmas cocktail topped with chilled sparkling wine, with a quick alcohol-free variation.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 110 kcal
  • ≈ 7.3% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Blackberry Witch Fizz

A dark purple blackberry and gin cocktail with lemon, ginger beer and a rosemary garnish. Ready in 10 minutes for a Halloween party.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 236 kcal
  • ≈ 10.2% ABV

Cocktails

Hennessy Pineapple Cocktail

Hennessy and fresh pineapple juice over ice, with an optional splash of simple syrup. A two-ingredient cognac highball ready in five minutes.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 203 kcal
  • ≈ 10.7% ABV

Cocktails

Spicy Mango Margarita

Blanco tequila, mango puree, orange liqueur, lime and jalapeño syrup, shaken and served in a Tajín-rimmed glass. Sweet heat in 10 minutes.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 301 kcal
  • ≈ 14.8% ABV

Cocktails

Sparkling Sake Cocktail

Chilled sparkling sake with a splash of orange juice and a citrus garnish. A light, low-strength two-ingredient cocktail ready in three minutes.

  • 3 min
  • ≈ 165 kcal
  • ≈ 9.5% ABV

Cocktails

Painkiller Cocktail

The classic Painkiller: navy rum, pineapple, orange juice and cream of coconut over crushed ice with fresh nutmeg. Includes frozen and mocktail versions.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 320 kcal
  • ≈ 10.9% ABV

Cocktails

Appletini

A classic appletini with vodka, green apple schnapps, apple juice and a little lemon, shaken and strained into a martini glass.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 147 kcal
  • ≈ 16.6% ABV

Cocktails

US Open Cocktail

The Honey Deuce, the US Open's signature drink: vodka, lemonade and raspberry liqueur over crushed ice with honeydew melon balls.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 162 kcal
  • ≈ 12% ABV

Cocktails

Lemon San Diego Cocktail

Vodka or gin with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and a few dashes of bitters, topped with club soda. A tart, fizzy lemon cocktail.

  • 15 min
  • ≈ 188 kcal
  • ≈ 12% ABV

Cocktails

Classic Margarita

Shake tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice and agave syrup with ice for a homemade margarita with an optional salt rim.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 265 kcal
  • ≈ 21.3% ABV

Cocktails

Jolly Rancher Tequila (Candy-Infused)

Drop 12 to 15 Jolly Rancher candies into a bottle of blanco tequila and let them dissolve for 24 to 48 hours. Makes about 17 shots.

  • Overnight
  • ≈ 120 kcal
  • ≈ 40% ABV

Cocktails

RumChata Malibu Highball

RumChata, Malibu coconut rum, fresh lime juice and soda water over ice: a creamy, fizzy highball ready in 5 minutes.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 250 kcal
  • ≈ 6.5% ABV

Cocktails

Old Fashioned

An Old Fashioned with bourbon or rye whiskey, sugar and two dashes of Angostura bitters, stirred over ice.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 161 kcal
  • ≈ 33.4% ABV

Cocktails

SpongeBob Party Drink

A blue SpongeBob party cocktail: pineapple juice, coconut rum, blue curaçao and orange juice with a splash of grenadine over ice.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 380 kcal
  • ≈ 3.6% ABV

Cocktails

Tito's Blueberry Vodka Cocktail

A blueberry vodka cocktail with lemon, simple syrup, mint and soda water. Use Tito’s or another unflavored vodka.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 248 kcal
  • ≈ 7.3% ABV

Cocktails

Tito's Blueberry Vodka Cooler

Tito's vodka with fresh blueberries, lavender syrup and lemon juice, topped with sparkling water. A fruity vodka cooler in 10 minutes.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 217 kcal
  • ≈ 18.3% ABV

Cocktails

Trader Joe's Espresso Martini

Make an espresso martini with Trader Joe’s cold brew concentrate, vodka, cocoa cream liqueur and a little simple syrup.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 197 kcal
  • ≈ 10.7% ABV

Cocktails

Chili's Espresso Martini

Shake espresso, tequila, spiced rum and agave over ice for a coffee cocktail inspired by Chili’s. Garnish with espresso beans.

  • 15 min
  • ≈ 176 kcal
  • ≈ 18.3% ABV

Cocktails

Stella Rosa Pineapple Chili Margarita

Mix Stella Rosa Pineapple Chili wine with tequila, triple sec and lime for a pineapple chili margarita. The flavored wine is a required ingredient.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 218 kcal
  • ≈ 10.1% ABV

Cocktails

Sutter Home Sweet Tea Wine Cocktail

A pitcher of Sutter Home Moscato, brewed sweet tea and fresh lemon juice over ice. Makes about 12 servings; contains alcohol.

  • 15 min
  • ≈ 55 kcal
  • ≈ 3.9% ABV

Cocktails

Elemakule Tiki Bitters Cocktail

A tiki cocktail with dark rum, lime, orgeat, triple sec and a quarter ounce of Bittermens Elemakule Tiki Bitters over crushed ice.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 261 kcal
  • ≈ 19.8% ABV

Cocktails

Aloha Thunder

White rum, blue curaçao, cream of coconut, pineapple juice and lime with a splash of ginger beer. A creamy blue tropical cocktail.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 310 kcal
  • ≈ 11.4% ABV

Cocktails

Pineapple Hennessy Lemonade

A pitcher cocktail of Hennessy, pineapple juice, lemonade and fresh lemon juice, chilled for an hour and poured over ice. Makes about 5 cups.

  • 1 hr 10 min
  • ≈ 301 kcal
  • ≈ 15.2% ABV

Cocktails

Vodka Press

Make a Vodka Press with equal parts club soda and lemon-lime soda over ice, plus vodka and a citrus wedge.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 160 kcal
  • ≈ 11.1% ABV

Cocktails

Frozen Limoncello Cocktail

Blend limoncello, vodka, fresh lemon juice and ice into a frozen lemon cocktail. Adjust simple syrup to taste.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 278 kcal
  • ≈ 23.2% ABV

Cocktails

Red Stripe Rum Punch

A batch punch combining Red Stripe beer, dark rum, pineapple, orange, lime, grenadine and Angostura bitters.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 183 kcal
  • ≈ 8.3% ABV

Cocktails

SKYY Vodka Citrus Fizz

A SKYY vodka citrus fizz: vodka shaken with fresh lemon and lime juice and simple syrup, topped with club soda. Ready in 5 minutes.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 220 kcal
  • ≈ 16% ABV

Cocktails

Ypióca Cachaça Lime Cocktail

Ypióca cachaça shaken with fresh lime juice and simple syrup, served over ice with a lime wheel. A simple Brazilian sour in five minutes.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 221 kcal
  • ≈ 16% ABV

Cocktails

2-Ingredient Prosecco Cocktails

Two-ingredient Prosecco cocktails: one chilled bottle plus about 150 ml of a liqueur or fruit juice of your choice. Ratios for 5 glasses.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 195 kcal
  • ≈ 13.9% ABV

Cocktails

Aperol Spritz

An Aperol Spritz with Prosecco, Aperol and soda water in a 3:2:1 ratio, served over ice with orange.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 147 kcal
  • ≈ 7.8% ABV

Cocktails

Minute Maid Limeade Daiquiri

Minute Maid Daiquiri: frozen limeade concentrate blended with white rum and ice. Measured recipe, pitcher version and substitutes; ready in 5 minutes.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 334 kcal
  • ≈ 7% ABV

Cocktails

Fee Brothers Bitters Cocktail

Mix gin or bourbon with sweet vermouth and Fee Brothers bitters. This recipe uses bottled bitters; it does not make bitters from scratch.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 173 kcal
  • ≈ 28.3% ABV

Cocktails

Pistachio Martini

Shake pistachio liqueur, vodka, vanilla syrup and lime juice for a nutty pistachio martini with a crushed pistachio rim.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 276 kcal
  • ≈ 18% ABV

Cocktails

Oklahoma Martini

A citrus vodka martini with orange liqueur and a splash of orange juice, garnished with orange peel.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 226 kcal
  • ≈ 24% ABV

Cocktails

Sutter Home Strawberry Lemonade Wine Punch

A strawberry lemonade wine punch made with a bottle of Sutter Home White Zinfandel, fresh strawberry puree, lemon juice and sugar. Serve over ice; contains alcohol.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 166 kcal
  • ≈ 4.2% ABV

Cocktails

Bartaco Margarita

A Bartaco-style margarita: silver tequila, orange liqueur, plenty of fresh lime and a little agave, shaken and served over ice.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 216 kcal
  • ≈ 18.8% ABV

Cocktails

Margarita with Sour Mix

A quick margarita with tequila, Cointreau or triple sec and sour mix, shaken with ice and served in a salt-rimmed glass.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 245 kcal
  • ≈ 24% ABV

Cocktails

Espresso Martini: Classic Recipe and 6 Riffs

The classic espresso martini with vodka, fresh espresso, coffee liqueur and simple syrup, plus 6 flavor riffs and tips for a thick foam.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 230 kcal
  • ≈ 16% ABV

Cocktails

Tequila Daisy

Mix a Tequila Daisy with tequila, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and a splash of club soda. A citrusy cocktail served over ice.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 182 kcal
  • ≈ 18.3% ABV

Cocktails

Tajín Margarita

A classic margarita with a chili-lime Tajín rim: blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur and agave syrup, shaken and served over ice.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 224 kcal
  • ≈ 18.5% ABV

Cocktails

Lavender Martini

A lavender martini with gin or vodka, dry vermouth and homemade lavender syrup, stirred and garnished with a lavender sprig.

  • 1 hr
  • ≈ 173 kcal
  • ≈ 25.9% ABV

Cocktails

Aruba Ariba

Aruba's signature cocktail: vodka, overproof rum, Coecoei, crème de banane, fruit punch and orange juice with a dash of grenadine.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 222 kcal
  • ≈ 8.5% ABV

Cocktails

Cantarito

Make a Mexican-style Cantarito with tequila, grapefruit, orange and lime juices, then top with grapefruit soda.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 196 kcal
  • ≈ 9.5% ABV

Cocktails

Limoncello Lemon Drop Martini

A Lemon Drop with a limoncello twist: vodka, limoncello, fresh lemon juice and a splash of syrup, shaken and served in a sugar-rimmed martini glass.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 216 kcal
  • ≈ 17.9% ABV