You don’t have to be an experienced bartender to pop open a beer or pour a glass of wine. Cocktails, on the other hand, can seem a whole lot more intimidating. Sometimes you need an ingredient you’ve never heard of, other times you need a dozen ingredients just for one drink, and other times still you need to be incredibly precise for your cocktail to turn out correctly.

But here’s the secret: there are tons of popular cocktails out there that anyone can make. We’ve put together a few of our favorites — simple, classic, and totally doable at home. ✨

☕ The White Russian

Popularized by one Jeffrey Lebowski, aka “The Dude”, a White Russian is a simple and delicious cocktail. Just pour your vodka and Kahlua into a glass, then add in your cream, and stir.

A White Russian can be drunk straight or “on the rocks” (with ice), depending upon your preference. For a bolder flavor, try the Black Russian cocktail — it’s the exact same thing, just without the cream.

Vibe check: Dessert-in-a-glass energy. Great for movie nights and cozy evenings.

🫏 The Moscow Mule

The most complicated part of a Moscow Mule is the glass, as traditionally a Moscow Mule is served in a copper mug. That is far from a requirement. Using whatever glass or cup you want, simply pour vodka and ginger beer over ice, then squeeze a lime wedge to add that last bit of lime juice.

If you’ve got a copper mug, all the better, but don’t sweat it — the flavor is doing all the heavy lifting here. ✨

Vibe check: Refreshing, zippy, and perfect for warm evenings or backyard hangs.

🍋 The Gimlet

The Gimlet is a popular cocktail with a lot of options. You can use either vodka or gin; gin is more traditional, but vodka is quite popular as well. You can use fresh lime juice, or go the traditional route with a bottled version.

If you’re looking for a slightly sweeter cocktail you can add a bit of simple syrup, or you can go a bit sour and ignore the sugar. It’s really up to you — think of the Gimlet as your choose-your-own-adventure citrus cocktail.

Vibe check: Bright, clean, and classy. Great pre-dinner drink.

🥃 The Highball

There are endless variations of a Highball. There’s the Seven and Seven (Seagram’s and Seven Up), the Scotch and Soda (mixed scotch whiskey and plain soda water), and loads of other options. But don’t get intimidated.

You can use literally any whiskey and mix it with ginger ale, and you’ll have a classic Highball. It’s fast, unfussy, and always hits the spot.

Vibe check: Easygoing and familiar — like your favorite go-to playlist.

🍒 The Cape Codder

Yes, the old vodka cranberry is in fact a legitimate cocktail! Now, the cocktail version is a bit more classed up than your old college variety. First, you should serve it over ice. Second, give it a splash of lime juice (and garnish the drink with the lime wedge for extra class points).

Want to punch it up even further? Turn that Cape Codder into a Jolly Rancher by adding in some peach or apple schnapps, and garnish with a slice of orange in place of the lime.

Vibe check: Tart, bright, and a little nostalgic. Perfect for parties.

🥂 Cheers to Easy, Delicious Cocktails

Great cocktails don’t always require complicated recipes or fancy tools. Start with these simple favorites, experiment with your own twists, and most importantly — have fun with it.

Enjoy the moment now and the morning after. Remember you should always Toast! before you enjoy your cocktails.