When it comes to easy and accessible alcoholic beverages that can be made right at home, there are a few good options to consider. Some of the easiest drinks to DIY require minimal ingredients, basic equipment and limited skill. For the home bartender looking to get started with minimal fuss, here are some of the most beginner-friendly boozy beverages that can be whipped up with ease.
Factors that Make an Alcoholic Beverage Easy to Make
There are a few key factors that determine how easy or difficult an alcoholic beverage will be to make at home:
Number of Ingredients
Drinks with fewer ingredients tend to be easier for beginners. Having to source and prepare a long list of ingredients can complicate the process. Cocktails with 2-4 ingredients are often easiest.
Specialized Equipment Requirements
Some cocktails require specific bar tools like shakers, strainers, muddlers, etc. Drinks that only need basic supplies like glasses, spoons and mixing containers lower the barrier for home bartenders.
Mixing Method
The simple act of combining and stirring ingredients is far easier than having to shake, blend, muddle or layer multiple components.
Recipe Precision
Drinks that don’t require perfectly measured ingredients or specific ratios allow for more flexibility and room for error.
Skill Level
Making basic mixed drinks and punches is more beginner-friendly than crafting elaborate cocktails that need layering, floating, infusing or other advanced skills.
Fermentation or Distillation
Brewing and distilling alcohol from scratch requires time, equipment and know-how. Drinks that skip this process are easier for amateurs.
Easiest Alcoholic Drinks to Make
Based on the above criteria, here are some of the most beginner-friendly alcoholic beverages to make at home:
Mixed Drinks
Simple two or three ingredient cocktails are a great starting point for novice bartenders. Examples include:
- Vodka Cranberry
- Gin & Tonic
- Whiskey Ginger Ale
- Rum & Coke
- Vodka Lemonade
These only require a base spirit, a mixer, ice and a glass. Measurements don’t need to be perfect. The alcohol tastes fine with the mixer in whatever ratios you prefer.
Spiked Seltzers
Flavored sparkling waters combined with vodka or rum are incredibly easy to make. For example:
- Vodka Seltzer with Lime
- Spiked Grapefruit Seltzer
- Rum & Coconut Seltzer
These only require pouring the liquor of choice into a flavored, zero-calorie seltzer water and serving over ice. Customize the flavors and alcohol content to taste.
Premixed Cocktails
Instead of mixing from scratch, premade cocktail mixes streamline the process. Some easy options are:
- Frozen Margarita Mix + Tequila
- Pina Colada Mix + Rum
- Moscow Mule Mix + Vodka
- Bloody Mary Mix + Vodka
Just combine the alcoholic base and bottled mixer, shake or stir, and pour over ice as needed. Concentrated mixes allow custom strength.
Simple Syrup Cocktails
Using premade simple syrup as a sweetener and mixer opens up many possibilities like:
- Gin & Elderflower Syrup + Seltzer
- Vodka, Triple Sec & Lime Syrup + Soda
- Rum & Ginger Syrup + Club Soda
These allow flexibility in ratios and customization with different flavored syrups.
Spiked Smoothies
Adding alcohol to blended fruit smoothies is an easy way to make a boozy drink. Combinations include:
- Pina Colada Smoothie with Rum
- Strawberry Daiquiri Smoothie
- Banana & Coffee Smoothie with Kahlua
The smoothie masks the taste of the liquor, so proportions don’t have to be perfect. Use ripe frozen fruit for thickness.
Sangria
Wine-based sangria punches are simple to whip up. Ingredients like:
- Red or white wine
- Fresh fruit like berries, citrus, apples, etc.
- Fruit juice
- Slice of citrus
- Liqueur or brandy (optional)
Just combine in a pitcher and allow to infuse for a couple hours or overnight before serving. No precise measurements needed.
Spiked Hot Chocolate
For a cozy winter drink, spike hot cocoa with your liquor of choice like:
- Peppermint Schnapps
- Coffee Liqueur
- Spiced Rum
- Hazelnut Liqueur
- Irish Cream
Prepare the hot chocolate as normal and add a shot or two of liquor. Top with whipped cream!
Mimosa Bar
Let guests mix their own mimosas with:
- Chilled Prosecco or Champagne
- Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
- Other Fruit Juices Like Grapefruit, Cranberry, etc.
- Fresh Fruit Garnishes
Provide the ingredients in pitchers and let guests pour and mix their own custom ratios. Super easy and interactive!
Easiest Alcohol to Make from Scratch
While most cocktails use premade liquor, some basic alcoholic beverages can be created from scratch without intense effort. Here are some of the easiest to make:
Kilju
This primitive Finnish homebrew is made simply by mixing yeast with sugar and juice. No heat, boiling or complex steps required. Takes 2-4 days to ferment.
Prison Hooch
Illicit jailhouse brews can be replicated by combining fruit, bread or sugar with water, yeast and raisins in a sealed container for 1-2 weeks.
Hard Cider
Natural fermentation of fresh pressed apple cider by wild yeast creates a low-alcohol hard cider in just 2 weeks. No added yeast required.
Tepache
A Mexican pineapple beer made in under a week by fermenting pineapple rinds and brown sugar with water. Simple and tropical.
Rice Wine
Asian rice wines like sake can be approximated by letting cooked rice, yeast and water ferment together for up to 2 months.
Sugar Wash
A basic yeast-fermented sugar and water solution can be distilled into neutral spirit alcohol like moonshine with minimal equipment.
Dandelion Wine
Fermented dandelion flowers, sugar, lemon and yeast produce a delicate, floral country wine in about 6 weeks.
Country Wines
All kinds of foraged berries, flowers and fruits can be turned into wine with water, sugar, acid blend and yeast. Takes 2-6 months.
While not as effortless as mixing cocktails, these primitive brewing methods allow creating alcoholic beverages with minimal intervention using ingredients found in nature.
Easiest Liquor to Make at Home
Though spirits like vodka, whiskey and rum require serious distilling equipment to make from scratch, some liqueurs and infused alcohols can be easily homemade with minimal tools:
Infused Vodka
Steeping herbs, fruits, spices or candy in vodka for 1-3 weeks extracts flavor. Great for making custom flavored spirits.
Coffee Liqueur
Combine strong brewed coffee and sugar with vodka or rum. Shake daily for 1-2 weeks to dissolve sugar.
Vanilla Extract
Split and scrape vanilla beans, combine with vodka in a jar. Shake daily for 8 weeks for potent extract.
Limoncello
Peel lemon zest strips and steep in Everclear or vodka with sugar for up to 6 weeks. Stir and taste periodically.
Infused Honey
Cinnamon sticks, dried chiles, herbs and spices steeped in honey absorb flavor for an artisanal ingredient.
With some simple ingredients and jars, lots of liqueur and infused spirit options are open to amateur distillers.
Easiest Alcohol to Buy
For those who don’t want to make any alcohol from scratch, some of the easiest premade options to buy include:
| Alcohol Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Premixed Cocktails | Margarita Mix, Pina Colada Mix, Bloody Mary Mix, etc. |
| Flavored Vodka | Citron, Orange, Vanilla, Raspberry, etc. |
| Spiced Rum | Captain Morgan, Sailor Jerry, Kraken, etc. |
| Premade Liqueurs | Bailey’s, Kahlua, Midori, Amaretto, etc. |
| Hard Seltzers | White Claw, Truly, High Noon, etc. |
| Premixed Coolers | Hard Lemonade, Twisted Tea, Margarita Coolers, etc. |
With an array of convenient premade options available, crafting cocktails, mixed drinks and spiked punches can be a breeze for beginners. No complex production needed!
Easiest Strong Alcohol to Drink Straight
While most liquors are harsh when consumed straight, some higher proof alcoholic beverages go down smoother:
Honey Liqueurs
Thick, sweet honey cuts the burn of spirits like Barenjager and Krupnik.
Spiced Rums
Sugar and warm baking spices like vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg help mellow overproof rums like Sailor Jerry.
Sweet Vermouth
With citrus, botanicals and a smooth sweetness, some vermouths like Carpano Antica can be gently sipped.
Amaro
These Italian herbal liqueurs have bitterness that tempers their alcohol content when served neat.
Irish Cream
Thick, milky Irish Cream liqueurs like Baileys provide a soothing contrast to the liquor within.
Ice Wine
Concentrated sugars give Canadian Ice Wines their syrupy viscosity that helps counter their high alcohol.
While no liquor goes down quite as easily as a mixed drink, the above strong spirits can be gently enjoyed straight in small amounts.
Conclusion
When getting started making drinks at home, the easiest options include basic two or three ingredient cocktails, premade mixer cocktails, spiked seltzers, sangria and spiked smoothies. For the more ambitious, fermenting sugar washes, country wines and foraged fruit into primitive hooch builds skills with minimal equipment. And for those who don’t want to make anything from scratch, convenient premade liqueurs, coolers and spiced rums require no effort to pour a drink. With so many simple options available, anyone can become an at-home bartender and enjoy delicious drinks regardless of skill level.