18 Quick and Easy Cocktail Ideas For A Perfect Happy Hour At Home

Make your own quick and delicious cocktails from the comfort of your home! Here are 18 quick and easy recipe ideas for the perfect happy hour.
18 Quick and Easy Cocktail Ideas For A Perfect Happy Hour At Home
18 Quick and Easy Cocktail Ideas For A Perfect Happy Hour At Home
Mix Lab Cocktails
Mix Lab is an end-to-end cocktail journey for the enthusiast and expert bartender. Through these recipes and videos, you can easily expand your knowledge behind the bar. From in-depth cocktail education to glasses and garnishes, you'll be shaking with the best of them in no time.
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Mix Lab Cocktails
Mix Lab is an end-to-end cocktail journey for the enthusiast and expert bartender. Through these recipes and videos, you can easily expand your knowledge behind the bar. From in-depth cocktail education to glasses and garnishes, you'll be shaking with the best of them in no time.
GO TO BLOG

Welcome to your very own happy hour! After a long work day, you’re probably ready for an enjoyable and stress-free sip. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home or break into complicated recipes that take forever to make when you can whip up quick and easy cocktails in just minutes!

Nothing is better than happy hour at home with friends or family - where you can enjoy tasty food, fun conversation, and delicious handcrafted cocktails.

With these 18 quick and easy cocktail ideas, creating delicious drinks sure to please everyone is simple. From classic combinations like Whiskey Sour, Americano, or Mojitos to unique concoctions like Tequila Mai Tai or Aviation, these recipes provide everything you need for the perfect night in.

Explore these perfect cocktail recipes to give your at-home bar cart the perfect touch for sipping on those special evenings!

1. Americano

EASYLOW-FAT

Americano

Mix Lab Cocktails

The Americano is an Italian classic with a twist. This fruity and bitter drink packs a delightful punch by combining Martini Rosso and Martini Bitter with Soda water. As a matter of fact, we like to think of it as Negroni bathed in sunshine!

2. Whiskey Sour

EASYPEANUT-FREE

Whisky Sour

Dewar’s

Are you ready to shake up your home bar? Try the Whisky Sour Cocktail Recipe! This sweet and sour concoction is full of dynamic flavor—perfect for home mixologists and cocktail aficionados. Made with whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, bitters, and an egg white foam majestic enough to set your evening on fire. Serve it up with a lime wedge for the final touch!

3. Fiero and Tonic

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Fiero and Tonic

Mix Lab Cocktails

Welcome to the delicious world of Fiero and Tonic – a contemporary take on the classic Aperol Spritz that’s as fun as it is refreshing!

Fiero and Tonic is made from three simple ingredients – Fiero Vermouth Bianco, tonic water, and a garnish of your favorite citrus fruit. The hint of orange meets with a mélange of herbs-entrenched notes for an unmistakably delightful taste that will transform your brunch or pre-dinner happy hour into something special. It’s an experience you won't soon forget!

4. Manhattan

PEANUT-FREETREE NUT-FREE

Manhattan

Mix Lab Partners

A Manhattan cocktail is the perfect way to start your home happy hour! This convenient recipe will show you how to whip up deliciously smooth Manhattans in no time. Just add whiskey, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, and a maraschino cherry – easy as 123! You'll get an awesomely flavorful concoction that tastes like it's coming from your local craft cocktail bar.

Plus, you don't have to worry about spending too much on expensive ingredients - just stock up on basics like whiskey and cherries and let the deliciousness unfold.

5. Cuba Libre

EASYLOW-FAT

Cuba Libre

BACARDÍ

With its roots in Cuban culture, make this classic at home to experience authentic flavors in an easy-to-make blended concoction. The Cuba Libre recipe is deceptively simple – just combine cola and golden rum! First, grab a highball glass and fill it with crushed ice. Add one ounce of smooth golden rum and top it off with four ounces of crisp and fizzy cola. Finish off with a lime wedge for garnish, handcrafted flavor, and a bit of flair.

With its sweet and savory blend of flavors and its elegant presentation, the Cuba Libre will make everyone jealous when you bring it out in front of friends and family. The Havana sidewalk awaits...

6. Mojito

EASYPEANUT-FREE

Mojito

BACARDÍ

A Mojito is hassle-free and fit for any occasion. With just a few ingredients like mint, lime, sugar, and Bacardi White Rum, you can create a delicious and refreshing drink in no time. Impress your friends with a fun and tasty homemade mojito!

Cocktail enthusiasts will love this easy-to-follow recipe. Whether it’s a chill happy hour at home or simply chilling with pals on the patio, this classic mojito brings never-ending joy. Fresh mint accents make this drink cool and crispy, while the sweetness of the lime and sugar adds just enough zest for the perfect refreshing sip.

7. Old Fashioned

EASYPEANUT-FREE

Old Fashioned

BACARDÍ

An Old Fashioned with BACARDÍ Gold Rum is a delicious twist on a timeless classic. A sophisticated mixed drink with fruit notes of zesty orange and a dash of bitters is guaranteed to impress! Old Fashioned recipe you won't be able to resist.

8. St. Germain Spritz

EASYLOW-FAT

St. Germain Spritz

Mix Lab Cocktails

Are you ready to take your cocktail game up a notch? If so, you must get your hands on this St. Germain Spritz Cocktail recipe! This light, floral, and refreshing drink is a surefire way to make brunch, afternoon, or pre-dinner drinks fun. The famous French elderflower liqueur inspires it for an extra kick of sophistication.

9. Bourbon Highball

EASYPEANUT-FREE

Bourbon Highball

Mix Lab Cocktails

This classic sparkling cocktail will surely take your taste buds on an unforgettable adventure. With its crisp and rich flavor of Angel’s Envy bourbon, this easy-to-follow recipe is perfect for all occasions – whether hosting a gathering or just wanting to treat yourself to a few cocktails with friends! Home mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts alike will love stirring up the perfect pour of this delightfully delicious bourbon highball. Plus, it’s practically effortless, so get your ingredients ready and let’s get shaking!

10. Cucumber Lemon Fizz

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Cucumber Lemon Fizz

Mix Lab Cocktails

The fizz is a school of classic cocktails with a spirit alongside citrus, sugar, and sparkling water. In this Cucumber Lemon Fizz, we use Grey Goose Vodka, cucumber, and honey to create a refreshing summer drink perfect for an energizing happy hour.

11. Whiskey Soda

EASYPEANUT-FREE

Whisky & Soda

Dewar’s

If you want to keep it as simple as possible, there’s nothing better than a good old whisky-soda combination.

12. Classic Margarita

LOW-FATPEANUT-FREE

Mix Lab Classic Margarita

Donavan Mitchem

Made with classic lime juice and tequila, this margarita is a refreshing twist on an old favorite. Perfect for your next happy hour or backyard fiesta, you can whip this up in just a few minutes and raise a toast to good times!

13. Daiquiri

EASYPEANUT-FREE

Daiquiri

BACARDÍ

Nothing is as classic and iconic as a Daiquiri! No more lugging around that heavy blender – our recipe will show you how to make a delicious daiquiri without one. Best of all, we’ve left out all the frilly poolside versions so you can truly experience the classic Daiquiri in its purest form. Get ready to dazzle your guests with this simple but impressive drink!

14. Dirty Shirley

LOW-FATPEANUT-FREE

Dirty Shirley

Mix Lab Cocktails

This grown-up version of a classic Shirley Temple will surely have you refreshingly quenched. It gets its name from the kick of vodka for some extra zing and a hint of tartness from the lime juice that only adds even more flavor. This sweet, bright-red drink will surely make an impact - home happy hour perfection.

15. Gin Martini

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Mix Lab Gin Martini

Mix Lab Partners

It doesn't get much more classic than a Gin Martini- enjoy the timelessness of this iconic beverage with Bombay Sapphire. It is the perfect libation for your next gathering and the ideal way to make at-home mixologists feel like master bartenders. This high-quality gin will elevate your cocktail experience in every sip with its mix of herbal and botanical flavors, making you feel like you've stepped into one of London's finest bars.

Enjoy a flavorful blend of juniper, almond, coriander, angelica root, and grains of paradise from this perfectly balanced martini recipe - elegant enough for any occasion but fun enough to try out when you want to add a special touch to your evening! A Gin Martini might be old school, but it's always in style!

16. Tequila Mai Tai

LOW-FATPEANUT-FREE

Mix Lab Tequila Mai Tai

Mix Lab Partners

Serve a summer sunset and turn your happy hour at home into a sweet escape with a Tequila Mai Tai! Put your own spin on this classic tropical drink and transport yourself to paradise with every sip. This spirit-forward cocktail wonderfully combines the sweetness of fruit and citrus flavors, sure to tantalize your taste buds while giving your wallet a break. So, why not shake things up a bit and enjoy this fun tequila twist?

17. Aviation

LOW-FATPEANUT-FREE

Aviation

Mix Lab Cocktails

Step into a whole new world of deliciousness with an Aviation cocktail. This delectable concoction is perfect for at-home mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts alike; this delicious concoction will take you on an unforgettable journey to flavor heaven. Its unique combination of gin, maraschino liqueur, Crème de Violette, and lemon notes is like taking off from ordinary boring drinks and soaring over the horizon! Let your taste buds explore a dynamic blend of sweet and floral flavors that will perk up your palate. It'll leave you feeling exhilarated yet refreshed - a perfect balance of pleasure and surprise.

18. Caipirinha

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Caipirinha

Mix Lab Cocktails

Ready for a tropical night at home? Make it happen with a Caipirinha! This fun and refreshing Brazilian cocktail is surprisingly robust and simple. It’s a delightful fusion of two unique ingredients—Leblon Cachaca, a delicious sugarcane alcohol from Brazil, and limes. The combination creates something exceptional that you just have to try for yourself! All it takes is a few limes, cachaca, and sugar to recreate an authentic South American drink experience without ever leaving your home.