Mixed drinks have been very popular from their very inception. Here’s a look at the top 10 mixed drinks that have enticed people all over the world and continue to do so till date.
Getting sozzled and wasted is a total loss when it comes to having a good time with friends and family over a few drinks. You want to be present, at least 90%, mentally and if you keep downing drinks like there’s no tomorrow, it can really ruin your night and the next morning. So what do we do? Of course, indulging in some beverages that are way up in the rank charts and keeping the total count to the minimum. So if you’re interested in enjoying your night with everyone but still wish to taste the best of the best, here are the top 10 mixed drinks that have been loved by most of you.
Mixed Drinks and Their Recipes
Yummy and heavenly! Mojito is a kind of a cocktail that has essentially five ingredients which include rum, carbonated water, lime, sugar, and mint. This mixed drink was first concocted in Cuba. Over the years, several variations of this classy drink have emerged in different parts of the world and each of them is as good as the original.
Recipe
In a glass, place mint leaves (10) at the bottom. Make four parts of lemon (½) and place one wedge over the mint leaves. Crush the mint leaves with the wedge to release the juice. Add two more wedges and sugar (2 tbsp.). Properly crush all the ingredients so they incorporate properly. Add the ice cubes (1 cup) in the glass and then the rum (1½ oz.). Add carbonated water till the rim of the glass and stir well. Add more sugar if needed and garnish with mint leaves and the remaining lime wedge.
This very popular cocktail is a fine blend of many ingredients that gives it its distinct taste. A classic Bloody Mary contains vodka and a portion of tomato juice. It also has a combination of other ingredients that lend it a unique touch. Lemon juice, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, along with a dash of salt is added to this drink. The name has been given due to the reddish brown color of the drink. However, there have been many disputes regarding the same.
Recipe
Use a high glass and add ice in the same. Now add vodka (2 oz.), Worcestershire sauce (7 drops), Tabasco sauce (5 drops), lemon juice (3 tbsp.), Hot sauce (5 drops), tomato juice (6 oz.), salt, and pepper. Mix well and add a celery stick covering the length of the glass.
This interesting mixed drink was concocted in the early 1950s. This drink consists of a mixture of orange juice and vodka. Outside the United States, this drink is often referred to as ‘vodka and orange’. While a Screwdriver is basically a drink made from these two ingredients, there are many variations available of this basic cocktail as well.
Recipe
Take a tall glass and fill it with ice cubes at the base. To these ice cubes, add vodka (1½ oz.) and then top off with orange juice (6 oz.). Stir well till the drinks have blended perfectly. Garnish with orange slices and/or mint leaves and serve.
Whether served on the rocks or shaken with ice, Margarita can bewitch you to go in for more rounds of the same. Essentially, Margaritas are made of tequila, which is blended with lemon juice. While serving, the rim of the Margarita glass is laced with salt. Certain bartenders also use egg white to increase the frothiness of the drink. Apart from lemon juice, raspberry, strawberry, and even mango juice is used in varied combination forms to create uniquely flavored margaritas.
Recipe
Mix tequila (4 oz.), lemon juice (4 oz.), crushed ice (1 cup) in a blender and blend till slushy. Wet the rim of the glass with water and swirl in a dish of coarse salt. Pour the drink in the glass and serve.
Sinful and tantalizing, the Martini is also one of the most popular kinds of mixed drinks. This drink has uncertain origins. It consists of gin and a combination of vermouth (dry white or sweet and red). These ingredients are used in various ratios to create different variations of the martini.
Recipe
Fill a martini glass with ice till the brim. After 30 seconds, discard the ice. This will chill the glass. In a shaker, pour in huge chunks of ice and add the vermouth (dry, ½ oz.). Shake well and discard the excess vermouth. This will give you vermouth coated ice chunks. Add the gin (2½ oz.) and vodka (1½ oz.) and stir well for about 10-15 seconds. Pour this into the pre-chilled martini glass. Squeeze a lemon peel over the rim of the glass so that it gets coated with the juice. Then either add the lemon to the mixture or discard. Drop in an olive for the complete martini look.
This awesome cocktail was concocted in the late 1920s. In the olden days, the Sea Breeze drink consisted of a mixture of gin and grenadine. In recent times, this cocktail is prepared by combining vodka with grapefruit juice and cranberry juice. Usually, the drink is beaten several times to make it into a frothy texture. The unique factor of this drink is that it combines the strong flavor of alcohol and the sweet and sour taste of the juices to create a unique flavor.
Recipe
Take a tall glass and fill it with vodka (1¾ oz.) and cranberry juice (3 oz.). Top the glass with lots of ice cubes. Stir this mixture well. Finish off by adding grapefruit juice and garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Too good to resist! That’s how I would best describe the Piña Colada. This drink is an amazing combination of rum and coconut cream. Add some pineapple juice and ice to this and your Piña Colada is ready to be served. A word of caution…it’s very addictive!
Recipe
Pour cream of coconut (2 oz.), rum (1½ oz.), pineapple juice (2 oz.), and crushed ice (1 cup) into a blender. Blend till smooth and pour into a glass. Garnish with cherries and pineapple slices.
Long Island was first concocted in the Prohibition era. Since that time, till date, this popular drink has been created in several different ways. Long Island Iced Tea consists of a combination of vodka, tequila, gin, and rum. Sometimes, brandy is also used in place of tequila.
Recipe
Add ice into a tumbler and follow that with vodka (½ oz.), rum (½ oz.), gin (½ oz.), tequila (½ oz.), and triple sec (½ oz.). To this mixture, add sugar (1 tsp.) and lemon juice (1 oz.). Shake till all the ingredients have mixed well. Pour the concoction into a tall glass that has been filled half way with ice cubes. Pour cola as the final ingredient.
This very interesting cocktail is also known as Fun on the Beach. Sex on the Beach primarily consists of vodka, orange juice, cranberry juice, and peach schnapps. There are many interesting variations of the same. Often, coconut rum is also used as a substitute to vodka.
Recipe
Use a cocktail shaker and add 4-5 ice cubes in it. Add vodka (1 oz.), peach schnapps (½ oz.), cranberry juice (1½ oz.), and orange juice (1½ oz.) to the same. Add more ice cubes into a glass and add the mixture to it. Then garnish with an orange slice.
This drink is especially popular in French-speaking countries and is a rum-mixed beverage. Ti’Punch literally means small punch is quite similar to a daiquiri. Basically, the drink is made with Rhum Agricole, cane syrup, and lime. You can even use white rum, regular sugar, and other fruity flavors as substitutes.
Recipe
You’ll require Rhum Agricole (2 oz.), cane or sugar syrup (1 oz.), and 1 lime. Cut the top and bottom of lime, and make thin slices. Place the lime pieces in a short, wide glass and crush it with a bar spoon. Add rum and syrup on top along with a few broken ice cubes. Mix everything properly and serve with a short straw.
I can see a party happening at your place. And there you are at the drinks counter pouring out one awesome drink after another for your guests. You can imagine it right now, can’t you? Tell me that this list has not made you want to try all of them? (one at a time; not all at once) That is the potent power of these drinks. You’ll know just as soon as you try them.