Signature cocktails are such a fun, creative and budget-friendly trend. Check out these easy DIY recipes:
Photo Credit: Allan Zepeda Photography
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living)
Makes 4 drinks
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 large mango, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup Key lime juice
1/3 cup tequila
1/4 cup Cointreau or other orange-flavored liqueur
1/4 cup Simple Syrup
Ice cubes
Combine first 6 ingredients in a blender, cover with lid, and process until smooth. Add ice to make 4 cups; process until smooth.
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living)
Makes 10 drinks
1 (1.75-liter) bottle raspberry lemonade 1 3/4 cups coconut rum 1 cup amaretto liqueur Combine raspberry lemonade, coconut rum, and amaretto liqueur in a large pitcher. Stir well, and serve over ice.
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living) Makes 1 drink 3 lime wedges
1 mango slice
6 large mint leaves
1 teaspoon sugar in a rocks glass
2 tablespoons (1 ounce) pineapple rum Muddle (crush together) lime wedges, mango slice, mint leaves, and sugar in a rocks glass. Add pineapple rum. Fill glass with ice, and top with club soda.
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living)
Makes 8 drinks
2 cups passion-fruit juice
2 cups guava juice
2 cups orange juice
1 cup cranberry juice
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup apple juice
Combine juices in a large pitcher, stirring well.
(Photo and Recipe: Delish)
Makes 1 drink
1 1/2 ounce(s) Smirnoff Passion Fruit Flavored Vodka 1 splash(es) cranberry juice 1 splash(es) pineapple juice 1 splash(es) grapefruit juice 2 dash(es) bitters 1 splash(es) lemon-lime soda 1 piece(s) pineapple 1 piece(s) orange 1 piece(s) cherry
Build first 5 ingredients in a collins glass over ice. Top with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with pineapple wedge, an orange slice, and a cherry.
(Photo and Recipe: LCBO)
Makes 1 drink
1½ oz. Parrot Bay 2 oz. pineapple juice 1 oz pomegranate juice
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add Parrot Bay, pineapple juice and pomegranate juice. Shake sharply and strain into a Colada glass filled with ice. Garnish with a pineapple spear.
(Photo and Recipe: Delish)
Makes 1 drink
1 ounce(s) Cîroc Vodka 1 1/2 ounce(s) pomegranate juice 1 teaspoon(s) elderflower liqueur 1 splash champagne 1 orchid blossom
Stir all the ingredients over ice to chilled and strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. Top with splash of champagne and garnish with a Sonya orchid or, if unavailable, another food-grade edible flower.
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living)
Makes 8 1/2 drinks
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled 2 cups pink grapefruit juice, chilled 1 cup cranberry vodka, chilled 1 (750-ml) bottle sparkling white wine, chilled Garnish: pink grapefruit wheels or wedges
Combine first 3 ingredients in a pitcher or punch bowl. Gently stir in sparkling wine. Garnish, if desired. Substitute a lemon-lime carbonated soda or club soda for the vodka and wine to make a non-alcoholic version.
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living)
Makes 6 drinks
1/2 medium honeydew melon (about 4 cups), cubed
1 cup crushed ice
1 tablespoon sugar
1 (750 ml) bottle sparkling wine, chilled
Garnishes: lime wedges
Combine first 3 ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth. Pour mixture into a large pitcher; add sparkling wine. Pour into glasses. Garnish, if desired.
Note: This recipe can easily be doubled. Just be sure to make the mimosas in 2 batches. For best results, chill melon overnight.
(Photo and Recipe: LCBO)
Makes 1 drink
1 oz. spiced rum ½ oz. banana liqueur 1 banana, chopped 3 oz. pineapple juice ¼ cup Piña Colada mix
In a blender, add 1 cup ice, 1 oz spiced rum, ½ oz banana liqueur, 1 banana, chopped, 3 oz pineapple juice and ¼ cup Piña Colada mix. Blend thoroughly and pour into a tall glass. Serve with a long straw.
(Photo and Recipe: Delish)
Makes 1 drink
1 1/2 ounce(s) Oronoco Rum 5 wedge(s) lime 1 tablespoon(s) sugar 3 ounce(s) fresh squeezed lime juice Crushed ice
In shaker, muddle 4 lime wedges and sugar. Add Oronoco, lime juice, and ice. Shake vigorously. Strain contents into a chilled martini glass and garnish with lime wedge.
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living)
Makes 6-8 drinks
3/4 cup golden or amber rum 1/2 cup coconut rum 1/4 cup apricot brandy 1 cup pineapple juice 3/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup pink grapefruit juice Garnish: Limes, sliced
Combine all ingredients in a pitcher. Pour over ice to serve. Garnish with lime slices, if desired.
(Photo: Societe Perrier/Recipe: St. Germain via Wedding Chicks)
Makes 1 drink
2 oz. Grey Goose vodka 1 oz. St. Germain liquor 1/2 oz. lime juice 1 oz. white cranberry juice Orchid or any other edible flower & Ice
Shake vodka, St. Germain liquor, lime juice and white cranberry juice together with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish: A dainty orchid variety to top your cocktail.
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living)
Makes 12 drinks
2 cups pineapple-mango juice 2 cups orange juice 2 cups cranberry juice 2 cups guava nectar 1 cup apple juice 1 (750-ml) bottle sparkling wine Garnish: sliced star fruit and limes
For the best flavor, chill all ingredients before combining.Combine pineapple-mango juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, guava nectar, and apple juice in a large bowl. Stir in sparkling wine. Garnish, if desired.
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living)
Makes 7 drinks
4 cups pineapple juice, chilled 1 1/2 cups sparkling wine, chilled* 1 cup guava juice, chilled 1 cup ginger ale, chilled Garnish: pineapple wedges
Combine first 4 ingredients. Pour over ice. Garnish, if desired.
*For a nonalcoholic version, omit the sparkling wine and increase ginger ale to a total of 2 1/2 cups.
(Photo: Absolut Vodka/Recipe: Aloha Secrets.com)
Makes 1 drink
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Light Rum
½ oz Orange Curacao or Grand Marnier (Triple Sec will substitute)
3-4 oz Passion Fruit Juice (or get creative!)
Mix ingredients, shake well and pour over ice. Garnish with fruit
(Photo and Recipe: taste.com.au)
Makes 8 drinks
500g peeled watermelon, chopped 1/2 cup Golden Circle pineapple juice 1/2 cup white rum 1/4 cup triple sec liqueur 1 tsp grenadine Crushed ice, to serve
Place the watermelon, pineapple juice, rum, liqueur and grenadine in the jug of a blender and blend until smooth.
Divide the ice among serving glasses. Pour over watermelon mixture to serve.
(Photo and Recipe:Delish)
Makes 1 drink
1 1/2 ounce(s) Stirrings Red Sangria Cocktail Mixer 1 1/2 ounce(s) Moët & Chandon (or sparkling wine) 1 slice(s) orange Combine Stirrings Red Sangria Cocktail Mixer with Moët & Chandon (or sparkling wine) in a champagne glass. Garnish with a fresh sliced orange.
(Photo and Recipe: the Knot)
Makes 1 drink
1 oz bacardi superior rum 1/2 oz blue curacao 2 oz pineapple juice pineapple slice (for garnish) In a shaker blend pineapple juice, blue curacao and rum. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with pineapple slice & serve immediately.
(Photo and Recipe: Saveur)
Makes 1 drink
Spritzer of red wine and lemon-lime soda 1 cup red wine (preferably Spanish, such as rioja) 1 cup lightly-sweetened lemon-lime soda 1 lemon wedge Seltzer (optional)
Combine red wine and soda. Garnish with a lemon wedge. If the drink is too sweet, add a splash of seltzer water.
(Photo and Recipe: Coastal Living)
Makes 1 drink
3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) white rum
1 1/2 teaspoons (1/4 ounce) maraschino liqueur
1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons (1 ounce) ruby red grapefruit juice
1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) Simple Syrup*
Garnish: Grapefruit twist
Combine first 5 ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously, and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish, if desired.
*Simple Syrup: Combine equal parts sugar and hot water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Store in refrigerator until ready to use in mixed drinks or iced tea.
(Photo and Recipe: My Recipes)
Makes 6 drinks
1 cup white rum 1 cup fresh orange juice (about 2 oranges) 1 cup pineapple juice 1 cup bottled guava nectar 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1/4 teaspoon Angostura bitters 6 cinnamon sticks 6 fresh pineapple slices 6 orange slices 6 maraschino cherries 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg (optional)
Combine first 7 ingredients in a pitcher. Serve over ice. Garnish each serving with 1 cinnamon stick, 1 pineapple slice, 1 orange slice, and 1 cherry. Sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired.
(Photo and Recipe: Martha Stewart Weddings)
Makes 1 drink
1 ounce vodka 1 ounce juice from a watermelon 1/2 ounce coconut water 1/2 ounce prickly pear puree) 1/2 ounce lime juice 1/4 ounce agave nectar Champagne, chilled Lemon peel, for garnish
Place ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain shaker contents into a flute. Top with the Champagne and garnish with a lemon peel.
(Photo and Recipe: A Communal Table)
Makes 2 drinks
6 large strawberries, hulled and cut in half 8 large fresh mint leaves 2 mint sprigs (optional) 2 Tbsp. agave nectar OR simple syrup 3 oz. Bacardi Razz Rum or white rum – 12 oz. sparkling water ice
Place 6 strawberry halves in the bottom of two (8 to 12 ounce) glasses. Add 4 mint leaves to each glass. “Muddle” the strawberries with the mint (i.e. lightly crush the strawberries and mint). Add 1 Tbsp. agave nectar or simple syrup to each glass. Add 1 shot (1.5 ounces). Add ice. Pour about 4 ounces (or less depending upon size of ice cubes and glass) into each glass. Stir briefly. Garnish with mint sprigs if using.
(Photo and Recipe: Martha Stewart Weddings)
Makes 12 drinks
2 1/4 cups freshly squeezed lime juice (or 1 1/2 ounces per shaker), plus more for rims 1 1/2 cups gin (or 2 ounces per shaker) 1/2 cup superfine sugar (or 2 teaspoons per shaker) 1 bottle brut Champagne or sparkling wine (or 4 ounces per shaker) Fine sanding sugar, for rims Grenadine
Mix lime juice, gin, and superfine sugar in a 2-quart pitcher; chill until ready to serve, several hours. To serve, dip rims of glasses in lime juice, then sanding sugar, to coat with 1-inch-wide band. Measure 4 ounces Champagne into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add 3 1/2 ounces lime juice-and-gin mixture, and shake; strain into 2 glasses, and add 2 to 3 drops of grenadine to each. Repeat.
To make this drink on demand, use the amounts in parentheses, and mix two drinks at once in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then pour into glasses, and add grenadine. For a crowd, follow the directions above.
