Ranch Water

If you're from Texas, chances are you've already consumed one of these refreshing bevvies—and it was probably made with a Topo Chico. It's made by mixing a shot of tequila with a long pour of club soda and a solid squeeze of lime. Not too sweet, not too sour, and not too hard to throw back one too many.

Ingredients: Tequila blanco, lime, club soda

Mimosa

You know them, you love them, and you hate the 3 pm post-brunch hangover you get after drinking too many of them. Cop a bottle of cheap champagne (we actually have a list of our 14 budget-friendly favorites) and the OJ of your choice (from concentrate is fine!), and you're good to go. You can also use pineapple, peach, mango, or literally any other fruit juice if you wanna shake things up.

Ingredients: Sparkling wine, orange juice

Gin and Tonic

It's simple, it's classic, and it feels a lot more classy than a vodka-soda for some reason. Don't forget a lime wedge to really adultify things.

Ingredients: Gin, tonic water, lime for garnish

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Strawberry Vodka Lemonade

The ingredients are literally in the name: this sweet and summery cocktail contains just strawberries, vodka, and lemonade. If you're feeling fancy, you can get make your own lemonade and then muddle some fresh strawberries. Or, if you're looking for a truly low-maintenance recipe, you can buy a jug of strawberry lemonade and add your vodka of choice. Honestly, if you wanted, you could chug a little from the jug and pour the vodka straight in to save dishes. I'm not judging.

Ingredients: Strawberries, lemonade, vodka

Classic Margarita

News flash: You don't have to go to your favorite Taco Tuesday-approved restaurant to get a good marg. Trust me, they're actually easy to make at home. Shake together tequila blanco and triple sec (I prefer Cointreau) from your bar cart along with some fresh lime juice, and you'll save yourself a ton of $$$. Add salt or sugar to the rim if you wanna go all out.

Ingredients: Tequila blanco, triple sec, lime

Moscow Mule

Somehow spicy and sweet at the same time, the Moscow Mule has been a classic cocktail for decades, typically served up in a chic copper mug. They're super cheap and easy to make at home, just do not—I repeat, DO NOT—swap ginger ale for ginger beer. It just won't taste the same.

Ingredients: Vodka, lime, ginger beer

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Aperol Spritz

The easiest way to transport yourself to Europe without actually hopping a flight, an Aperol spritz is, and forever will be, my favorite cocktail. And Aperol isn't that expensive! Use the 3-2-1 method for the perfect sip: three parts sparkling wine, two parts Aperol, and one part club soda.

Ingredients: Aperol, sparkling wine, club soda, orange for garnish

Dark and Stormy

A fabulous cocktail if you love dark liquor, a dark and stormy is the ultimate ~moody~ beverage. Bonus points if you garnish with a lime wheel and candied ginger.

Ingredients: Ginger beer, dark rum, lime juice

Cuba Libre

We love a basic mixed drink that has a fancy name, and that's exactly what a Cuba Libre is. It's a rum and coke, and it's a classic.

Ingredients: Rum, cola, lime

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Lemon Drop

If a lemon drop is your shot of choice, you'll def love the cocktail version. Sweet and tart at the same time, it's an easy sip that seems way fancier than it is. Especially if you put it in a long-stem glass and sugar the rim!

Ingredients: Vodka, triple sec, simple syrup, lemon juice

Salty Dog

You really only need two ingredients for this perfectly tart bev: grapefruit juice and either vodka or gin (choose your liquor fighter!). It's basically a paloma, but way easier and a little stronger. FWIW, a salt rim and orange twist never hurt!

Ingredients: Vodka or gin, grapefruit juice

Gin Rickey

I can feel my mouth pucker just looking at this drink, and I like it. It's super refreshing and so easy to make—just combine a shot or two of gin with a squeeze of fresh lime (or the bottle of lime juice in the door of your fridge, whatever works), and top with club soda. You can also add simple syrup or a lil sprinkle of sugar if you like your drinks sweet. Just make sure you stir well!

Ingredients: Gin, club soda, lime

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Cape Codder

Yes, this is a glorified vodka cran, and yes, that's totally fine. It's literally just four parts cranberry juice and one part vodka, with a lil squeeze of lime. No worries if you want to use the cheap vodka you used to pound in college—the cranberry will overpower the rubbing alcohol taste.

Ingredients: Vodka, cranberry juice, lime

Black Russian

If you love espresso martinis and/or strong cocktails, chances are you'll love a Black Russian. It's basically the after-dinner drink of your dreams if you're planning on going out later.

Ingredients: Vodka, coffee liqueur

Vodka Martini

Shaken or stirred, the choice is up to you. You might want to opt for a good(ish) vodka here, since it'll be one of the main flavors you're tasting, but if you don't want to splurge...just add a shit ton of olives. You classy gal, you!

Ingredients: Vodka, dry vermouth, olives

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Tequila Sunrise

This fruity concoction is as tasty as it is gorgeous (look at that ombre effect!) thanks to a sold squirt of grenadine syrup, the same stuff that makes a Shirley Temple so sweet. You could whip up a batch of these for a girls' brunch, but be warned: they go down a little too smooth.

Ingredients: Orange juice, tequila, grenadine syrup

Daquiri

You can't always take a tropical vacation, but you can always make a daiquiri. Add ice and blend for a frozen treat or add strawberries to give it a lil fruity flavor.

Ingredients: Light rum, lime juice, simple syrup

Old Fashioned

One badass drink, coming right up. Make sure you put it in a nice rocks glass and it'll look hella expensive, even if you used the cheapest whiskey you could find at the liquor store.

Ingredients: Whiskey, bitters, sugar cube, cherry or orange for garnish

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Tom Collins

Light and refreshing for a hot summer day—or let's be real, any type of day—the Tom Collins is a crowd favorite. Fresh lemon juice tastes best, but you can use whatever you've got.

Ingredients: Gin, club soda, lemon juice, simple syrup

Negroni

Just try not to feel like a baller while drinking a Negroni. It's impossible. They're strong, but if you can handle 'em you'll never go back. Add some sparkling wine to make it a Negroni Sbagliato.

Ingredients: Gin, red vermouth, Campari, orange for garnish

Hannah Chubb is the lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.

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