Cocktails on a Budget: 30 Recipes, 4 Spirits
We’d all love to have a fully stocked bar, but a fully stocked bar is expensive. Hosting a cocktail party can seem like an impossible task if you’re strapped for cash, but we’re here to tell you that it’s not. You don’t need three kinds of rum and a well-aged scotch in order to create cocktails to fit any taste.
In fact, we’ve rounded up a list of 30 libations you can make using just four base spirits and a few essential ingredients. Done right and your cocktail party might even cost less than last weekend’s bar bill.
The Spirits
- Vodka: Don’t risk a serious hangover by settling for a bottle of $6 Monarch. Go mid-shelf with Smirnoff, New Amsterdam, or Svedka. Gin: The packaging may look cheap, but Seagram’s Extra Dry is classic for a reason. If you’re looking to upgrade, the company also has a Distiller’s Reserve for a few bucks more.
- Rum: If you’re only buying one kind of rum, we recommend keeping it light for the most flexibility.
Try Captain Morgan White, Bacardi Superior, or Cruzan Light.
- Whiskey: No, you don’t have to spend a fortune on a palatable whiskey. Evan Williams, Rebel Yell, and Old Overholt all taste more expensive than they really are.
The Essential Ingredients
These ingredients are necessary to make a variety of cocktails. The list may look a bit long, but chances are you already have some of these at home - if you don’t, here’s where to pick these up:
From Your Neighborhood Grocery Store:
- Club soda
- Tonic water
- Ginger ale
- Orange juice
- Cranberry juice
- Lemons and limes
- Grenadine
- Milk
- Cream
- Sugar
- Nutmeg
- Eggs
- Ice
From Amazon or A Nearby Liquor Store:
The Cocktails
- _Acapulco: White rum, triple sec, lime juice, and sugar
- The Ace: Gin, grenadine, cream, lemon juice, egg white, and nutmeg
- Bourbon Rose: Whiskey, triple sec, orange juice, and grenadine
- Bourbon Sidecar: Whiskey, triple sec, and lemon juice
- Bronx Cocktail: Gin, vermouth, and orange juice
- Brown Cocktail: Gin, white rum, and vermouth
- Cape Cod: Vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and club soda
- Cosmopolitan: Vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec, and lime juice
- Daiquiri: White rum, lime juice, and sugar
- Gibson Martini: Gin and vermouth
- Gimlet: Gin and lime juice
- The Gilbert: Vodka, club soda, and orange juice
- Gin and Tonic: Gin, tonic water, and lime
- Hole in One: Vodka, cranberry juice, and orange juice
- Horse’s Neck: Whiskey, ginger ale, and lemon
- Hula-Hula: Gin, orange juice, and triple sec
- Kamikaze: Vodka, triple sec, and lime juice
- Lady’s Gentleman: Whiskey, triple sec, and orange juice
- Opal Cocktail: Gin, triple sec, orange juice, and sugar
- Orange Buck: Gin, orange juice, lime juice, and ginger ale
- Paisley Martini: Gin, whiskey, and vermouth
- Pink Polar Bear: Vodka, grenadine, and milk
- Quicky: Whiskey, white rum, and triple sec
- Rum Rickey: White rum, lime juice, and club soda
- Screwdriver: Vodka and orange juice
- Snakebite: Whiskey and lime juice
- Vodka Martini: Vodka and vermouth
- Vodka Tonic: Vodka, tonic water, and lime
- Whiskey Ginger: Whiskey, ginger ale, and lime
- Zentini: White rum, lime juice, and triple sec
Looking for more ways to have fun without breaking the bank? Pick up Clinton Kelly’s book Freakin’ Fabulous on a Budget for money-smart ideas for your next soiree.
Throwing a great cocktail party on a budget is all about smart shopping and simple recipes that still impress your guests. With just a handful of affordable spirits and basic mixers, you can serve everything from a classic daiquiri to a sophisticated gimlet without spending a fortune. Head over to Cocktail Builder to discover even more cheap cocktail recipes you can make at home with whatever you already have in your kitchen.
Last modified on June 13, 2026
