Great cocktails do not need a crowded bar, fancy shelves, or confusing steps.
With a few fresh ingredients, proper ice, and simple mixing tools, anyone can build drinks that feel bright, balanced, and party-ready.
Learning how to make cocktails at home starts with easy recipes, precise measurements, and small tweaks that quickly improve taste.
From citrusy highballs to smooth shaken classics, this setup keeps things simple without making drinks feel basic. Keep reading and start mixing better drinks today.
What You Need to Make Cocktails at Home
Making cocktails at home does not require a full bar setup. A few basic tools and fresh ingredients are enough to mix, shake, stir, and serve drinks with ease.
- Basic Tools: Cocktail shaker, jiggers, strainers, bar spoons, citrus juicer and plenty of fresh ice.
- Fresh Ingredients: Lemons, limes, mint, cherries, cucumber and orange slices.
- Mixers: Simple syrup, soda water, tonic water, ginger beer, cola, cranberry juice and orange juice.
- Spirits: Vodka, gin, rum, tequila and whiskey cover most simple cocktails.
- Garnishes: Fresh fruit, herbs and cherries help drinks look better and taste fresher.
How to Make Cocktails at Home
Follow these steps to prepare balanced cocktails at home without costly equipment or a fully stocked bar.
1. Choose Your Spirits
Start with two or three liquors you already enjoy, such as vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila or gin. A small selection is enough to make several different cocktails.
There is no need to purchase expensive bottles at first, especially when you are testing recipes and learning which flavor combinations suit your taste.
2. Gather Mixers and Fresh Ingredients
Keep versatile mixers and fresh ingredients such as club soda, tonic water, ginger beer, sparkling water, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice on hand.
Add lemons, limes, mint, basil, berries or fruit jam for more flavor.
These ingredients can be combined in different ways, allowing you to make refreshing cocktails without buying specialty products.
3. Prepare Your Tools and Glasses
A cocktail shaker, measuring cup, strainer and a few drinking glasses are enough for most recipes. When a shaker is unavailable, use a mason jar or protein shaker with a secure lid.
Choose a container that closes tightly and leaves enough space for the ingredients and ice to move.
4. Measure and Combine the Ingredients
Read the recipe and measure each ingredient before adding it to the shaker or glass. Accurate measurements keep the spirit, mixer, citrus, and sweetener balanced.
Avoid pouring ingredients without measuring until you understand their proportions. Add the alcohol first, followed by juices, syrups, mixers, herbs or fruit.
5. Add Ice and Shake or Stir
Fill the shaker or mixing glass with enough ice to chill the drink quickly.
Shake cocktails containing fruit juice, herbs, cream, or syrup for about 10 to 15 seconds. Stir drinks made mainly with spirits. Both methods cool the cocktail and combine the ingredients without excessively diluting it.
6. Strain, Garnish, and Serve
Strain the cocktail into a clean glass to remove broken ice, fruit pulp or herb pieces.
Add fresh ice when the recipe calls for it. Finish the drink with a lemon wheel, a lime wedge, berries or a sprig of herbs. Serve it immediately while it is cold and properly balanced.
Easy Cocktails to Make at Home
Easy cocktails to make at home use simple ingredients, quick steps and basic mixers, making them perfect for beginners, guests, and relaxed nights.
1. Classic Margarita
A classic margarita is one of the easiest tequila cocktails to make at home. It has a tart lime taste, a light orange note, and a salted rim.
- Best for: Tequila lovers, summer drinks, parties
- Main spirit: Tequila
- Ingredients: Tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, simple syrup, salt, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and syrup with ice. Strain into a salt-rimmed glass and serve.
- Taste note: Tangy, citrusy, lightly sweet, and cold.
2. Mojito
A Mojito is minty, citrusy, and easy to build in a glass. It works well when you want a light rum cocktail that does not feel too heavy.
- Best for: Summer drinks, mint cocktails, casual hosting
- Rum type: White rum
- Ingredients: White rum, lime juice, mint leaves, sugar, soda water, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Muddle mint with lime juice and sugar. Add rum and ice, then top with soda water.
- Taste note: Minty, citrusy, lightly sweet, and cool.
3. Whiskey Sour
A Whiskey Sour is a softer way to enjoy whiskey with lemon and syrup. The optional egg white gives it a creamy foam and smoother mouthfeel.
- Best for: Whiskey beginners, dinner drinks, sour cocktails
- Main spirit: Bourbon or rye whiskey
- Ingredients: Whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, ice and optional egg white.
- Quick recipe: Shake whiskey, lemon juice, and syrup with ice. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with lemon or cherry.
- Taste note: Tart, smooth, warm, and lightly sweet.
4. Old Fashioned
An old fashioned is a spirit-forward whiskey drink made with very few ingredients. It is made for slow sipping and works well after dinner.
- Best for: Whiskey drinks, slow sipping, low-ingredient cocktails
- Main spirit: Bourbon or rye whiskey
- Ingredients: Whiskey, sugar cube or simple syrup, bitters, orange peel and ice.
- Quick recipe: Stir sugar, bitters, and whiskey with ice. Strain or serve over a large ice cube with orange peel.
- Taste note: Bold, smooth, lightly sweet, and spiced.
5. Gin and Tonic
A gin and tonic is one of the fastest cocktails to make at home. The tonic adds fizz, while lime keeps the drink sharp and clean.
- Best for: Beginners, fast drinks, two-ingredient cocktails
- Main spirit: Gin
- Ingredients: Gin, tonic water, lime wedge, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Fill a glass with ice, add gin, top with tonic water, and squeeze in lime.
- Taste note: Crisp, fizzy, bittersweet, and cool.
6. Classic Daiquiri
A Classic Daiquiri is a shaken rum cocktail with lime and sugar. It is clean, tart, and much lighter than frozen bar-style versions.
- Best for: Rum cocktails, citrus drinks, shaken drinks
- Rum type: White rum
- Ingredients: White rum, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake rum, lime juice, and syrup with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Taste note: Tart, clean, lightly sweet, and smooth.
7. Moscow Mule
A Moscow Mule is spicy, fizzy and easy to make at home. It is often served in a copper mug, but any glass works.
- Best for: Vodka drinks, spicy cocktails, party drinks
- Main spirit: Vodka
- Ingredients: Vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, mint, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Add vodka and lime juice to a glass with ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with mint.
- Taste note: Spicy, citrusy, fizzy, and cool.
8. Tom Collins
A Tom Collins tastes like sparkling lemonade with gin. It is tall, light and good for anyone who wants a citrus drink without too much sugar.
- Best for: Gin beginners, summer drinks, tall cocktails
- Main spirit: Gin
- Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, soda water, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice. Strain into a tall glass and top with soda water.
- Taste note: Fizzy, lemony, light, and clean.
9. Gin Fizz
A Gin Fizz is bubbly and soft, with light foam when made with egg white. It uses basic ingredients but still feels polished in the glass.
- Best for: Frothy cocktails, gin drinks, brunch
- Main spirit: Gin
- Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, soda water, ice, and optional egg white.
- Quick recipe: Shake gin, lemon juice, syrup, and egg white. Add ice, shake again, strain and top with soda.
- Taste note: Light, citrusy, foamy, and smooth.
10. Espresso Martini
An Espresso Martini is rich, bold, and made for coffee lovers. It works well as an after-dinner cocktail or party drink.
- Best for: Coffee cocktails, after-dinner drinks, parties
- Main spirit: Vodka
- Ingredients: Vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, simple syrup and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and syrup with ice. Strain into a martini glass.
- Taste note: Rich, smooth, bold, and lightly sweet.
11. Aperol Spritz
An Aperol Spritz is bubbly, light, and easy to build in a glass. It works well for brunch, warm evenings, and casual hosting.
- Best for: Brunch, light cocktails, sparkling drinks
- Main alcohol: Aperol and prosecco
- Ingredients: Aperol, prosecco, soda water, orange slice, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Add ice to a wine glass. Pour in prosecco, Aperol, and soda water, then garnish with orange.
- Taste note: Bubbly, bittersweet, citrusy, and light.
12. Cosmopolitan
A Cosmopolitan is a tart vodka cocktail with cranberry and lime. It has a fruity taste without feeling too heavy or too sugary.
- Best for: Vodka cocktails, parties, fruity drinks
- Main spirit: Vodka
- Ingredients: Vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, orange liqueur and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice and orange liqueur with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.
- Taste note: Tart, citrusy, lightly sweet, and fruity.
13. French 75
A French 75 is a sparkling gin cocktail with lemon and syrup. It is a good choice for brunch, parties or small celebrations at home.
- Best for: Celebrations, brunch, sparkling cocktails
- Main spirit: Gin
- Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling wine and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice. Strain into a flute and top with sparkling wine.
- Taste note: Crisp, fizzy, citrusy, and clean.
14. Paloma
A Paloma is a light tequila cocktail with grapefruit and lime. It is easier than a Margarita and has a clean citrus taste.
- Best for: Tequila drinks, summer cocktails, fast mixing
- Main spirit: Tequila
- Ingredients: Tequila, grapefruit soda, lime juice, salt and ice.
- Quick recipe: Add tequila and lime juice to a glass with ice. Top with grapefruit soda and add a pinch of salt.
- Taste note: Citrusy, fizzy, lightly bitter and cool.
15. Negroni
A Negroni is a bitter gin cocktail that is easy to remember. It uses equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth.
- Best for: Bitter cocktails, gin drinks, slow sipping
- Main spirit: Gin
- Ingredients: Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, orange peel and ice.
- Quick recipe: Stir gin, Campari, and vermouth with ice. Strain over ice and garnish with orange peel.
- Taste note: Bitter, herbal, strong and lightly sweet.
16. Manhattan
A Manhattan is a smooth whiskey cocktail made for slow sipping. It works well for evenings, dinner parties or quiet nights at home.
- Best for: Whiskey cocktails, dinner drinks, slow sipping
- Main spirit: Rye whiskey or bourbon
- Ingredients: Whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters, cherry and ice.
- Quick recipe: Stir whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters with ice. Strain into a glass and garnish with a cherry.
- Taste note: Warm, rich, smooth and lightly sweet.
17. Martini
A Martini is a clean, strong cocktail with a dry finish. It works well for people who like spirit-forward drinks.
- Best for: Strong cocktails, dry drinks, simple sipping
- Main spirit: Gin or vodka
- Ingredients: Gin or vodka, dry vermouth, lemon twist or olive and ice.
- Quick recipe: Stir gin or vodka with dry vermouth and ice. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish.
- Taste note: Dry, clean, sharp, and spirit-forward.
18. Dirty Martini
A Dirty Martini adds olive brine to the Martini. It is salty, sharp and a good pick for fans of savory drinks.
- Best for: Savory cocktails, Martini fans, strong drinks
- Main spirit: Gin or vodka
- Ingredients: Gin or vodka, dry vermouth, olive brine, olives and ice.
- Quick recipe: Stir or shake the spirit, vermouth and olive brine with ice. Strain and garnish with olives.
- Taste note: Salty, sharp, briny and bold.
19. Lemon Drop Martini
A Lemon Drop Martini is sweet, tart and easy to enjoy. It tastes like lemon candy with a clean vodka base.
- Best for: Vodka drinks, sweet-tart cocktails, parties
- Main spirit: Vodka
- Ingredients: Vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, sugar rim and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake vodka, lemon juice, and syrup with ice. Strain into a sugar-rimmed glass.
- Taste note: Citrusy, sweet, tart, and sharp.
20. Piña Colada
A Piña Colada is creamy, fruity and rich. It is a fun home cocktail for anyone who likes coconut and pineapple.
- Best for: Tropical drinks, sweet cocktails, poolside parties
- Rum type: White rum or gold rum
- Ingredients: Rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream, lime juice and ice.
- Quick recipe: Blend or shake rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and lime with ice. Serve cold.
- Taste note: Creamy, fruity, coconut-rich and sweet.
21. Mai Tai
A Mai Tai is a tiki-style cocktail with rum, lime and almond flavor. It is bold, layered and a good choice when you want something richer than a basic rum drink.
- Best for: Tiki-style drinks, strong cocktails, parties
- Rum type: Jamaican rum
- Ingredients: Jamaican rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup, simple syrup, mint and crushed ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake rum, lime, curaçao, orgeat and syrup with ice. Strain over crushed ice and garnish with mint.
- Taste note: Nutty, citrusy, strong and full-bodied.
22. Dark and Stormy
A Dark and Stormy is a rum cocktail with a strong ginger kick. It is built into the glass and does not need a shaker.
- Best for: Rum lovers, spicy drinks, fast cocktails
- Rum type: Dark rum
- Ingredients: Dark rum, ginger beer, lime juice and ice.
- Quick recipe: Fill a glass with ice, add ginger beer and lime, then float dark rum on top.
- Taste note: Spicy, dark, fizzy, and lightly sweet.
23. Cuba Libre
A Cuba Libre is made with rum, cola, and lime. Fresh lime gives it a sharper taste and makes it feel more like a cocktail.
- Best for: Beginners, two-ingredient style drinks, casual parties
- Rum type: White rum or dark rum
- Ingredients: Rum, cola, lime juice, lime wedge and ice.
- Quick recipe: Add rum and lime juice to a glass with ice. Top with cola and garnish with lime.
- Taste note: Sweet, fizzy, citrusy, and easy to drink.
24. Rum Punch
Rum Punch is fruity, colorful, and made for sharing. It works by the glass or in a large pitcher for parties.
- Best for: Parties, fruity drinks, pitcher cocktails
- Rum type: White rum, dark rum or coconut rum
- Ingredients: Rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine and ice.
- Quick recipe: Stir rum, juices and grenadine with ice. Serve in glasses with fruit garnish.
- Taste note: Fruity, sweet, tropical, and citrusy.
25. Tequila Sunrise
A Tequila Sunrise is colorful, sweet and simple to make. It requires only a few ingredients and looks nice with minimal effort.
- Best for: Fruity tequila drinks, brunch, parties
- Main spirit: Tequila
- Ingredients: Tequila, orange juice, grenadine, orange slice, cherry and ice.
- Quick recipe: Add tequila and orange juice to a glass with ice. Pour grenadine slowly so it settles at the bottom.
- Taste note: Sweet, citrusy, fruity, and smooth.
26. Bloody Mary
A Bloody Mary is savory, spicy, and full of flavor. It is a brunch cocktail that can be kept simple or topped with extra garnishes.
- Best for: Brunch, savory cocktails, spicy drinks
- Main spirit: Vodka
- Ingredients: Vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Stir or shake all ingredients with ice. Serve in a tall glass with celery, lemon, or olives.
- Taste note: Savory, tangy, spicy, and bold.
27. Mimosa
A Mimosa is one of the easiest brunch cocktails. It is light, bubbly, and good for serving a group.
- Best for: Brunch, celebrations, two-ingredient drinks
- Main alcohol: Sparkling wine
- Ingredients: Sparkling wine, orange juice, and optional orange slice.
- Quick recipe: Pour chilled orange juice into a flute, then top with sparkling wine.
- Taste note: Bubbly, citrusy, light, and lightly sweet.
28. Bellini
A Bellini is a soft sparkling drink with peach flavor. It is a simple brunch cocktail with a smooth finish.
- Best for: Brunch, summer drinks, light cocktails
- Main alcohol: Prosecco
- Ingredients: Prosecco, peach purée or peach nectar, and optional peach slice.
- Quick recipe: Add peach purée to a flute, then slowly top with chilled prosecco.
- Taste note: Fruity, bubbly, soft, and sweet.
29. Sea Breeze
A Sea Breeze is a light vodka drink with cranberry and grapefruit juice. It is tart, fruity, and easy to pour at home.
- Best for: Vodka drinks, beach-style cocktails, easy hosting
- Main spirit: Vodka
- Ingredients: Vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, lime wedge, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Add vodka and juices to a glass with ice. Stir gently and garnish with lime.
- Taste note: Tart, fruity, crisp, and cool.
30. Sidecar
A Sidecar is a sour-style cocktail with cognac, lemon, and orange liqueur. It feels dressy but uses only a few easy ingredients.
- Best for: Sour cocktails, citrus drinks, dinner parties
- Main spirit: Cognac
- Ingredients: Cognac, orange liqueur, lemon juice, sugar rim, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice with ice. Strain into a sugar-rimmed glass.
- Taste note: Citrusy, rich, smooth, and tart.
31. Mint Julep
A Mint Julep is cold, strong, and mint-forward. It is a bourbon drink served over plenty of crushed ice.
- Best for: Bourbon lovers, warm weather, mint cocktails
- Main spirit: Bourbon
- Ingredients: Bourbon, mint leaves, sugar or simple syrup, crushed ice, and mint garnish.
- Quick recipe: Muddle mint with sugar or syrup. Add bourbon and crushed ice, then stir until chilled.
- Taste note: Minty, strong, cold, and lightly sweet.
32. Caipirinha
A Caipirinha is Brazil’s famous lime cocktail. It is strong, tart, and packed with fresh citrus flavor.
- Best for: Lime cocktails, strong drinks, simple classics
- Main spirit: Cachaça
- Ingredients: Cachaça, lime wedges, sugar, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Muddle lime wedges with sugar. Add cachaça and ice, then stir well.
- Taste note: Fresh, tart, strong, and lightly grassy.
33. White Russian
A White Russian is creamy, rich, and easy to make. It is a dessert-like cocktail with coffee flavor and a smooth finish.
- Best for: Dessert cocktails, coffee drinks, creamy cocktails
- Main spirit: Vodka
- Ingredients: Vodka, coffee liqueur, cream or milk, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Add vodka and coffee liqueur to a glass with ice. Top with cream and stir gently.
- Taste note: Creamy, sweet, coffee-rich, and smooth.
34. Black Russian
A Black Russian is the stronger version of a White Russian. It skips the cream and keeps the focus on vodka and coffee liqueur.
- Best for: Coffee lovers, after-dinner drinks, two-ingredient cocktails
- Main spirit: Vodka
- Ingredients: Vodka, coffee liqueur, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Pour vodka and coffee liqueur over ice. Stir until chilled.
- Taste note: Strong, sweet, coffee-forward, and smooth.
35. Amaretto Sour
An Amaretto Sour is sweet, nutty, and tart. It is a good choice for people who want a softer drink with almond flavor.
- Best for: Sweet cocktails, nutty drinks, beginners
- Main alcohol: Amaretto
- Ingredients: Amaretto, lemon juice, simple syrup, ice, and optional egg white.
- Quick recipe: Shake amaretto, lemon juice, and syrup with ice. Strain and garnish with a cherry or lemon.
- Taste note: Nutty, sweet, tart, and smooth.
36. Bee’s Knees
A Bee’s Knees is a gin cocktail with honey and lemon. It is soft, light, and easy to make with homemade honey syrup.
- Best for: Gin beginners, honey cocktails, light drinks
- Main spirit: Gin
- Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, honey syrup, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup with ice. Strain into a chilled glass.
- Taste note: Floral, citrusy, lightly sweet, and smooth.
37. Clover Club
A Clover Club is a pink gin cocktail with raspberry and lemon. It looks polished but is simple once you have raspberry syrup.
- Best for: Gin drinks, party menus, fruit-forward cocktails
- Main spirit: Gin
- Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, egg white, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake gin, lemon, raspberry syrup, and egg white without ice. Add ice, shake again, and strain.
- Taste note: Tart, fruity, silky, and lightly sweet.
38. Aviation
An Aviation is a floral gin cocktail with a soft purple tone. It is a good choice when you want a drink that feels a little different.
- Best for: Floral cocktails, gin fans, special nights
- Main spirit: Gin
- Ingredients: gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, crème de violette, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Taste note: Floral, citrusy, lightly sweet, and smooth.
39. Sazerac
A Sazerac is a strong rye whiskey cocktail with bitters and an absinthe rinse. It is made for whiskey drinkers who like a sharp finish.
- Best for: Strong cocktails, whiskey fans, old-school drinks
- Main spirit: Rye whiskey
- Ingredients: Rye whiskey, sugar, Peychaud’s bitters, absinthe rinse, lemon peel, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Rinse a glass with absinthe. Stir rye, sugar, and bitters with ice, then strain into the glass.
- Taste note: Bold, spiced, herbal, and dry.
40. Boulevardier
A Boulevardier is similar to a Negroni but uses whiskey instead of gin. It is bitter, rich, and made for slow sipping.
- Best for: Whiskey cocktails, bitter drinks, evening sipping
- Main spirit: Bourbon or rye whiskey
- Ingredients: Whiskey, Campari, sweet vermouth, orange peel, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Stir whiskey, Campari, and vermouth with ice. Strain over ice and garnish with orange peel.
- Taste note: Bitter, rich, warm, and lightly sweet.
41. Long Island Iced Tea
A Long Island Iced Tea is a strong party cocktail with several spirits. Measure carefully and serve it with plenty of ice.
- Best for: Strong cocktails, parties, group drinks
- Main spirits: Vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and orange liqueur
- Ingredients: Vodka, gin, rum, tequila, orange liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, cola, and ice.
- Quick recipe: Shake spirits, lemon juice, and syrup with ice. Strain into a tall glass and top with cola.
- Taste note: Strong, citrusy, sweet, and bold.
Easy Cocktail-Making Tips for Beginners
Small habits can make homemade cocktails taste fresher, colder, and more balanced.
- Use fresh lemon or lime juice instead of bottled juice for a cleaner taste.
- Measure each pour with a jigger, because extra alcohol, syrup, or citrus can throw off the drink.
- Use enough ice to chill the cocktail and add gentle dilution.
- Shake drinks made with citrus, juice, cream, or egg white.
- Stir spirit-forward drinks such as Martinis, Manhattans, and Old Fashioneds.
- Taste before adding sugar, since juices, liqueurs, and mixers may already be sweet.
- Keep the steps simple so each cocktail is easier to repeat at home.
Final Takeaway
Making cocktails at home becomes easier when you keep the basics close at hand: fresh citrus, solid ice, clear measurements, and a few reliable spirits.
Start with drinks that use familiar ingredients, then adjust sweetness, sourness, and strength after tasting.
Shake citrus drinks, stir spirit-heavy drinks, and add fizzy mixers at the end. Small steps like these help each glass taste colder, smoother, and cleaner.
Try one recipe tonight, save your favorites, and tell us which drink you made first in the comments so other readers can try it at home too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Make Cocktails without a Shaker?
Yes. Use a jar with a tight lid for shaken drinks, or mix directly in the glass for highballs and stirred cocktails.
How Do You Make a Cocktail Less Strong?
Add more mixer, ice, citrus, or soda water. You can also use a smaller pour of alcohol without changing the full recipe.
Can You Prep Cocktail Ingredients Ahead of Time?
Yes. Juice citrus a few hours early, chill the mixers, cut the garnishes, and batch the non-fizzy ingredients before guests arrive.
