Ideas for Creating Delicious Cocktails on a Student Budget
Sometimes, it is best to shake up your spirit and embrace the mixologist role. There is a wide range of simple and classic cocktails you can try mixing up when you want to wind down after a hard day of school. You might be surprised that some of the cheapest drinks make the most delectable cocktails, and Knowing how to mix your drinks may save you some bucks since you will not have to step out for drinks. This article combines tips on how to make some of the most enjoyable and straightforward cocktails, from an elegant margarita to a straight-up martini.
Tips to Make Budget-Friendly Cocktails
Trying out new cocktail recipes can be intriguing; however, the budget is usually a limiting factor for most students. Cost should not be a setback if you enjoy experimenting and exploring your creativity in making cocktails. A good cocktail does not have to contain expensive ingredients. Therefore, if you have friends coming over for a game night or a casual hangout, you are in for a treat of secrets for keeping them entertained. So here are some brilliant ways to make flavorful cocktails without breaking the bank by ensuring that you don’t overspend or use money that you have put aside for groceries or purchasing papers at essay services like payforessay.net.
- Make large cocktail quantities to save on preparation time and ingredient costs.
- Make simple syrups from scratch by boiling sugar and water, then add flavors if necessary.
- For garnishing, use fruits that are in season since they are often fresh and cost less. For example, if it’s orange season, you can find creative ways to garnish your cocktail with oranges.
- Buy discounted liquor from a local liquor store. Purchasing liquor in high-end bars may be costly.
- Instead of buying expensive flavors, you can infuse your cocktails with fruits, herbs, and spices to get distinct flavors.
- Use what you have in your pantry. For example, you can add honey or jam to your cocktails.
- Use your kitchen tools instead of buying cocktail equipment. For example, a mason jar can be used as a shaker, while a spoon can be used in place of a muddler.
Quick and Affordable Cocktail Recipes for Collegians
Here is a compilation of fast cocktail recipes you can whip for yourself and your guests in your college apartment. Each of the recipes can be twisted to fit affordable ingredients.
Vodka Cranberry
Vodka crane berry, or Cape Codder, is an easy-to-whip and exotic drink. All you will need to prepare this cocktail is cranberry juice and a bottle of inexpensive vodka; you can also go for an expensive bottle, depending on your taste preference. Shake the two and serve it up as Crantini. For your build-up, you can bring a twist to the taste of this cocktail by using another juice variant, such as pineapple juice or grapefruits, to switch it up to a sea breeze cocktail.
Black Russian
You can make this cocktail with vodka and coffee if you work under a tight budget. You can add a few extras, such as cream to make a white Russian or mudslide using Irish cream to make it exotic. Cocktails such as Black Russian are good for days when you do not want to spend much but still want a nostalgic drink. If you have just finished writing a tough assignment that nearly made you buy essay, this cocktail will do a perfect job of winding you down.
Tom Collins
Depending on how you whip it, a Tom Collins cocktail is as classic as it gets; this high-ball drink primarily exhibits the sweet and sour taste made from gin and tonic. You will need a variety of ingredients to make this historical drink, including gin, soda water, lemon juice, and simple syrup. To make the drink, mix up and shake the syrup, lemon juice, ice cubes, and gin, and then add your soda water after straining your mixture into a glass. Garnish your Tom Collins using a cherry on top to bring out the full effect and a burst of flavor.
Mojito
A mojito is an all-time refreshing drink that originates in Havana, Cuba. It is among the old cocktails that are still being consumed today. The perfect blend of flavors makes it a preferred cocktail for most people. With a spot-on recipe, you can quickly develop a bubbly and not-too-sweet mojito that you can enjoy on your patio alone or with friends. You will only need rum, fresh mint leaves, lime juice, tonic water, and simple syrup. To make a bubbly mojito, you only need to mix your ingredients and muddle the mint leaves for more flavors. Shake up your mixture and serve with a garnish, preferably a slice of lemon or orange, to enhance the sour taste.
New York Sour
The New York Sour is an intriguing drink with a complex sweet-sour taste brought to life with simple ingredients such as whiskey, red wine, and lemon juice. These three ingredients will give you a two-toned layered cocktail to warm you up on a lazy evening at Home. You have to shake up and mix your whiskey and lemon juice, strain your mixture in a glass, then slowly pour your red wine on a spoon and into the glass to form a uniform and nice top layer. The New York Sour is easy to make, not to mention the readily available ingredients that make the process of making it easier. You can use your favorite type of whiskey for this one.
Takeaway
Classic cocktails add more fun to any party or an evening wind down. The best part is that you do not need to be a mixologist to make these fun and tasty cocktails. These quick cocktail recipes can make a drink or impress your guests. Making a cocktail may seem complex before you try it. However, it might be the easiest and most refreshing activity at the end of a tiresome day. With the right and affordable ingredients, you can make a cocktail to match your preferred flavor. Moreover, you can always add a twist to some of these recipes to create a unique taste. You can even come up with names for cocktails you have made using your twist and creativity to make the process more fun and remember to drink responsibly.