17 Boozy Cocktails To Make For Election Night (Or Any Night, Really)

    2020, man.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    It's been... a day. (And a week. And a year!)

    Whether you're still loathing the time change, feeling stressed about the election, or just living in the year 2020, you could use a drink. Here are some actually feasible cocktails to make tonight — or any night. 🍹

    1. Boozy Lemonade

    A lemon, mineral water, and mint surrounding a glass of boozy lemonade.
    Whisk and Garnish / Via whiskandgarnish.com

    For this adult lemonade, grab some whiskey, orange liqueur (like triple sec), lemons, simple syrup, and sparkling or tonic water and shake it all over ice.

    Recipe: Boozy Lemonade

    2. Pomegranate Margaritas

    Two pomegranate margaritas on a counter beside a halved lime and pomegranate.
    Baker By Nature / Via bakerbynature.com

    When election day falls on taco Tuesday, you take full advantage.

    Recipe: Easy Pomegranate Margaritas

    3. Five-Ingredient Jungle Bird Cocktail

    Two pink jungle bird cocktails with a half of a lime.
    Sugar and Charm / Via sugarandcharm.com

    Combine dark rum, Campari, simple syrup, pineapple juice, and lime juice and shake it up over ice. It's lovely and refreshing and tropical and it will mentally transport you to somewhere sunny and warm.

    Recipe: Five-Ingredient Jungle Bird Cocktail

    4. White Claw Sangria

    Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed

    PSA: You can use White Claw in just about any cocktail recipe where you'd normally use club soda. Here are a half dozen ideas — including this festive sangria — to get you started.

    Recipe: White Claw Sangria

    5. Sparkling Cranberry Gin Cocktail

    Garnish With Lemon / Via garnishwithlemon.com

    You don't even need a cocktail shaker to whip up this festive fall drink. Combine Cranberry juice, simple syrup, gin, lime juice, and sparkling wine in a glass and mix it all together.

    Recipe: Sparkling Cranberry Gin Cocktail

    6. Paloma Cocktail

    A Paloma cocktail with a salted rim and slice of grapefruit on the edge of the glass.
    A Couple Cooks / Via acouplecooks.com

    Tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup is all that you need for this puckery and refreshing drink. Go for the salted rim if you're feeling ambitiious.

    Recipe: Paloma Cocktail

    7. Spiced Harvest Apple Mules

    Half a dozen copper mugs filled with apple Moscow mules surrounded by lime wedges, cinnamon sticks, and thyme.
    The College Housewife / Via thecollegehousewife.com

    These four-ingredient cocktails are made with apple juice, hard apple cider, bourbon, and whiskey. Garnish your glass with a cinnamon stick and sliced apples if you want to get extra festive.

    Recipe: Spiced Harvest Apple Mules

    8. Three-Ingredient Jam Cocktails

    Liquor, jam, and citrus set out on a table
    Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed

    If your bar cart is looking a little thin, know that you can still make a cocktail with the most basic of ingredients. In this case: your liquor of choice, a jar of jam, and some citrus.

    Recipe: Three-Ingredient Jam Cocktails

    9. Boulevardier Cocktail

    A whiskey Negroni (aka a Boulevardier) cocktail with an ice cube and orange peel.
    A Couple Cooks / Via acouplecooks.com

    While the name may sound French and fancy, this is essentially just a negroni made with whiskey in lieu of gin. Stir together bourbon, Campari, and sweet vermouth, then serve over ice with an orange peel.

    Recipe: Boulevardier Cocktail

    10. Pear and Apple Sangria

    The Forked Spoon / Via theforkedspoon.com

    If you prefer red or rosé wine, you can use that instead of white, just expect it to taste a bit heavier. And if you can't get your hands on pear liqueur, a splash of Cointreau or brandy will do the trick.

    Recipe: Pear and Apple Sangria

    11. Apple Cider Old Fashioned

    Sweet Phi / Via sweetphi.com

    Just stir sugar, bitters, Bourbon, and apple cider over ice, then add some sliced apples for good measure.

    Recipe: Apple Cider Old Fashioned

    12. Grapefruit Elderflower Cocktail

    A grapefruit and elderflower gin cocktail garnished with rosemary.
    Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    This recipe calls for gin, but vodka tastes equally as delicious. Just combine gin, grapefruit juice and St. Germain (elderflower liqueur) in a cocktail shaker and strain over ice.

    Recipe: Grapefruit Elderflower Cocktail

    13. Easiest Blender Piña Coladas

    Hannah Loewentheil / BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com

    Maybe you can't be on some sun-soaked beach in Jamaica right now. But you can grab your blender and whip up these rum, coconut milk, and pineapple cocktails.

    Recipe: Easiest Blender Piña Coladas

    14. Clover Club Cocktail

    A clover club cocktail with a fresh raspberry garnish in a coupe glass.
    A Communal Table / Via acommunaltable.com

    Making a cocktail with egg white might sound intimidating, but if you have a cocktail shaker you can whip up this impressive-tasting drink in minutes. Oh, and don't stress over the raspberry simple syrup. Regular simple syrup or agave will do the trick.

    Recipe: Clover Club Cocktail

    15. Classic Margarita

    Two classic margaritas with lime wedges and salted rims.
    Love and Lemons / Via loveandlemons.com

    Everyone should know how to make a classic marg. Just shake tequila, Cointreau, agave, and lime juice and serve over ice. That's all there is to it.

    Recipe: Classic Margarita

    16. Cherry Amaretto Limeade

    A mason jar filled with a cherry Amaretto limeade cocktail.
    Take Two Tapas / Via taketwotapas.com

    An amaretto sour with a fruity twist, these sophisticated-tasting cocktails call for just three ingredients.

    Recipe: Cherry Amaretto Limeade

    17. Lemon Basil Gin Fizz

    A lemon basil gin fizz on a tabletop with a lemon and a piece of basil beside it.
    Nellie Bellie / Via nelliebellie.com

    There's a good chance you already have all these ingredients on hand. All you need is gin, lemon, basil, sugar, and seltzer. If you want to get fancier, add an egg white to your cocktail shaker for rich, foamy texture.

    Recipe: Lemon Basil Gin Fizz