We asked the BuzzFeed Community what inventive cocktails they've been crafting up during quarantine, and it's clear that the creative juices (and liquor) have been flowing. Here are some of the best! 🍹
1. Vodka lemonade with iced-tea cubes
"I make this concoction of lemonade and vodka with fresh thyme and lemon served over iced-tea cubes."
2. Schuyler spritzer
"My friend made a 'Schuyler spritzer' for the Hamilton premiere, and it was delicious! She used Lillet rosé, gin, elderflower liqueur, soda water, and a spritz of lemon. Sooooo amazing!"
3. The island party 🍍
"2 ounces tequila + 2 ounces coconut water + 1 ounce pineapple juice + juice of ½ lime. I'm obsessed!"
4. Lazy jam cocktail
"1 to 2 tablespoons of jam (any flavor works), juice of ½ a lemon or lime, 2 ounces of either vodka, gin, or rum (whatever you like or have on hand works — we’ve done those three with success). Shake with ice and serve. Optional: Top off with a splash of club soda or sparkling water of a complementary flavor to the jam."
5. Gin with rhubarb and mint
"Empress gin and rhubarb simple syrup (I made it myself!), muddled with mint and topped with a splash of club soda. It’s delicious. My partner’s been calling it 'the emperor’s new clothes.' We had a MASSIVE rhubarb harvest, our mint went berserk, and someone gave us a big bottle of Empress gin that neither of us touched for years, so we’re working with what we’ve got!"
6. Gin and (apple) juice
"1½ shots gin and 6 ounces Granny Smith apple juice. (Also, honorary mention: kombucha vodka! 2 shots Tito's vodka + 8 ounces blueberry or ginger kombucha.)"
7. Tiger's blood daiquiri
"1 can coconut cream. 10 strawberries. Generous pour of vanilla rum. Ice. Serves 4. So simple and delicious!!"
8. Watermelon mojito
"Smoosh together a scoop or 2 of fresh watermelon, ¼ lime, and some mint leaves. Then add vodka, lemonade, and seltzer. It’s so good!"
9. Trader Joe's blood orange mocktail
"I've been making a mocktail that is Trader Joe’s blood orange sparkling water, a splash of blood orange juice, and then, depending on how sweet the blood orange is, some simple syrup. I put some mint on top. It’s nice and refreshing!"
10. Costco margarita mix + vodka + frozen grapes
"Mix Costco's premade margarita cocktail with vodka and frozen grapes! The bitterness of the vodka and the sweetness of the grapes as they thaw takes the mouth-puckering edge off the margarita."
11. Aperol spritz(ish)
"I’ve been doing a play on an Aperol spritz with what I had on hand: gin, Aperol, and tonic with a lime wedge. The tonic brings out both the bitterness and sweetness of the Aperol. A nice cross between a G&T and a spritz."
12. Gin with saffron, rosemary, and cardamom
"Spiced gin mixed with soda water, angostura bitters, and saffron. Rosemary and cardamom for garnish. And a mocktail version: nonalcoholic gin with pink cucumber tonic, thyme, and orange blossom for garnish. Fancy and festive!"
13. Blueberry Moscow mule
"I make Moscow mules, but I use a blueberry-infused vodka (you can buy them, but I make my own) and add muddled blueberries. Adds a pop of an extra flavor, but it’s still flattering to the ginger and lime of the traditional mule. My husband uses a spicy serrano-infused vodka that we made."
14. Spiked Capri Sun
"This is some college-level BS, but hear me out. Freeze a Capri Sun (big fan of Pacific Cooler), add Malibu, and then either Sprite or the low-alcohol wine cooler of your choice. You can also add an optional shot of vodka, rum, or tequila."
15. Rum with homemade tamarind syrup
"I made this *really* tasty tamarind and vanilla syrup — then used it in delicious old-fashioneds with rum. I'll top everything with a little sparkling water to make it extra refreshing."
16. Gin and sage cream cocktail
"2 ounces dry gin + 1 ounce maple syrup + ¾ ounce lemon juice + ½ ounce heavy cream + nutmeg. So creamy and delicious!"
17. The garden party
"Very simple: 1 ounce gin, 1 ounce Aperol, ½ fresh-squeezed lemon. Stir it up and it basically tastes like summer!"
18. The vodka quarantine
"My vodka quarantine: vodka + peach iced tea + orange zest + juice of an orange. Cheers!"
19. Cherry lemonade mocktail
"Not a cocktail, but I use 2 parts lemonade, 1 part Sprite, and 1 part cherry juice. (I like cherry Bai, but you can use tart cherry juice or Kool-Aid!)"
20. Basil gimlet
"It's amazing and refreshing and tastes like summer. I got the idea from a restaurant in my town. When COVID-19 started, we were unable to visit this restaurant, so I decided to try to re-create the drink I always order there. Here's how:
Make basil-infused simple syrup (use more basil than you think you need!)
Muddle fresh basil in 1 ounce lime juice
Add ¾ ounce basil syrup (or however sweet you want it)
Add 2 shots gin
Stir in ice and strain into glass
So refreshing and delicious — and it definitely sneaks up on you! If you don't like gin, try vodka instead."
21. Boozy Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
"Skrewball peanut butter butter whiskey + Bailey's = Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in cocktail form. Thank me later."
Don't forget to drink responsibly — cheers! 🥃
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.