You don’t need a bartender, a shaker full of gadgets or a cupboard of fancy bottles to make good cocktails at home. Some of the world’s most popular drinks need just two or three ingredients, and none of the recipes below needs more than five (not counting ice).
Whether you’re hosting friends, planning a December hangout or just want something nicer than a straight shot, here are eight easy cocktails anyone can make, plus a simple shopping list to get started.
Before You Start: Three Simple Tools
- A shot glass or measuring cup. Measuring keeps every drink balanced. In these recipes, one shot is about 50ml.
- Plenty of ice. More ice keeps a drink colder and stops it getting watery. Buy more than you think you need.
- Fresh limes and oranges. Fresh juice makes a big difference. A small hand squeezer helps.
1. Gin and Tonic (3 ingredients)
The classic refresher, and perfect for hot afternoons.
- 50ml gin, such as Big Ben London Dry Gin (₦5,000)
- 150ml tonic water, such as Nirvana Tonic Water (₦500)
- A wedge of lime
How to make it: Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the gin, top up with tonic, stir gently and squeeze in the lime.
2. Rum and Coke (3 ingredients)
Add a squeeze of lime and it becomes a Cuba Libre.
- 50ml dark rum, such as Bull Quality Dark Rum (₦4,000)
- 150ml Coca-Cola
- A wedge of lime
How to make it: Fill a glass with ice, pour in the rum, top up with Coke and finish with a squeeze of lime.
3. Screwdriver (2 ingredients)
The easiest cocktail there is, and great for brunch.
- 50ml vodka, such as Jack Williams Vodka (₦6,500)
- 150ml orange juice
How to make it: Pour the vodka over ice, top up with orange juice and stir.
4. Tequila Sunrise (3 ingredients)
Famous for its sunset colours, and much easier than it looks.
- 50ml tequila, such as Jack Williams Gold Tequila (₦23,000 for 1 litre)
- 120ml orange juice
- 15ml grenadine syrup (₦11,500 for 1 litre)
How to make it: Fill a tall glass with ice, add the tequila and orange juice and stir. Then slowly pour the grenadine down the side of the glass. Don’t stir. It sinks to the bottom and creates the “sunrise”.
5. Margarita (4 ingredients)
The world’s favourite tequila cocktail.
- 50ml tequila
- 25ml orange liqueur, such as Cointreau (₦34,000 for 1 litre)
- 25ml fresh lime juice
- Salt for the rim
How to make it: Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a glass and dip it in salt. Shake the tequila, Cointreau and lime juice with ice in a jar with a tight lid (no shaker needed), then strain into the glass over fresh ice.
Want to go premium? Our Don Julio 1942 vs Casamigos guide explains which tequila suits cocktails best.
6. Mojito (5 ingredients)
Minty, zesty and very refreshing.
- 50ml white rum, such as Bacardi Carta Blanca (₦16,500)
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- Half a lime, cut into wedges
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- Soda water
How to make it: In a glass, gently crush the mint, lime and sugar with the end of a wooden spoon. Fill with ice, add the rum and top up with soda water. Stir and enjoy.
7. Campari Spritz (4 ingredients)
Bittersweet, bubbly and stylish, and perfect before dinner.
- 90ml prosecco, such as Martini Prosecco (₦15,500)
- 60ml Campari (₦7,500 for 20cl)
- A splash of soda water
- A slice of orange
How to make it: Fill a wine glass with ice. Add the prosecco, then the Campari and a splash of soda. Garnish with the orange slice.
8. Spiked Chapman (5 ingredients)
Nigeria’s favourite party drink with an optional grown-up kick. Leave out the rum for a family-friendly version.
How to make it: Fill a tall glass with ice and lemon slices. Add the grenadine and rum, then top up with Fanta and Sprite and stir. The classic recipe also adds a dash of Angostura bitters and cucumber slices if you have them, but it is delicious without.
Your Starter Home Bar Shopping List
These six items let you make five of the eight cocktails above: gin and tonic, rum and Coke, screwdriver, tequila sunrise and spiked Chapman.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Big Ben London Dry Gin (75cl) | ₦5,000 |
| Jack Williams Vodka (70cl) | ₦6,500 |
| Bull Quality Dark Rum (70cl) | ₦4,000 |
| Jack Williams Gold Tequila (1L) | ₦23,000 |
| Grenadine Syrup (1L) | ₦11,500 |
| Nirvana Tonic Water × 6 | ₦3,000 |
| Total | ₦53,000 |
Add soft drinks, orange juice, limes, lemons and ice from your local store. To make all eight cocktails, also add Cointreau (₦34,000), white rum such as Bacardi Carta Blanca (₦16,500), Campari (₦7,500) and prosecco (₦15,500). Prices checked on 14 November 2026.
For more on choosing spirits, see our guide to the best vodkas for cocktails and how to build a simple home bar for the festive season.
Tips for Better Cocktails at Home
- Chill everything. Keep mixers and juice in the fridge so the ice melts more slowly.
- Taste and adjust. Too strong? Add more mixer. Too sweet? Add more lime.
- Batch for parties. Multiply the recipe in a large jug, and add ice and fizzy mixers just before serving.
- Drink responsibly. Use measures rather than free-pouring, offer plenty of water and non-alcoholic options, and never drink and drive.
Wrapping Up
Great cocktails don’t have to be complicated. With a few bottles, fresh limes and plenty of ice, you can make everything from a gin and tonic to a margarita at home. Start with the easy two- and three-ingredient drinks, then work up to a mojito or spritz when you’re ready to impress.
Stock Your Home Bar at Right Drinks
Right Drinks stocks original gins, vodkas, rums, tequilas, liqueurs, syrups and mixers, everything you need for great cocktails at home. Order online for same-day delivery in Lagos and shipping across Nigeria.
Start shopping today.
FAQs
1. What is the easiest cocktail to make at home?
The screwdriver: just vodka and orange juice over ice. Gin and tonic and rum and Coke are almost as easy.
2. Do I need a cocktail shaker?
No. Most of these drinks are stirred in the glass. For a margarita, a clean jar with a tight lid works just as well as a shaker.
3. What spirits should I buy first for a home bar?
Start with gin, vodka, rum and tequila. Together with a few mixers, they cover most popular cocktails.
4. How much alcohol goes in one cocktail?
These recipes use about 50ml of spirit per drink. Use a shot glass or measure so every drink tastes the same and nobody gets more than they expect.
5. Can I make a non-alcoholic version?
Yes. Chapman is delicious without rum, and a mojito made without rum (topped with extra soda or Sprite) makes a refreshing mocktail.
