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Making fun drinks at home saves money, lets you play with flavors, and turns an ordinary night in into something worth remembering. This list of 15 fun drinks to make at home covers easy cocktails, mocktails that get the same respect, cozy hot drinks, and party batches, with simple recipes for each. At the end you'll find how to choose three for a party and which games pair well with each kind of drink.
Hosting a game night? Pair this list with our game night snacks, and see our easy drinking card games if the night turns playful.
Games that pair well with a drinks night
Pick one table game while the pitchers chill. Water and zero-proof options belong on the table too.
- Drinking card game: King's Cup Extreme — Kings with printed rule cards, so nobody has to remember them
- Dares: Do or Drink — do the dare or take a sip, with easy outs
- Story prompts: Never Have I Ever Card Game — a sip-friendly way to get everyone talking
- No drinking required: Wrong Answers Only — a laugh-out-loud game for any glass
Refreshing cocktails to mix at home
1. Classic Mojito With a Twist
Muddle 8 to 10 mint leaves with 3/4 oz lime juice and 3/4 oz simple syrup, add 2 oz white rum and ice, then top with club soda. For a twist, muddle in three strawberries or a few cucumber slices. Batch tip: muddle the mint with the syrup and lime in a pitcher ahead of time, add the rum, and top each glass with soda so it stays fizzy.
2. Spicy Pineapple Margarita
Muddle two or three jalapeño slices in a shaker, then add 2 oz blanco tequila, 2 oz pineapple juice, 3/4 oz lime juice, and 1/2 oz agave. Shake with ice and strain over fresh ice. Rim the glass with Tajín. Pull the seeds out of the jalapeño if your crowd is heat-shy.
3. DIY Moscow Mule
Squeeze 1/2 oz lime juice over ice, add 2 oz vodka, and top with 4 to 6 oz ginger beer. A copper mug is nice, but any tall glass works. Set out vodka, bourbon, and tequila and let guests build their own mule, Kentucky mule, or Mexican mule.
Mocktails that get the same respect
4. Blackberry Sage Fizz
Muddle six blackberries and two sage leaves with 1/2 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water) and 1/2 oz lemon juice. Add ice and top with sparkling water. It tastes like something you'd pay too much for at a cocktail bar.
5. Watermelon Mint Cooler
Blend two cups of seedless watermelon with the juice of one lime and a few mint leaves, strain, and pour over ice. Top with soda water if you like bubbles. This makes two drinks and doubles easily in a blender.
6. Coconut Cucumber Refresher
Blend half a cucumber with a splash of water and strain it. Mix 2 oz of the cucumber juice with 4 oz coconut water, a squeeze of lime, and a pinch of salt. Light, hydrating, and a good one to keep in rotation during drinking games.
Cozy hot drinks
7. Homemade Chai Latte
Simmer 1 cup water with two black tea bags, a cinnamon stick, four crushed cardamom pods, a few slices of fresh ginger, and two cloves for five minutes. Add 1 cup milk (dairy or oat), heat through, strain, and sweeten with honey. Serves two.
8. Spiked Hot Chocolate
Make a pot of hot cocoa, then add 1 oz of peppermint schnapps, Irish cream, or coffee liqueur to each mug. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes. Keep the pot alcohol-free and spike mugs one at a time so non-drinkers can join in.
9. Golden Milk Latte
Whisk 1 cup milk with 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, a pinch of ground ginger, a pinch of black pepper, and 1 tsp honey while it warms. Don't let it boil. It's a cozy nightcap for the end of game night.
Party drinks that feel like a celebration
10. Sangria Bar
Combine a bottle of Spanish red wine, 1/4 cup brandy, 1/2 cup orange juice, and 2 tablespoons sugar with sliced oranges and apples. Chill for at least two hours, then top with a splash of soda. Set out extra fruit, mint, and cinnamon sticks so guests can customize their glass.
11. Blue Lagoon Punch
Per serving, mix 1 oz vodka, 1 oz blue curaçao, and 4 oz lemonade, then top with lemon-lime soda. For a punch bowl, multiply by ten and add the soda last. Use non-alcoholic blue curaçao syrup for a zero-proof version that looks exactly the same.
12. Sparkling Rosé Mocktail
Mix 3 oz sparkling white grape juice with 2 oz cranberry juice and a squeeze of lemon. Drop in a few frozen raspberries, which keep it cold and look great in a coupe.
Whimsical drinks worth trying
13. Lavender Lemonade
Simmer 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender, then steep for 15 minutes and strain. Mix 1/2 cup of the syrup with 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice and 3 cups cold water. Add gin or vodka to individual glasses if you want a cocktail.
14. Espresso Tonic
Fill a glass with ice and 4 to 5 oz tonic water, then slowly pour a shot of espresso over the top so it layers. Add an orange peel. It sounds strange and tastes bright, bitter, and very refreshing.
15. Butterbeer-Inspired Cream Soda
Stir 1/2 oz butterscotch syrup into a glass of cold cream soda, then top with whipped cream mixed with a little more butterscotch and a pinch of salt. Serve it cold, or warm the cream soda gently for winter.
How to pick three for a party
You don't need to run a full bar. Choose one batch cocktail, one zero-proof drink, and one warm or surprising drink, and prep all three before guests arrive.
- Game night: a Moscow mule station, the watermelon mint cooler, and espresso tonics for the late crowd.
- Fall or winter night in: spiked hot chocolate, a sangria pitcher, and golden milk to finish.
- Summer backyard: a pitcher of spicy pineapple margaritas, lavender lemonade, and coconut cucumber refreshers.
- Date night in: mojitos with a twist, the blackberry sage fizz, and chai lattes for dessert.
Pair your drinks with a game
Big-batch drinks like Blue Lagoon punch or sangria work with fast group games, because nobody has to leave the table to make another round. Pair them with King's Cup Extreme (see how to play King's Cup Extreme) or Do or Drink. Mocktails and hot drinks fit conversation games like Never Have I Ever or Wrong Answers Only, where everyone plays and nobody has to drink. For more options, see our best drunk card games and cocktail party games.
Tips to level up your at-home drinks
- Use fresh citrus. Squeeze it the same day. Bottled juice is the fastest way to a flat drink.
- Plan more ice than you think. About a pound per guest for a party, plus a bag for the cooler.
- Batch ahead. Mix spirits, juice, and syrup in advance and add bubbles per glass.
- Label pitchers. Mark which ones contain alcohol and any common allergens like nuts or dairy.
- Garnish simply. A citrus wheel, a mint sprig, or a sugared rim makes any glass look special.
- Set up a water station. Put it somewhere obvious, away from the bar.
Feeding a crowd too? See our crowd-pleasing party food ideas.
FAQ
What's the easiest fun drink to make at home?
A Moscow mule or a sparkling rosé mocktail. Each needs three ingredients and takes under two minutes.
What can I drink at home that's fun and alcohol-free?
Try the blackberry sage fizz, watermelon mint cooler, coconut cucumber refresher, sparkling rosé mocktail, or golden milk latte.
How can I make homemade drinks look fancy?
Fresh garnishes, good ice, and the right glass do most of the work. Even a mason jar looks great with a mint sprig and a citrus wheel.
Can I batch these drinks for a party?
Yes. Sangria, Blue Lagoon punch, mojitos, margaritas, and lavender lemonade all scale well in pitchers. Add soda or sparkling water just before serving.
What's a good drink for game night?
Something you can pour without a shaker: a punch bowl, a sangria pitcher, or a mule station. That way the host gets to play too.
Pick your three, prep them before the doorbell rings, and keep the zero-proof option as good as the cocktails. Cheers.
