The world of cocktails is a big one, and it’s hard to know where to start when you’re first beginning to experiment. You might find that some cocktails are too boozy, while others don’t offer any of the taste of the base liquor. For the first-time drinker, this is a quandary. However, there are lots of ways to introduce yourself to drinking cocktails that will satisfy your palate while offering the adventure of tasting something new.
Our experts here at Rancho La Gloria have taken the time to compile a list of some of the best cocktails for first-timers to try, along with a helpful list of tips, tricks, and other information you’ll want to keep in mind as you start trying out different drinks. Near the end of the article, we’ll also be exploring a list of some of the most common questions that beginner drinkers typically have, so you’ll be better prepared to handle everything that comes your way!
Please continue to learn everything you’ll want to know about great first-timer cocktails and consider exploring through some of the other articles we’ve created here at Rancho La Gloria for access to even more information. Also, don’t forget to explore our quality list of delicious drink recipes if you’re interested in enjoying your first drinks from the comfort of your own home!
New to Drinking? Here’s What to Know Before You Get Started
Suppose you’re just now trying your hand in the world of alcoholic beverages. In that case, there’s some essential information you’ll want to keep in mind going forward to keep yourself from going overboard and accidentally ruining your experience. As a beginner, the best alcoholic drink options will be those with low to moderate alcoholic strength that won’t overpower you with their strong taste. It’s generally a smart idea to stick to more flavorsome and pleasant-tasting drinks to ease your taste buds into things and not leave yourself overwhelmed with an unpleasant or overly harsh aftertaste.
When it comes to alcoholic cocktails, some of the most recommended drinks for beginners include;
- Margarita
- Mojito
- Martini
- Cosmopolitan
- Metropolitan
- Manhattan
When it comes to anything drink-related, a word of warning should always be given before anything else. While drinking can be a great way to relax and enjoy yourself, it can lead to severe problems and consequences unless you remember to enjoy it responsibly and in moderation. You’ll always want to keep the strength of your alcohol in the front of your mind, and never strive to get as drunk as you can as quickly as possible.
Take things slowly, and start with a single drink to see how you feel. You can keep going if you think you can handle it, but you should always stop once you start feeling too tipsy to avoid any issues- most notably hangovers. If you develop a hangover after drinking, you’ll want to reduce the number of drinks you consume next time, as it’s a clear sign you have indulged too much for your body to handle appropriately.
Some critical points you’ll want to remember are:
- Always drink responsibly and in moderation
- Start with low to moderate strength drinks
- Explore different options to find what you like
- Drink slowly to let your body process the alcohol
- Never drink if you plan to drive
- Never drink on an empty stomach
- Always have access to water to help prevent dehydration
Now that we’ve covered the basics of what you’ll want to keep in mind as you start enjoying your first drink, please read on below to discover six introductory drinks made with a variety of liquors to wet your whistle in 2022.
Related: Our Cocktails
French 75
Source: Pinch and Swirl
A classic gin cocktail, the French 75 combines the familiarity of sparkling wine with the wide-ranging flavor profile of good gin and a zesty citrus taste.
Ingredients
½ ounce lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
1 ½ ounces dry gin
Chilled champagne
Lemon twist
Preparation
Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Measure and add the lemon juice, simple syrup, and dry gin to the shaker. Assemble the shaker and shake the contents until chilled.
Make a lemon twist: Cut a lemon in half, then cut a quarter-inch ring from one half of the lemon. Remove the pulp from the peel. Slice through one side of the ring of lemon peel. Using a straw, wrap the strip of lemon peel in coils.
Once the twist is complete, run the peel along the rim of a champagne flute to apply the oils to the edge.
From the shaker, strain the contents into the bottom of the flute. Pour chilled champagne into the flute to fill the glass. Hang the lemon twist over the edge of the glass and serve.
Moscow Mule
Source: A Couple Cooks
The Moscow Mule is a perennial favorite in terms of ways to consume vodka. It combines vodka’s bite with refreshing lime and ginger beer spice to create a well-balanced warm-weather cocktail. For extra authenticity, look for a mule served in a copper cup!
Ingredients
1 ½ ounces vodka
¾ ounces fresh lime juice
¾ ounces simple syrup
Chilled ginger beer
Lime wedge
Preparation
Pour ice, lime juice, vodka, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Shake the contents until chilled.
Select a collins glass or copper mug and fill it with ice. Strain the contents of the shaker into the chosen receptacle. Top the cocktail with ginger beer and garnish it with a lime wedge.
Margarita
A classic tequila cocktail, ubiquitous at Mexican restaurants and frequently served frozen, the margarita has a lot to offer for the first-time cocktail drinker. It gently introduces a robust liquor by carefully combining fruit juices, sweeteners, and, if preferred, salt. A recipe is below, but if you’d like an even simpler solution, check out the pre-mixed margaritas from Rancho La Gloria.
Ingredients
2 ounces Blanco tequila
1 ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce Cointreau
½ ounce agave syrup
Lime wheel
Kosher salt
Preparation
Rim a rocks glass with salt. Two ways to accomplish this are found below. Method one requires two plates, one full of lime juice and one full of salt. Dip the glass’s rim into the lime juice, then dip it into the salt. The second method is to run a lime wedge around the edge of the glass and then shake salt over the glass while rotating it. If you use the second method, it might be a good idea to do so over the sink.
Add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker. Shake them until they are chilled. Fill the salted rocks glass with ice. Pour the shaker’s contents over the ice. Garnish the glass with a lime wheel.
Related: 10-second Margarita: Spicy Mango Gummy
Mojito
Source: Love and Lemons
For the first-time rum drinker, there are few more refreshing introductions than the mojito. It combines rum, citrus, and mint for a tart but cooling cocktail.
Ingredients
1 ½ ounces light rum
¾ ounces simple syrup
¾ ounces lime juice
Six leaves of mint
Soda water
Lime wedge or wheel
Preparation
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Measure in simple syrup, rum, and lime juice. Shake the contents until they are chilled. Add the mint leaves to the bottom of a collins glass. Use a muddler to push and twist the mint, releasing the flavor. Add ice to the collins glass. Strain the contents of the shaker over the ice. Top the cocktail with soda water. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.
There is a range of ways to spice up this cocktail further. For a sweeter version, use lemon-lime soda instead of soda water. Alternately, a spicier version uses ginger beer instead. You can substitute dark rum for a bolder rum flavor and add a float of either bitters or Campari at the top of the glass for an extra twist.
Looking for a simple way to enjoy a refreshing cocktail? Check out Rancho La Gloria for the answer!
Whiskey Smash
Source: Foodie Mail
While we’re on the subject of mint in cocktails, the whiskey smash is another member of the family. It uses lemon and mint as a delivery system for smokey bourbon, creating a kaleidoscope of flavors without being oppressive.
Ingredients
1 ½ ounces bourbon
¾ ounces fresh lemon juice
¾ ounces simple syrup
6 leaves of mint
Mint sprig
Preparation
Ice a cocktail shaker and add bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and mint leaves. Shake the contents until they are chilled. Fill a rocks glass with ice and strain the contents of the shaker into the glass. Garnish the drink with a sprig of mint.
Bonus: Paloma
For the reader who wants to try something with tequila but isn’t interested in a margarita, another great tequila drink comes to mind. The Paloma adds grapefruit flavors to the mix to create a punchy tropical treat. You can find a recipe below or try out a ready-made Paloma cocktail from Rancho La Gloria.
Ingredients
1 ½ ounces tequila
¾ ounces lime juice
Grapefruit soda
Lime wheel
Salt
Preparation
Shake the tequila and lime juice together with ice until the contents are chilled. Rim a collins glass with salt using one of the methods found under Margarita above. Fill the collins glass with ice and strain the contents of the shaker into the glass. Top the cocktail with grapefruit soda and garnish the glass with a lime wheel.
Interested in a simple solution to your cocktail needs? Check out Rancho La Gloria now!
Conclusion
There are thousands of great cocktails just waiting to be tried. These six are some of the most accessible, refreshing, and widely available options. Once you’ve made your way through these, there’s a whole world of cocktails to explore. Good luck on your cocktail adventure!
Are you searching for a top-quality cocktail brand to help keep the fun times rolling at your next summer party or friendly get-together? Rancho La Gloria offers a wide range of expertly created canned and bottled cocktails for you to enjoy, along with an array of delicious alcoholic popsicles to keep you cool!