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These Delicious Summer Cocktails Call for Only Two Ingredients Each

Simple for the win.

By Lourdes Avila Uribe
best-spicy-grapefruit-margarita

There’s nothing better than a cold and refreshing cocktail after a long day’s work, especially on those long languid summer evenings. But unless you’re the kind of person that has a fully stocked bar cart at all times (who are you, I’m jealous!) then you might not always have loads of mixology ingredients on hand. So, why not keep it doable and delicious with these two-ingredient cocktails that are incredibly tasty and couldn’t be easier to make? After all, summer is for keeping it simple.

One budget-friendly benefit of this strategy is that I can purchase just one kind of liquor and let it wear lots of hats for multiple delicious, impromptu cocktails that use different juices and garnishes to add variety. This month I may try tequila, next month is vodka month, and so on! To make it even simpler, I’ve rounded up 13 two-ingredient cocktail recipes to consult whenever the mood may strike.

Whether you’re in the mood for a spritz, keeping it classic with an old-school cocktail like a martini, or crave something a little cheekier, we’ve got you covered. Make sure you bookmark these delicious recipes for the next time a pal pops over unexpectedly. Cheers!

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Keep reading for 13 deliciously easy two-ingredient cocktails.

classic paloma cocktail recipe

Paloma from Tidy Mom

Simplify the already easy-to-make Paloma with this two-ingredient recipe. All you need is some tequila and grapefruit seltzer and you’re ready to rock.

campari ipa spritzer

Campari and IPA Spritzer from The Kitchn

Get the perfect balance of bitter, refreshing, and light with this tasty, yet flavorful drink.

Sparkling Greyhound Cocktail Recipe

Sparkling Greyhound Cocktail from Live-In Kitchen

Vodka and grapefruit juice is all you need for this classic Prohibition-era cocktail. But if you want to elevate it a little, then follow Live-In Kitchen’s directions and add a sugar rim with honey syrup and club soda, with a sprig of thyme to garnish. Keeping things fancy at home!

rusty nail cocktail

Rusty Nail from A Couple Cooks

Comprised of scotch and Drambuie, which is a liqueur made from whisky, honey, herbs, and spices. This drink is a little sweet and a little warming, with a touch of citrus.

classic martini recipe

Classic Martini from Esquire

Keep it old school with gin and vermouth. It’s an iconic, sexy drink that never goes out of style.

Dark and Stormy cocktail recipe

Dark and Stormy from Half Baked Harvest

Dark rum and ginger beer make up this moody, delicious, and evocative cocktail. But, if you want to step it up a notch, follow Tieghan from Half Baked Harvest’s lead and add a tablespoon of fig preserves and the juice of half a lemon. Yum!

seven and seven -- thrillist

Seven and Seven from Thrillist

Take a trip down memory lane with this two-ingredient cocktail recipe from your youth.

Kir Royale cocktail

Kir Royale from Daylesford

Feeling fancy? Grab some pomegranate or damson liqueur (crème de cassis is also delicious) and a bit of champagne for a truly delightful drink. Or follow Daylesford’s lead and make a little rosemary sugar syrup to step it up a notch.

Black Russian cocktail recipe

Black Russian from Mix That Drink

Craving some Kahlua but don’t want to drink a boatload of dairy? Try a Black Russian instead of a white one! All you need is Kahlua and some vodka for a good time.

mimosa -- love and lemons

Mimosa from Love and Lemons

Have a brunch coming up? You can’t go wrong with this simple, delicious, and much-loved cocktail.

two ingredient cocktail

Cuba Libre from 196 Flavors

It doesn’t get much easier than this cocktail—you probably already have the ingredients on hand!

tom collins recipe

Tom Collins from A Beautiful Mess

All you need is some lemon soda like Sanpellegrino Limonata and a bit of gin! The Beautiful Mess recipe also adds some simple syrup and fresh lemon juice for some additional kick but it’s just as tasty without it, too.

Bellini from The Salty Marshmellow

Just like a mimosa, but with delectable peach juice instead of OJ. This recipe adds blended peaches to make it extra special, but come prosecco and peach juice is all you need!

What are your favorite two-ingredient cocktails? Share it below!