Graduation is a huge milestone worth celebrating, whether you’re wrapping up high school, college, or beyond. And what’s a celebration without some fantastic drinks?
Since it’s that time of year again, we’ve rounded up five perfect cocktail recipes– complete with non-alcoholic mocktails for the underage crowd and non-drinkers– to elevate your graduation party.
Table of Contents:
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The Classic Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Tequila
- 1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
- 3/4 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec
- 1/2 ounce Agave Syrup
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau or Triple Sec to the shaker.
- Shake well for about 10-15 seconds.
- Rim the edge of a glass with salt (if desired) before pouring.
- Strain the mixture into the glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy!
This is great for any party because it’s easy to make and one of the world’s favorite cocktails, so you kind of can’t go wrong.
Want to make a non-alcoholic version? Check out this recipe instead. And if you need it in big-batch cocktail format, here’s our batched Margarita recipe.
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Raspberry Lemonade Sparkler
This delicious party punch recipe is perfect for warm weather celebrations; the combination of raspberries and lemonade makes it a classic, crowd-pleasing refreshing beverage. And you can eliminate the vodka to make a family-friendly drink.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
- 1 cup vodka
- 4 cups lemonade
- 2 cups club soda
- Ice
- Lemon slices and extra raspberries for garnish
Instructions
- Muddle the fresh raspberries in a pitcher.
- Add vodka and lemonade, stirring well to combine.
- Just before serving, stir in the club soda.
- Serve over ice, garnished with lemon slices and raspberries.
Photo courtesy of DesignPickle/stock.Adobe.com
The Classic Daiquiri
Ingredients
- 2 oz Rum
- 3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the rum, lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
- Shake well for about 10-15 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled glass (like a coupe or Nick and Nora glass).
- Garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy.
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Sangria
Another favorite that your guests will surely love, there’s just something about Sangria in the summer that screams “college graduation party” to me. Here is our single serving recipe, but scroll down if you want to make a whole pitcher ahead of time:
Ingredients
- 4 ounces red wine (Spanish wine like Tempranillo or Garnacha works well)
- 1 ounce brandy
- 1/2 ounce orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
- 1/2 orange, sliced
- 1/4 apple, diced
- 2-3 slices of lemon
- 1-2 teaspoons simple syrup (or more, to taste)
- 2 ounces club soda
Instructions
- In a large wine glass or Mason jar with ice, combine the red wine, brandy, and orange liqueur.
- Add the orange slices, diced apple, and lemon slices (or whatever fruit you prefer– fresh berries are really nice in Sangria).
- Stir in the simple syrup to sweeten to your taste.
- Top with club soda.
- Stir gently to combine all the ingredients.
- Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before enjoying.
Want to make a whole pitcher? Check out our batched Sangria recipe here.
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Whiskey Sour Punch
Another classic favorite, the Whiskey Sour is refreshing and delicious with its sweet-and-tangy combo. It’s easy to make, and it’s perfect for sipping on a warm summer day; below we’ve given you a punch recipe that you can prep ahead of your party.
Ingredients
- 3 cups whiskey
- 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup simple syrup
- 1 cups water or 1 lb ice
- Lemon slices and/or cocktail cherries for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and water (or ice).
- Stir well, and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Serve over ice in glasses, garnished with cocktail cherries and/or (optional) lemon slices.
Notice that this version does not include egg whites– This is a much easier, lighter recipe to make for any backyard party. If you’re looking for a more traditional, single serving recipe, get it here.
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Non-Alcoholic Options
Need more kid-friendly drink ideas? If you’re hosting an all-ages party, definitely check out these recipes (just click the link for each mocktail name):
- No-Jito (Mojito Mocktail)
- 3 spirit-free cocktails: Aperol Spritz, Piña Colada, and Strawberry Daiquiri
- Garden Party
- Nogroni
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Bar Tools You’ll Need When Making Cocktails
- Cocktail Shaker – A cocktail shaker is used to mix and chill ingredients by, well, shaking the heck out of them. It typically consists of a metal or glass container and a lid with a built-in strainer (known as a cobbler shaker). The Boston shaker has 2 metal tins or one tin and a pint glass– although we don’t recommend the pint glass type because of their penchant for breaking. To use, simply fill the shaker with ice, add your ingredients, and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
- Cocktail Jigger – This is a small measuring cup used to measure out the ingredients for a cocktail. It typically has two sides, one measuring up to 1.5 oz or 2 ounces and the other measuring up to .75 oz or 1 ounce. This is used to ensure that ingredients are measured accurately so that the drink is consistent every time.
- Bar Spoon – A bar spoon is a long-handled spoon used for stirring cocktails. It is typically made of stainless steel and has a twisted handle to make it easy to spin. It’s used to mix ingredients in a mixing glass or shaker and to create a layered effect in layered cocktails and shots.
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- Muddler – Use this tool to crush fruits, herbs, and other ingredients in the bottom of a glass or shaker. Its purpose is to release flavors and aromas from whatever you’re muddling and is typically made of wood or plastic.
- Strainer – This is a super important tool used to remove ice or other solids from a drink after it has been shaken or stirred. It typically has a fine mesh or slotted design and can be used with a shaker or a mixing glass.
- Citrus Press – You’ll use a juicer press to extract juice from citrus fruits. It is commonly used to add fresh citrus juice to cocktails, like the lime juice in a Daiquiri.
- Zester, Channel Knife, and Peeler– A zester is a handy little tool used to create thin strips of citrus zest (it’s also great for baking). A channel knife creates long ribbons of beautiful citrus peel for garnish, while a citrus peeler gives you short strips of peel garnish instead.
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