We all love cocktails and spending a night out with friends over a few cocktails always equals a great time. Hosting cocktail parties is also a great way to entertain a group of friends; however, cocktails are not cheap, and if you plan on enjoying them you have to be ready to splash out the cash. Whether you’re a strapped for cash student, trying to save your pennies for something bigger, or awaiting eagerly for the next months pay check, there is no reason why you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your tipple for cocktails because of money restraints.

There are plenty of easy to make cocktails which will go perfectly with any party without having to fork out too much cash. Here is a selection of cocktails you should be able to make with those old spare spirits lying about the house.

The key to making some cheap and cheerful cocktails is to go for inexpensive spirits or utilizing the ones you already have, plus a few simple mixers. For example I am sure most of us have a spare bottle of Vodka lying around the house in a cupboard somewhere. With this vodka plus a bottle of cranberry juice which will only cost around $2 you can enjoy a Cape Codders all night long with very little effort going into the preparation.

So the basic vodka and cranberry mix goes into the Cape Codder, but there is no reason not to go a bit further for a little cost to create countless other cocktails based on this mix. With the addition of grapefruit juice to the vodka and cranberry you have yourself a Sea Breeze. Or rather a Bay Breeze by substituting the grapefruit juice for pineapple juice. Additionally by using peach schnapps, which you will be able to find for $5 for a pint, you get yourself a Woo Woo with very little effort. All these drinks are cheap and easy to make, suiting them perfectly to any punchbowl at a party ensuring cheerful times for cheap prices.

Continuing with the vodka theme, as I know from my own experience that this is the cheapest spirit and the one most likely to be lying around spare, you can make a Black Russian and numerous variations on this classic without having to spend much at all. The minimalistic lowball Black Russian only requires vodka and coffee liqueur. With these basic ingredients you are able to add a number of spins on this cocktail. For example, with the addition of cream or milk you can whip up a White Russian very easily; or on top of this with cola added into the mix you can mix up a Colorado Bulldog. Furthermore with the basic Black Russian mix plus some club soda you can make a Smith and Kearns

On the other hand if your taste in cocktails swings towards rum rather than vodka then again there are plenty of simple mixes that can be made with little effort for a great reward. The most obvious choice with rum would be the Rum and Coke, you don’t get anything more simple than that. With the mere addition of some lime the Rum and Coke becomes a Cuba Libre.

These are but a few examples of the countless cocktails that can be made easily and cheaply. They will no doubt add an extra touch to any party and guarantee cheerful times. So next time you feel like entertaining some of your friends yet find yourself questioning if you really want to spend all that money on it then simply have a look around your house, see what spirit you already have, buy a couple of mixers, and with only $10 you can easily afford to whip up a great number of cocktails.

Author Bio: Cocktail Zen provides cocktail recipes and tequila drinks to any one with a web connection.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: cocktail, cocktails, margarita, tequila drinks, tequila, drink recipes