It’s five o’clock, but who says that you need to spend an arm and a leg at a bar to indulge in a delicious cocktail? Get crafty and whip up your own delicious cocktail at home instead. Check out these five simple cocktails that are sure to spice up your afternoon happy hour.

Quarantini

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The Quarantini hit the internet as a hilarious way to boost your immune system and simultaneously get a buzz. Of course, you can opt to leave out the Vitamin C and be left with a simple honey lemon martini. 

Ingredients:

• 3 oz vodka
• 2 oz lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons honey
• (Optional) 1 packet Vitamin C
• Garnish: lemon twist

Instructions:

1. Microwave honey and water for 60 seconds until you have a honey syrup. Allow it to cool.
2. Add 2 cups of ice to a cocktail shaker. 
3. Add vodka, lemon juice, Vitamin C packet, and honey mixture to a martini shaker. Whisk to combine. Next, add ice to the top.
4. Shake, and then strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist.

 

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No matter where you are in the world, the sweet and citrus notes of a Tequila Sunrise will make you feel like you’re on vacation. It’s pretty, and pretty simple, requiring just three ingredients and an optional garnish.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 4 oz orange juice
• ½ oz grenadine
• Garnish: maraschino cherry or orange slice. 

Instructions:

1. In a tall glass filled with ice cubes, pour the tequila and orange juice. Stir well.
2. Slowly pour the grenadine around the inside edge of the glass.
3. Garnish with an orange slice and/or cherry.

Beer is always a refreshing choice, but it can be a bit overdone. A michelada takes a regular beer up a notch by adding in spicy elements. Mark our words, you’ll see this cocktail everywhere this year. 

Ingredients:

• salt
• cayenne pepper
• ½ oz lime juice
• 2 drops Tabasco sauce
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1 pinch celery salt
• Mexican lager beer (like Tecate)
• Garnish: lime wedge

Instructions:

1. Rub the lime wedge along half the rim of the pint glass and dip into a mix of equal parts salt and cayenne pepper.
2. Add the remaining ingredients, except the beer.
3. Fill with beer and garnish with a fresh lime wedge.

 

The negroni was allegedly invented in Florence, when a count asked a bartender to replace the club soda in his Americano with gin. This beloved cocktail is easy, bitter, bold, and sounds so sophisticated - doesn’t it? 

Ingredients:

• 1 oz gin
• 1 oz campari
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• Garnish: orange peel

Instructions:

1. Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, and stir until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a rocks glass filled with large ice cubes.
3. Garnish with an orange peel.

 

This spring cocktail was invented in London in the 1980s. The bramble perfectly marries sweet and sour to create a refreshing and refined cocktail. Plus, it’s pink! 

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz simple syrup 
• ½ oz crème de mûre
• Garnish: lemon slice and blackberries

Instructions:

1. To make simple syrup: Stir together equal measures of hot water and sugar, cool to room temperature and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake together the first three ingredients and strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.
3. Drizzle crème de mûre over the top.
4. Garnish with a slice of lemon and a few blackberries.

So, is it five o’clock yet? Be sure to tag us in your at home cocktails on Insta @toat.co and let us know your drink of choice. Cheers!