Two tall glasses of iced lemonade garnished with lemon slices on a woven tray, surrounded by fresh lemons, a citrus juicer, and a bottle in the background.

5 Best Cocktails at Home: What Drink Can I Make with What I Have?

Think you need a fancy setup to make great cocktails at home? Think again. Whether you’re searching for new cocktail ideas or asking “What drinks can I make with what I have at home?”, Jameson’s guide to the 5 best cocktails to make at home will answer all your questions and may even spark some inspiration for an original whiskey cocktail to share with friends and family.

Using simple mixed ingredients and a touch of creativity, you can craft home cocktails with the basic ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. From easy cocktail recipes to whiskey drinks, we’re here to help you make drinks with things at home. Whether you’re building a DIY home bar or just improvising, here’s how to make a cocktail without breaking a sweat.

It’s not just these drinks you can make at home (we just think they are the easiest), you can make all these other amazing whiskey cocktail recipes from Jameson at home, too.

Cocktail Ingredients You Will Have in Your Home

Copper mug filled with ice and garnished with a lime wedge, set on a wooden tray alongside fresh ginger, lime slices, and a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey in the background.

Whiskey

Many of us have a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey tucked away in a cabinet (and if you don’t, you should). Whiskey is one of the most versatile bar ingredients in any home bar and forms the base of many delicious whiskey drinks. If you’re wondering, “What cocktails can I make with these ingredients?”, whiskey is a solid start.

Orange Juice, Cranberry, Soda Water, Tonic

These fridge and pantry staples are surprisingly useful when you’re thinking about “What drink can I make with what I have?” These are pantry staples that are regularly used in cocktail making, so they are great mixers to reach for when you’re in search of a quick mixed drink.

  • Orange juice + whiskey: An easy cocktail with a bright twist.
  • Cranberry + whiskey: A DIY highball that’s tart and refreshing.
  • Soda or tonic water: Add fizzy mixers that stretch and lighten strong spirits.

Bitters, Salt, Sugar and Citrus

Don’t underestimate these small but mighty ingredients. These flavour enhancers can make your home cocktails taste bar-worthy. A pinch of salt, a dash of bitters, a squeeze of lime or a glug of syrup goes into nearly every cocktail to marry flavours and find the perfect balance.

  • Add bitters to whiskey for an Old Fashioned to balance the strength of the whiskey.
  • Use lemon or lime juice to cut through the sweetness.
  • A pinch of salt enhances depth and complexity.

It’s amazing the heavy lifting these normal household ingredients can achieve to create a cocktail worth sipping on the sofa.

Ice, Frozen Fruit and Herbs

Your freezer is full of hidden potential. Ice is a cocktail essential, while frozen fruit can substitute for fresh ingredients in a pinch. Herbs can still pack a punch, whether they are fresh, frozen, or dried.

  • Frozen berries can act as both flavour and garnish.
  • Fresh herbs like mint or rosemary add aroma and style.
  • And if you like your drinks cold (and most of the time, we do) ice is a home hero.

For a little extra inspiration with some freezer favourites, take a look at our cocktail garnish ideas here.

Easy Homemade Add-Ons to Elevate Your Cocktail Game

Two glasses of fruity punch cocktail garnished with lime slices, blackberries, and kiwi, with a large punch bowl, fresh fruit, and a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey in the background.

Simple Syrup: How to Make It (Sugar + Water = Sweet Genius)

Making simple syrup is a DIY essential. Combine equal parts sugar and water and heat until dissolved. Store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks and use to sweeten tart cocktails and balance flavours.

Sour Mix at Home: Lemon/Lime + Sugar Water

A quick blend of 1 part lemon or lime juice and 1 part simple syrup gives you a homemade sour mix. The perfect base for many punches and whiskey drinks, like the Whiskey Sour.

Garnishes That Wow: Citrus Peels, Fresh Herbs, Spices

When it comes to cocktails, we drink just as much with our eyes as we do with our mouths. Try these common household ingredients to add a visual flourish to your drinks delivery:

  • Orange peels
  • Fresh rosemary or mint
  • Whole spices like cinnamon sticks or cloves

Flavoured Syrups and Infusions: Quick Hacks for Big Flavour

Add tea bags, vanilla, herbs, fruit or spices (anything really) to your syrup base for custom cocktails at home. It’s an easy way to enhance your DIY drink recipes and develop your own take on a classic!

What Cocktails Can I Make with What I Have at Home?

Still asking yourself, “What cocktail can I make?” or “What drinks can I make tonight?” You’ll be surprised how many drinks you can whip up using simple bar ingredients. Here are five easy cocktails at home to get you started:

Two short glasses of old fashioned cocktails served over ice with a twist of orange peel, set on a sunlit marble surface.

1. Irish Lemonade

A refreshing and citrusy whiskey drink you can mix with sparkling lemonade or a blend of lemon juice, sugar water, and soda. Find the Irish Lemonade recipe here.

Perfect for: BBQs, warm weekends, or last-minute brunches.

2. Irish Mule

This simple mixed drink blends Jameson with ginger beer and lime for the spicier among us. Ok, we admit you might have to run out to the corner shop for a bottle of ginger beer, but the rest of the ingredients are in the back of the cupboard for sure.

Pro Tip: Serve in copper mugs to bring the bar home, but get the Irish Mule recipe right here, right now.

3. Jameson, Ginger & Lime

One of the easiest home cocktails. Build it right in your glass: Jameson, ginger ale, and a squeeze of lime. You don’t even need the recipe, it’s that simple… but here it is the Jameson, Ginger and Lime recipe anyway.

Great for: Casual catch-ups, Friday wind-downs, or first-round drinks.

Tall glass of Jameson, ginger ale, and lime served over ice with a lime wedge garnish, placed on a grey countertop alongside a cutting board with sliced limes and a metal bowl of whole limes.

4. Old Fashioned

A timeless classic. All you need is whiskey, bitters, sugar, and a twist of orange. Perfect for cosy nights in, summer evenings on the patio, and or for slow-sipping in front of Netflix on movie night. We have the Old Fashioned recipe right here, but to really nail the basics, you should check out our Old Fashioned 101 article and learn to dress up this delicious drink with some outside-the-box Old Fashioned garnish ideas.

Upgrade: Use square ice cubes to impress your guests.

5. Whiskey Sour

Made with whiskey, lemon juice, egg whites and simple syrup. This is the perfect answer when wondering, “What cocktails can I make with what I have?” Everything you need is at home and is just waiting to be turned into one of the world’s favourite whiskey cocktail – the Classic Whiskey Sour. Have some questions or looking to put your own twist on a whiskey sour? Check out some Jameson articles to help make your whiskey sour journey a little sweeter, like the Whiskey Sour FAQs, Shake up a Whiskey Sour article and the Whiskey Sour vs Old Fashioned comparison.

Try it on: Rainy evenings, dinner parties, or solo nights when you want that cocktail bar vibe.

Feeling inspired?

Whether you’re experimenting with drinks with things at home or curating your own DIY home bar, the best way to start is simple. Pick your favourite Jameson whiskey, grab your bar ingredients, and get shaking. Who knows what delicious drinks might drop into your class? Must get mixing? Must Be A Jameson.