Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 22 Cocktail and Punch Recipes Perfect for Any (and Every) Party Including a non-alcoholic option. (We see you, designated drivers.) By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 24, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Stephen DeVries Aside from great guests and lots of festive food options, top-notch drinks are easily the most important part of any entertaining endeavor. But bartending—even in your own home—can be intimidating business, which brings us to these super simple cocktail recipes. Remember, mixology is all about balance, which is why we recommend you measure out the ingredients for each precisely. Go for good quality mixers and spirits, too—your guests will be able to taste the difference. Whether you're grilling out with friends, lounging poolside, or celebrating holidays with family, you'll want to keep a pitcher of these delicious drinks within reach. From the classic crowd-pleasing Bloody Mary to a minty Moscow Mule punch and grapefruit kombucha margaritas, these colorful sips are almost as wow-worthy as the host (that's you!). Follow These 5 Simple Steps to Stock The Best-Ever Bar Cart 01 of 22 Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita Stephen DeVries A standard kombucha quickly gets transformed into a delectable margarita in this easy recipe. We especially love it with grapefruit juice for its tartness, but feel free to mix and match citruses, too.Get the recipe: Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita 02 of 22 Molasses-Spiced Spiked Cider Caitlin Bensel Hosting a holiday happy hour or dinner? Welcome your guests with this decadent spike cider. The molasses adds a deep, rich flavor and color, and the spices add a lovely dimension. Get the recipe: Molasses-Spiced Spiked Cider 03 of 22 White Negroni Punch J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler I’m dreaming of a white… negroni. No seriously, this cocktail is so good you’ll want to make it all year round—and you definitely can. It’s refreshing and elegant, but don’t be fooled. It will knock your socks off! Get the recipe: White Negroni Punch 04 of 22 Spiced Apple Kombucha Stephen DeVries Wow your guests with this cocktail containing kombucha, spiced rum, and classic winter spices. Make it a few days ahead of your event to let the flavors really come together. Then, serve it up in a highball glass with ice and an apple to garnish. Get the recipe: Spiced Apple Kombucha 05 of 22 Bourbon and Blood Orange Blast Francesco Lagnese Fancy yourself some bourbon? Create a classic bourbon cocktail, with the tartness of fresh blood orange juice. Added bonus: this may be the easiest cocktail to make ever. Get the recipe: Bourbon and Blood Orange Blast 06 of 22 4th of July Sangria Grace Elkus What’s more refreshing than white wine sangria? A fruity, frozen version that’s patriotic to boot. Each layer features a different fruity flavor, as well as a splash of fresh lime juice and a drizzle of agave nectar. Pour the slushie carefully to ensure the layers don’t blend, and then serve to eager guests.Get the recipe: Fourth of July Sangria 07 of 22 Pear and Rosemary Sangria Greg DuPree If you want to serve something festive but also refreshing, this recipe for pear and rosemary sangria is a must. The best part? You can make it up to two days in advance, which is perfect for party planning. Get the recipe: Pear and Rosemary Sangria 08 of 22 Minty Moscow Mule Punch J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler Who knew a Moscow Mule could be so refreshing? A combination of vodka, ginger beer, and a homemade ginger-mint simple syrup is sure to be hit among friends and family. And to make hosting a little easier, you can serve these mules in a punch bowl so guests can help themselves. Get the recipe: Minty Moscow Mule Punch 09 of 22 Bloody Mary Philip Friedman Without the vodka, this crowd-pleaser can be prepped and refrigerated the day before the shower. Stir in the spirit—and add garnishes—just before the party begins. Get the recipe: Bloody Mary 10 of 22 Spicy Mulled Wine Greg DuPree There is nothing quite as comforting as drinking mulled wine on a chilly winter night. A mixture of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise are sure to awaken your senses while also warming up your belly. I have a feeling this will be your new favorite cocktail to sip by the fire with friends. Get the recipe: Spicy Mulled Wine 11 of 22 Boozy Apple Cider Slushie J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler Want to know how to win at any fall or winter holiday? Make boozy apple cider slushies. These delightful frozen cocktails taste like nothing you’ve ever had before. If you want to get super fancy, garnish each drink with an apple slice and cinnamon stick. Your friends will be begging you to make these all year round. Get the recipe: Boozy Apple Cider Slushie 12 of 22 Irish 75 Wendy Granger If you’re a fan of the French 75, you’ll fall in love with this romantic rendition. Irish whiskey replaces the gin or cognac, and the sparkling wine makes this festive cocktail delightfully bubbly.Get the recipe: Irish 75 13 of 22 Irish Rose Wendy Granger This pretty pink cocktail is as delicious as it looks. And the combination of sweet red grenadine and tangy, freshly-squeezed lime juice is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering.Get the recipe: Irish Rose 14 of 22 Holiday Punch Jennifer Causey Using three kinds of alcohol, this holiday punch will do just that. Your guests will appreciate the different mix of flavors and elements in this beverage, while also getting a nice little buzz. Get the recipe: Holiday Punch 15 of 22 Classic Margaritas Dana Gallagher Raise a toast with this essential cocktail, which uses freshly-squeezed lime juice for maximum bright citrus tang. Get the recipe. 16 of 22 John Collins Wendy Granger A riff on the classic Tom Collins cocktail, this St. Patty's drink gets a dose of whiskey instead of the traditional gin. Pour over a tall glass of ice, then garnish with a lemon wedge.Get the recipe: John Collins 17 of 22 Irish Iced Coffee Wendy Granger This refreshing recipe could not be simpler. Strong iced coffee is mixed with whiskey and heavy cream to create a deliciously decadent pick-me-up and the perfect St. Patty's Day cocktail.Get the recipe: Irish Iced Coffee 18 of 22 White Knight Wendy Granger Perfect for the classic cocktail lover, this elegant drink is sure to impress your partygoers. The white port (or Lillet Blanc) adds just the right amount of sweetness.Get the recipe: White Knight 19 of 22 Sparkling White Sangria Francesco Lagnese Mix up a pitcher of this fizzy, fruity drink—it’s perfect for celebrating the New Year. Keep the sangria cold without watering it down by adding frozen grapes to the pitcher before serving. Get the recipe. 20 of 22 Creamy Iced Chai Tea and Gingery Peach Cooler Charles Masters This drink couldn’t be any easier—just combine ginger ale, peach nectar, and sliced peaches in a pitcher and serve over ice. Use ginger ale along with grated fresh ginger for a double dose of flavor.Get the recipe. 21 of 22 Spiked Sparkling Cider Dwight Eschiliman Ring in the new year—or any random day of the year—with this fun, fizzy drink that’s punched up with sparkling wine and cinnamon schnapps. Get the recipe. 22 of 22 Winter Sangria Dwight Eschiliman Mix up a bowl of this fruity cocktail for friends and family to sip all night long. Its beautiful red hue makes it the perfect holiday drink. Get the recipe. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit