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Chatelaine Kitchen

10 Incredibly Simple Cocktails You Can Mix With 4 Ingredients (Or Less)

From rocks glasses to martini shakers, lemon twists and maraschino cherries, these are the classic cocktails to have up your sleeve for the holiday season.
Gin and tonic recipe

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

'Tis the season for popping bottles — but you don't have to make life complicated: here are easy cocktails you can mix, shake and stir for guests — all with a minimally stocked bar.

Cocktails 2015

Martini

Tools: Cocktail shaker. Ingredients: Gin + dry white vermouth. Garnish: Olives.  Get the recipe.

10 Incredibly Simple Cocktails You Can Mix With 4 Ingredients (Or Less)

The Julia

Tools: Cocktail shaker. Ingredients: Dry white vermouth + gin.  Get the recipe.

The Julia cocktail recipePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Negroni

Tools: Cocktail shaker + channel knife (or vegetable peeler). Ingredients: Gin + Campari + red vermouth. Garnish: Orange twist.  Get the recipe.

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negroni cocktail with a twist of orangePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Rum sour

Tools: Cocktail shaker. Ingredients: Rum + lemon juice + simple syrup. Garnish: Maraschino cherry. Get the recipe.

Rum sour cocktail recipePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Gin and tonic

Ingredients: Gin + tonic water. Garnish: Lime wedge.  Get the recipe.

Gin and tonic recipePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Americano

Ingredients: Campari + red vermouth + soda water. Garnish: Orange slice.  Get the recipe.

Americano cocktail recipePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

The Jacques

Tools: Cocktail shaker. Ingredients: Red vermouth + rye + Angostura bitters. Garnish: Mint.  Get the recipe.

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The jacques cocktail recipePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Manhattan

Tools: Cocktail shaker. Ingredients: Rye + red vermouth + Angostura bitters. Garnish: Maraschino cherry.  Get the recipe.

Manhattan cocktail recipePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Vesperita martini

Tools: Cocktail shaker. Ingredients: Gin + vodka + dry white vermouth. Garnish: Lemon twist.  Get the recipe.

Vesper-ita martiniPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Tom Collins

Ingredients: Gin + lemon juice + simple syrup + soda water. Garnish: Lemon slices.  Get the recipe.

Tom Collins cocktail recipePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Watch: Easy and elegant ways to garnish your cocktails

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