Who doesn’t enjoy a glass of cocktail? Cocktails are the best way to spruce up a party or a usual family dinner. These drinks have been and are still very popular among people across borders. Here are the recipes for five basic cocktails that you can easily make at home. Make these for your guests and set a relaxed and laid-back vibe to your party.

1. Martini
Dating back to the late 1800s, this is an essential drink that is always served at every party. It is the distinctive glass that makes this drink so fashionable and stylish. It can be made with gin or vodka.

• Ingredients
  4 parts gin, 1 part dry vermouth
• Method
  Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir well. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and squeeze a lemon peel over it. Garnish with a green olive.

2. Manhattan
This is another popular cocktail that can be modified or tweaked depending on how you like it.

• Ingredients
  3 parts rye whiskey, 1 part sweet red vermouth, a dash of bitters
• Method
  Add all the ingredients along with some ice to a cocktail shaker. Stir till the ice has started to melt and makes the drink very cold. Pour into glasses and garnish with a cherry.

3. Gin and tonic
With only two ingredients, this is probably one of the easiest among the five basic cocktails that you can serve at any time. The good quality ingredients used to make this simple drink are what makes it special.

• Ingredients
  Ice cubes, 2 ounces dry gin, 3-4 ounces tonic water, lime wheels
• Method
  Layer a highball glass with ice and lime wheels. Add the gin and tonic and stir.

4. Daiquiri
This drink is elegant and simple, and the rum used in it is perfect for giving you a feel of the beach. 

• Ingredients
  2oz white rum, 1oz freshly squeezed lime juice, ¾ oz syrup
• Method
  Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.

5. Margarita

This classic cocktail is one of the most well-known drinks of all. 

• Ingredient
  2oz silver tequila, 1oz Cointreau, 1oz freshly squeezed lime juice.
• Method
  Prepare a Margarita glass by rubbing a lime wedge over the rim. Twist it on a plate of coarse salt. The lime helps the salt to attach itself to the glass. Add some ice to the glass. Shake all the ingredients with cracked ice. Strain into the prepared glass and serve.

These are just a few of the basic   cocktails that you can serve to your guests. However, there are many other popular and easy drinks that you can try if you have the time.