Unconventional Budget Cocktails For Unconventional Budget Times (3 Ingredients Or Less)

Most of us are in quarantine. If you’re like me, you really don’t want to interact with hoards of people at the grocery store, and therefore your pantry is looking pretty bleak. However, you really need a drink. Here are some tested recipes I used in college when I really needed to make a bunch of cocktails for really cheap. Yes, some of these might sound a little strange but they’re really not as bad as you’d think. Pour up one of these while you rewatch the Tiger King.
1. Hard Tea
  • 8oz your favorite tea (preferably cold)
  • 1.5oz vodka
  • 0.5oz simple syrup or honey (optional)
  • Ice (optional)
– Stir tea and vodka together
– Optional: Stir in honey or simple syrup ( link to make your own simple syrup)
– Optional: Top it off with ice
2. Tequila and Emergen-C Sunrise
  • 1.5 oz tequila
  • 8oz Emergen-C
  • Splash of grenadine
– Mix tequilla and Emergen-c together
– Add a splash of grenadine
3. Poorman’s white claw
  • 12 oz can of your favorite sparkling water
  • 2oz gin or vodka
– Open your can of sparkling water and pour your gin/vodka in there. 
– Add more or less gin/vodka to your taste or how your day has been going.
4. Poorer mans white claw
  • 12 oz flavor enhanced water (like MiO)
  • 1.5oz gin or vodka
  • Ice (optional)
– Combine the flavor enhanced water together with the gin or vodka
– Add ice to your liking
– Note: I’m not even sure if they make those flavor enhancing liquids anymore but I know it’s sitting in some of your cabinet
5. Leftover Coffee White Russian
  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz coffee liqueur made from leftover coffee (click here for recipe)(use leftover coffee instead of coldbrew)
  • 0.75 oz heavy cream (milk or half and half if you don’t have)
  • Ice
– Stir all ingredients together and top with ice
– Adjust cream, coffee liqueur and vodka to taste
6. Spiked Hot Chocolate
  • 2oz peppermint schnapps 
  • 6oz hot chocolate
– Stir peppermint schnapps into hot chocolate and adjust to taste 
7. Back of Freezer Frozen Fruit Margarita
  • 2oz simple syrup
  • 2oz tequila
  • 4-8fl oz frozen fruit
  • 6oz ice
– Start with blending the simple syrup, tequila, 4oz frozen fruit and ice together 
– Depending on what frozen fruit you use, you may need to add more. Gradually add to taste.
Margarita
Image by Jill Fulton from Pixabay