NOW EXPERIENCING:Two-ingredient cocktails that won’t break the bank
Cocktails|Sweet|Aperitifs & Vermouth|Dry

Two-ingredient cocktails that won’t break the bank

Read time 5 Mins

Posted 18 Dec 2025

By
Evan Jones

The Greyhound cocktail mixes vodka with grapefruit juice

Two parts, one great cocktail. Yep, we’re keeping things simple this Christmas.

You can’t make a cocktail with one ingredient. A glass of whisky? Guys, that’s just a glass of whisky – it doesn’t matter what you call it. Two ingredients, on the other hand, is a cocktail. And it doesn’t get much better than that.

There are all sorts of reasons why you’d want a two-ingredient cocktail in your life. For starters, they’re almost always dead simple – it’s just mixing two ingredients, after all. That makes these streamlined cocktails budget-friendly since you won’t need a bartender’s backbar full of fancy spirits and liqueurs to make them. Simplicity usually means they’re time-savers, too, because you’ll often just need to measure, pour and mix, which is a big tick, especially if you’re catering for friends and family over the holiday season.

Mainly, though, we just love two-ingredient cocktails because they taste bloody good. So, with that in mind, let’s find out how to make a few of the best.

12 of the best two-ingredient cocktails
4 MINS READ
1. Campari IPA Spritz cocktail recipe
What even is a Spritz anymore? Don’t answer that – we’re trying not to overthink it. Instead, pour yourself a Campari IPA Spritz, which does exactly what it says on the tin. You take the bittersweet citrus flavours of Campari and a citrus-forward IPA and mix them over ice. It’s bright, a little bitter and juicy, and it’s a winner as the sun dips on those summer arvo barbecues.
4 MINS READ
2. Whisky Highball cocktail recipe
The Whisky Highball might not have been invented in Japan, but it’s definitely found a fanbase over there. And who can blame them? This two-part combo is just whisky (usually something light and easy, but it’s up to you) and fizzy, fresh soda water. Add both ingredients in a tall glass over a bunch of ice, garnish with a slice of lemon and you’ve got the perfect drink for those sweltering summer nights.
3 MINS READ
3. Greyhound cocktail recipe
The biggest tip for nailing two-ingredient cocktails? Make sure both of those ingredients are good quality – after all, there’s nowhere to hide. In the case of the Greyhound, it means that freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice is the best way to get the cocktail’s signature zippy flavours. From there, all you need is vodka, ice and a slice of grapefruit to garnish. Consider this a very loyal brunch-time friend for those holiday mornings.
4 MINS READ
4. Vodka Martini cocktail recipe
If the gin-infused Classic Martini (which we get to below) has aromatic depth, the Vodka Martini gets straight to the point. Vodka is subtly-flavoured and a little dry vermouth brings a touch of complexity, but the Vodka Martini really is designed to be slick, clean and very dry. One piece of advice: get your Martini super cold. From there, you’ve got a perfect cocktail for whenever you want to show your friends that you are classy, actually. A great way to kick off New Year’s.
4 MINS READ
5. Black Russian cocktail recipe
If you’ve seen ‘The Big Lebowski’ (or gone bowling at Melbourne’s coolest lanes, The Keys), you’ll know all about the White Russian – a mix of vodka, coffee liqueur and milk or cream. With respect to our flat-white sipping pals, we can usually do without the dairy in coffee, which is where the Black Russian comes in. It’s vodka mixed with a coffee liqueur, which means it’ll satisfy anyone who can’t be bothered going the whole hog for an Espresso Martini. This is an ideal after-meal pep-up for anyone feeling a little drowsy from all that turkey.
4 MINS READ
6. Classic Martini cocktail recipe
The Classic Martini is the true king of cocktails, and the fact it needs just two ingredients shows how sublime simplicity can be. Toss in your favourite gin (usually a London dry style) and a splash of dry vermouth (we recommend 15mL, but this is nearly always to personal taste) and stir until very cold. The result is a Classic Martini that’s silky, smooth and the best pre-dinner drink in all the land, so definitely stir up a few next time you end up with dinner party duty.
3 MINS READ
7. Carajillo cocktail recipe
The Carajillo is evidence (if we needed it) that two-ingredient cocktails can be as visually stunning as any fancy-pants drink with foams, mists and colour-changing liqueurs. That beauty is all in the mixing, which isn’t really mixing so much as it is layering. Here, Licor 43 (a Spanish liqueur packed with sweet vanilla and citrus flavours) becomes a platform for a shot of espresso, which sits as a separate layer. It’s a two-toned beauty, but the Carajillo is not style over substance. With a citrusy coffee flavour, this is another perfect post long-lunch pick-me-up.
3 MINS READ
8. Lychee Martini cocktail recipe
Some Martinis are dry, serious and boozy – others are sweet, carefree and tropical. The Lychee Martini is definitely the latter, with its super-simple blend of lychee liqueur and vodka. And much like Classic Martinis that often come with an olive or two floating in the glass, the Lychee Martini gets a little sweet garnish from a whole lychee. This is lip-smackingly fruity, ultra-summery and a reminder that cocktails can be plain fun – something your friends will definitely appreciate at a summer cocktail party.
4 MINS READ
9. Godfather cocktail recipe
In the film ‘The Godfather’, Marlon Brando is always making someone an offer they can’t refuse. Well, if the offer was for a Godfather cocktail, we wouldn’t refuse either. Consider this an Italian twist on another classic double act, the Rusty Nail. Instead of a whisky liqueur like Drambuie, the Godfather goes for the sweet almond flavours of amaretto as a foil for Scotch whisky. We like to think of the Godfather as an after-dinner sipper – a digestivo best saved for when the dinner crowd moves to the lounge room to wind down.
2 MINS READ
10. Garibaldi cocktail recipe
The real-life Giuseppe Garibaldi might be a true Italian hero, but it’s the drink named for him that we’re interested in (sorry, Giuseppe). Just like the Greyhound, the trick here is fresh orange juice – ideally juiced to a light, fluffy consistency. If your juicer doesn’t do it that way (or you’re juicing by hand), a milk frother or blender will do the job. Add your frothy juice to some bittersweet Campari and you’ve got a Garibaldi, a Mimosa-rivalling drink for every brunch this season..
3 MINS READ
11. Kalimotxo cocktail recipe
You could be excused for thinking that red wine and Coca-Cola sounds like a mixing mistake, but tell that to the people of the Basque country, who proudly claim this 50-50 blend as their own. Like so many two-ingredient cocktails, the Kalimotxo can be a shortcut to a more complex classic – here, we’re talking Sangria. Because when you’re catering for all the rellies at your big Christmas get together, pouring red wine and Coke over ice is the smart, speedy and delicious choice.
3 MINS READ
12. Black Velvet cocktail recipe
Who said beer can’t go in a cocktail? You tell ’em to come see us and we’ll have a Black Velvet waiting. To be fair, this does sound a little out there on paper, but trust us when we say that Guinness and Champagne bring out the best in each other. The Black Velvet retains a little coffee-like bitterness from Guinness (not to mention its inky colour) while Champagne (or any sparkling wine you like) lifts everything with racy bubbles. It’s somehow light and rich at the same time and, frankly, the best way to toast anything this festive season.
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image credits: Shelley Horan (photography), Bridget Wald (stylist).
Authour image
Evan JonesEvan Jones is a Melbourne-based writer who believes that enlightenment can be attained with nothing more than a sour beer, a good sandwich and sunshine.
Tags
CocktailsBeerDrySourSweet'Best of' listsGinVodkaAperitifs & VermouthBitterLiqueursWhisk(e)y
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