These easy recipes save on time, tools and effort, and they absolutely hit the spot.

Whipping out a cocktail shaker is a pretty great flex, but there’s a lot to be said for mixed drinks that don’t need all that action. Despite what you see in bars everywhere, many of the cocktail world’s best drinks don’t require a hectic shake – just a spoon, good ice and the most appropriate glass to make some quality ingredients shine.

So, why do some cocktails get stirred and not shaken? Stirring ingredients together with ice is a great way to control the dilution in a mix, which is critical to balance cocktails so they taste just right. Other styles of cocktails rely on a solid shake for texture, emulsification or a more involved integration, but these are not them. Below, we round up 12 of the best stirred cocktails to make at home.

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1. Negroni cocktail recipe

The Negroni is an enduring icon for good reason, not least because it’s so easy to make (read: three ingredients, equal parts). This is the ultimate stirred cocktail that’s inspired thousands of riffs, but the OG tops our list. Just know that there’s stirring and then there’s the Negroni – it needs a good 20 to 30 seconds of circulation.

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2. Old Fashioned cocktail recipe

Another absolute classic, the Old Fashioned may seem simple, but there’s a careful stirring process involved here, again to dilute and balance the mix. Made with just bourbon, sugar syrup and bitters, this restrained cocktail demands a quality glass and a fresh citrus twist. Simplicity at it its best.

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3. Manhattan cocktail recipe

Here is one of the true timeless cocktails that defies its simple ingredients and method to create a complex and somehow very sophisticated drink. Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters make magic here, but be sure to spend some time on the stirring step to really nail this trio of ingredients and get the balance right.

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4. Mojito cocktail recipe

Nope, it’s not just the moody speakeasy sippers that get stirred – enter the tropical, resort-loving Mojito. While we’re calling this a stirred cocktail, some might argue it’s a churned cocktail, but either way, you’re only going to need these bright ingredients, crushed ice, a tall glass and a good long spoon to whip up this classic cocktail.

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5. Lychee Spritz cocktail recipe

Are we cheating by including a Spritz in this mix? We don’t think so – not when it tastes as good as this one. Cocktails don’t get easier than the Spritz, with their ingredients added to a glass of ice and stirred to incorporate. It’s the best kind of can’t-be-bothered cocktail. Even better? You use canned lychees, so it’s a year-round winner.

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6. Bijou cocktail recipe

Gin, sweet vermouth, Green Chartreuse and bitters may not sound like an obvious combination of ingredients, but if you love bold, herbaceous and complex cocktails, this is most definitely for you. Stir the ingredients together with ice in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass to make sure it’s diluted and well chilled. Then strain it into your fanciest coupe for one of the most sophisticated sippers around.

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7. French Connection cocktail recipe

Do you really need us to tell you how to make this cocktail? We’re going to anyway. This cracker has just two ingredients, with 45mL of both Cognac and amaretto, and you don’t even need a mixing glass. Just add them to a tumbler or rocks glass, add ice and stir – briefly, at that. The orange twist garnish is working harder than you to bring this drink together.

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8. Classic Martini cocktail recipe

Should this be earlier on our list? Probably, but it’s here and we love it, so let’s just move on. We’re not keeping James Bond happy with this stirred method, but what does he know? We’ve perfected the ratios of gin to vermouth, and dilution and temperature are critical for this classic, so stir well and enjoy it right away.

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9. Bourbon Peach Tea cocktail recipe

Don’t like bourbon? Ignore the key ingredient here and give it a go anyway. This cocktail is sweet and peachy, with bourbon’s depth playing nice with the earthy florals of Earl Grey tea, alongside some bitter orange notes from the curaco and a zingy lemon hit. It’s super balanced and super easy – put it all in a glass with ice, stir and be converted.

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10. Vieux Carré cocktail recipe

A mix of sweet vermouth, Cognac, Dom Benedictine and rye whiskey, this is one serious cocktail. Hailing from New Orleans, both Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters go into this bold, spicy, sweet and herbal mix, adding some extra depth and complexity. It all gets stirred with ice and strained into a glass over fresh ice, and we think it’s guaranteed to impress.

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11. Martinez cocktail recipe

For another gin pick, this is up there with the best. Here, it gets mixed simply with sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur. This is rich and sweet with the liqueur’s cherry notes, and it’s lively with botanicals from the gin, while the herbal, floral notes of the vermouth bring a little complexity. It’s old-school, and that’s just how we like it.

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12. Mint Julep cocktail recipe

A little like that Bourbon Peach Tea (see #9), here is another cocktail that can make even the staunchest anti-whisky people re-evaluate their position. Still, despite being made with bourbon, mint and sugar syrup (stirred in the glass with a load of ice), you can also sub in just about any spirit you like.