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Slow drinks

Relaxing cocktails

Spirit-forward, low-effort drinks made to be sipped slowly at the end of a day rather than drunk quickly.

A relaxing drink is defined more by pace than by ingredients. It is short, strong enough to last, and simple enough that making it is not itself a task — nobody unwinding at ten in the evening wants to be squeezing four limes and washing a shaker afterwards.

These are mostly stirred or built, mostly two or three ingredients, and mostly designed to be drunk over twenty minutes rather than five. A large ice cube matters more here than anywhere else on the site, because slow dilution is the entire point.

69 recipes
An Old Fashioned in a rocks glass with a large ice cube and orange peel

Old Fashioned

Bourbon or rye, stirred slowly with sugar and bitters — the template every modern cocktail descends from.

strongbitterdry
medium5 minwhisky
A Negroni in a rocks glass with a large ice cube and orange peel"Negroni served in Vancouver BC" by Geoff Peters from Vancouver, BC, Canada is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.

Negroni

Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, built over ice — bittersweet, bracing and impossible to mistake for anything else.

bitterstrongdry
easy5 mingin
A Martini in a chilled glass with a lemon twistPhoto by Taryn Elliott on Pexels

Martini

Gin and dry vermouth, stirred to a razor-cold clarity — the most argued-over cocktail in the book.

strongdryherbal
medium5 mingin
An Espresso Martini in a coupe glass with three coffee beans floating on the foamPhoto by Marilena Baltzaki on Pexels

Espresso Martini

Vodka, coffee liqueur and fresh espresso, shaken hard for a cold, foam-capped jolt.

strongbittersweet
medium7 minvodka
A Pornstar Martini in a coupe glass with a passion fruit half and a shot of sparkling wine alongside

Pornstar Martini

Vodka and passion fruit shaken bright and fruity, served with a chilled shot of sparkling wine on the side.

fruitysweettropical
medium7 minvodka
A Manhattan in a coupe glass with a maraschino cherry

Manhattan

Rye whiskey and sweet vermouth, stirred with bitters — the spirit-forward counterpart to the Martini.

strongbitterdry
medium5 minwhisky
A Whiskey Sour in a rocks glass with a silky white foam and a lemon wheelPhoto by Nasim Didar on Pexels

Whiskey Sour

Bourbon, lemon and sugar, shaken with egg white for a silky foam — the original template for every 'sour'.

soursweetstrong
medium5 minwhisky
A Dark 'n' Stormy in a highball glass showing the dark rum floated over pale ginger beerPhoto by MC G'Zay on Pexels

Dark 'n' Stormy

Dark rum floated over ginger beer and lime — a Bermudian highball with real spice and weight.

spicystrongfruity
easy3 minrum
A pink Cosmopolitan in a coupe glass with an orange peel garnishPhoto by Marcelo Verfe on Pexels

Cosmopolitan

Citron vodka, triple sec, cranberry and lime, shaken pink and served up — sharp, bright and unapologetically 90s.

sourfruitystrong
easy5 minvodka
A White Russian in a rocks glass with a cream layer on top of dark coffee liqueur"White Russian Cocktail" by ccnull.de Bilddatenbank is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.

White Russian

Vodka and coffee liqueur, softened with cream — a short, sweet, after-dinner sipper.

creamysweetstrong
easy3 minvodka

Black Russian

Vodka and coffee liqueur, built simple and strong — the White Russian without the cream.

strongbittersweet
easy3 minvodka
A Sidecar in a sugar-rimmed coupe glass with an orange twistPhoto by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels

Sidecar

Cognac, orange liqueur and lemon, shaken bright and dry — a sugar-rimmed brandy classic.

sourstrongdry
medium5 minbrandy
A Gimlet in a coupe glass with a pale green tint and a lime wheel garnishPhoto by alleksana on Pexels

Gimlet

Gin and lime cordial, stirred cold and clean — a short, tart classic with naval roots.

sourdrystrong
medium4 mingin
An Amaretto Sour in a rocks glass with a frothy top and a cherry garnishPhoto by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels

Amaretto Sour

Almond-sweet amaretto shaken with lemon and a whisper of egg white — nutty, tart and silky.

soursweetfruity
medium5 minliqueur led

Aviation

Gin, maraschino and a whisper of violette, shaken with lemon — pale purple and quietly complex.

sourdryherbal
medium5 mingin
An Irish Coffee in a footed glass with a floated cream layer on top

Irish Coffee

Hot coffee, Irish whiskey and brown sugar, topped with a float of lightly whipped cream.

strongcreamybitter
medium5 minwhisky
A Hot Toddy in a glass mug with a clove-studded lemon wheel and steam risingPhoto by Oliver King on Pexels

Hot Toddy

Whisky, honey and lemon stirred into hot water — a warming, simple classic for cold nights.

strongsweetspicy
easy5 minwhisky
A Boulevardier in a rocks glass with a large ice cube and orange peelPhoto by Vivita Malite on Pexels

Boulevardier

Bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth stirred over ice — a whiskey-forward cousin of the Negroni.

bitterstrongdry
medium5 minwhisky
A Corpse Reviver No. 2 in a chilled coupe glass with a lemon twistPhoto by Dextar Studio ™ on Pexels

Corpse Reviver No. 2

Gin, triple sec, Lillet Blanc and lemon juice in an absinthe-rinsed glass — a sharp, citrus-forward classic.

sourdryherbal
advanced6 mingin

Penicillin

Blended Scotch, honey-ginger syrup and lemon, topped with a peaty Islay float — smoky, spiced and citrus-sharp.

smokysourspicy
advanced6 minwhisky

French Martini

Vodka, Chambord and pineapple juice shaken until frothy — fruity, pink and deceptively strong.

fruitysweetstrong
easy4 minvodka
A Gibson cocktail in a chilled glass garnished with a pickled cocktail onion

Gibson

A Martini in every way but one — dry gin and vermouth, stirred cold, finished with a pickled cocktail onion instead of an olive or twist.

strongdryherbal
medium5 mingin
A Last Word cocktail in a coupe glass, pale green and clear

Last Word

Equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and lime — a Prohibition-era puzzle that somehow balances four loud ingredients perfectly.

herbalsourstrong
medium5 mingin
A Vesper cocktail in a chilled glass with a lemon twistPhoto by Engin Akyurt on Pexels

Vesper

Gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc, shaken hard — the literary Martini variant with a name and backstory all its own.

strongdryherbal
medium5 mingin

Gin Rickey

Gin, lime and soda water, built over ice — dry, sharp and deliberately unsweetened.

sourrefreshingdry
easy3 mingin

Twentieth Century

Gin, Lillet Blanc, white crème de cacao and lemon — a 1930s cocktail built on an unlikely pairing of citrus and chocolate.

sourstrongdry
medium5 mingin
A Harvey Wallbanger in a highball glass with a golden Galliano float on topPhoto by Zhengdong Hu on Pexels

Harvey Wallbanger

A Screwdriver with a Galliano float — vodka and orange juice topped with a herbal, vanilla-edged liqueur.

fruitysweetherbal
easy4 minvodka

Corn 'n Oil

Dark rum, falernum, lime and bitters, built simply over ice — a short, strong, deeply traditional Caribbean classic.

strongspicysour
easy4 minrum
A Mezcal Negroni in a rocks glass with a large ice cube and an orange twist

Mezcal Negroni

Equal parts mezcal, Campari and sweet vermouth — the Negroni's smoky, agave-forward cousin.

bittersmokystrong
easy4 mintequila

Naked and Famous

Equal parts mezcal, Aperol, yellow Chartreuse and lime — a balanced, modern four-way tightrope walk.

smokybittersour
medium5 mintequila
A tall Whisky Highball in a highball glass with a lemon twist and large ice cubesPhoto by George Shervashidze on Pexels

Whisky Highball

Whisky and soda water over ice — the simplest way to make good whisky last longer.

strongrefreshingdry
easy3 minwhisky
A Rob Roy in a coupe glass with a maraschino cherry

Rob Roy

Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth and bitters, stirred cold — the Manhattan's smokier Scottish cousin.

strongbittersmoky
medium5 minwhisky
A Sazerac in a rocks glass with a lemon peel expressed over the top, no icePhoto by Dextar Studio ™ on Pexels

Sazerac

Rye whisky and Peychaud's bitters in an absinthe-rinsed glass — New Orleans' oldest signature cocktail.

strongbitterherbal
advanced6 minwhisky

Blood and Sand

Scotch, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth and orange juice, shaken in perfectly equal parts.

fruitysweetsmoky
medium5 minwhisky

Gold Rush

Bourbon, honey syrup and lemon, shaken and poured over one big rock — a modern whiskey-sour classic.

soursweetstrong
medium5 minwhisky

Vieux Carré

Rye, Cognac, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine and two bitters — a dense, stirred New Orleans classic.

strongbitterherbal
advanced6 minwhisky

Rusty Nail

Scotch whisky and a honeyed Scotch liqueur, built over ice — a strong, warming two-ingredient sipper.

strongsweetsmoky
easy3 minwhisky

Brandy Alexander

Cognac, dark crème de cacao and cream, shaken smooth — a dessert cocktail dusted with nutmeg.

sweetcreamystrong
medium5 minbrandy

Between the Sheets

Cognac, white rum, triple sec and lemon in close-to-equal parts — a strong, citrus-bright Sidecar relative.

strongsourfruity
medium5 minbrandy

Brandy Crusta

Cognac, orange liqueur, maraschino and lemon in a sugar-rimmed glass lined with a long citrus spiral.

strongsourdry
advanced8 minbrandy

French Connection

Cognac and amaretto, built over ice — a simple, warming two-ingredient sipper.

sweetstrong
easy3 minbrandy

Metropolitan

Cognac, sweet vermouth and bitters, stirred cold — an old-world brandy relative of the Manhattan.

strongdrybitter
medium5 minbrandy

Death in the Afternoon

Absinthe topped with ice-cold Champagne — a stark two-ingredient drink credited to Ernest Hemingway.

strongherbaldry
medium3 minliqueur led

Amaro Sour

A bittersweet Italian amaro shaken with lemon and honey — a digestivo turned into a proper sour.

bittersoursweet
medium5 minliqueur led
A pale green, frothy Grasshopper in a coupe glass

Grasshopper

Crème de menthe, white crème de cacao and cream, shaken until frothy — a pastel-green dessert in a glass.

sweetcreamyherbal
easy4 minliqueur led

Golden Cadillac

Galliano, white crème de cacao and cream, shaken smooth — a golden, vanilla-and-chocolate dessert cocktail.

sweetcreamyherbal
easy4 minliqueur led

Snakebite

Equal parts lager and cider, built together — a straightforward, hard-hitting British pub pint.

refreshingdrystrong
easy3 minbeer

Coffee Old Fashioned

A classic Old Fashioned given a cold-brew twist — bourbon, coffee and bitters, stirred slow.

strongbitterdry
medium5 minwhisky
A Cold Brew Negroni in a rocks glass, dark red-brown over a large ice cube

Cold Brew Negroni

The classic gin, Campari and sweet vermouth Negroni, joined by a measure of cold brew coffee for a roasted, bittersweet edge.

bitterstrongdry
easy5 mingin

Coffee Flip

Cognac, coffee liqueur and a whole egg, shaken hard into something silky and dessert-like — a classic flip technique with a coffee lean.

creamysweetstrong
advanced5 minbrandy

Vietnamese Coffee Cocktail

Dark rum stirred into strong iced coffee and sweetened condensed milk — a spirited take on Vietnamese cà phê sữa đá.

sweetcreamybitter
easy5 minrum
A Hot Buttered Rum in a heatproof mug with a pat of melting butter on top and a cinnamon stick

Hot Buttered Rum

Dark rum, brown sugar and melted butter stirred into hot water — a rich, warming winter classic.

sweetstrongcreamy
medium5 minrum
A mug of mulled wine with an orange slice, cinnamon stick and clovesPhoto by Daria-Yakovleva on Pixabay

Mulled Wine

Red wine gently warmed with orange, cloves and cinnamon, lifted with a splash of brandy — a mug of Christmas market in a glass.

spicysweetfruity
easy5 minliqueur led
A Tom and Jerry in a heatproof punch mug with a frothy pale batter top and a dusting of nutmegPhoto by Büşra Arabacı on Pexels

Tom and Jerry

Dark rum and brandy whisked into a spiced egg batter and topped with hot water or milk — a rich, historic holiday punch.

sweetcreamystrong
advanced10 minrum

Hot Whiskey Cider

Irish whiskey warmed with spiced apple cider, cloves and a cinnamon stick — an autumn cousin of the classic hot toddy.

sweetspicystrong
easy5 minwhisky

Fog Cutter

Gin, rum and brandy shaken with citrus and orgeat, finished with a sherry float — a deceptively strong tiki multi-spirit classic.

strongfruitysour
advanced7 minrum
An Alcohol-Free Old Fashioned in a rocks glass with a large ice cube and orange peel
Alcohol-free

Alcohol-Free Old Fashioned

An alcohol-free whisky-style spirit, stirred slowly with sugar and bitters — the Old Fashioned's structure, without the proof.

bitterdrystrong
medium5 minalcohol free
A Vodka Soda in a highball glass with a lime wedgePhoto by JEFERSON GOMES on Pexels

Vodka Soda

Vodka and soda water over ice with a citrus wedge — the simplest highball in the book, and one of the hardest to make badly.

refreshingdrystrong
easy2 minvodka
A Gin and Tonic in a highball glass with a lime wedge and bubbles risingPhoto by Toni Cuenca on Pexels

Gin and Tonic

Gin and tonic water over ice with lime — a bittersweet, botanical two-ingredient classic.

bitterrefreshingherbal
easy2 mingin

Whisky Ginger

Whisky and ginger ale over ice — a warm, spicy two-ingredient highball that never goes out of style.

spicysweetstrong
easy2 minwhisky

Corpse Reviver No. 1

Cognac, apple brandy and sweet vermouth, stirred cold — the older, spirit-forward half of the Corpse Reviver family.

strongdryfruity
medium5 minbrandy
A Godfather cocktail in a rocks glass with a single large ice cubePhoto by Graham Walker on Pexels

Godfather

Scotch whisky and amaretto, built over one large cube — a simple, two-ingredient nightcap.

strongsweetsmoky
easy2 minwhisky
A Godmother cocktail in a rocks glass with a single large ice cubePhoto by Denys Gromov on Pexels

Godmother

Vodka and amaretto, built over one large cube — the Godfather's vodka-based sibling.

strongsweet
easy2 minvodka

Martinez

Gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino and bitters, stirred — the richer, older drink the Martini came from.

strongsweetherbal
medium4 mingin

Brooklyn

Rye, dry vermouth, maraschino and a bitter amaro — the Manhattan's drier, more bitter relative.

strongdrybitter
medium4 minwhisky

Oaxaca Old Fashioned

Tequila and mezcal with agave and bitters, stirred over ice — an Old Fashioned built on agave rather than grain.

strongsmokysweet
medium4 mintequila
A mug of alcohol-free mulled wine with an orange wheel, cinnamon stick and cloves
Alcohol-free

Alcohol-Free Mulled Wine

Red grape juice mulled with citrus and whole spices — warm, dark and spiced, with the sweetness kept in check.

spicysweetfruity
easy5 minalcohol free
Alcohol-free

Alcohol-Free Hot Toddy

Honey, lemon and hot water with whole spice — the toddy's comforting half, without the whisky.

sweetsourspicy
easy5 minalcohol free
Alcohol-free

Alcohol-Free Irish Coffee

Hot sweetened coffee under a float of lightly whipped cream — the technique, without the whiskey.

creamybittersweet
medium6 minalcohol free

How this list is built

Computed from real catalogue fields: a nightcap occasion tag, or a hot drink, or a stirred or built recipe of three ingredients or fewer with a strength score of 3 or more.

Nothing on this page is hand-picked or sponsored — the list comes straight from the recipe data, so it stays correct as the catalogue grows. Lists only exist once enough real recipes match; that is why some categories you might expect aren't here yet.

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