Cocktails for two
These are the drinks that make sense for two: they double in one shaker without fuss, blend in one go, or share a bottle of fizz.
Set the drinks counter on any recipe to 2 and the measures change for you.
19 recipes
Which cocktails double well in one shaker
Short shaken drinks double most easily. For two Daiquiris, use 100 ml white rum, 50 ml lime juice and 30 ml sugar syrup. The Margarita, Cosmopolitan and Espresso martini work the same way. Shake for the same time as for one drink, then pour into the two glasses in turns, so both are equally strong.
Two drinks means about 180 to 200 ml of liquid plus ice. A large shaker can take that, but a small one cannot, so shake in two goes. Do the same for drinks that need room to foam, such as a Whisky sour with egg white. Squeeze lime juice just before shaking.
A Negroni needs no shaker. Stir 50 ml each of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth with ice in a jug, then strain over a large ice cube in each glass. A Mojito is built in the glass, so make two.
Blended drinks for two
The Strawberry Daiquiri and the Frozen Strawberry Margarita are written for two. Each blends 100 ml of spirit and 250 g of frozen strawberries with lime juice, a little sweetener and 100 g of ice.
Pour the liquid into the blender first, then the fruit and ice, and blend for about 30 seconds. Chill the glasses and serve at once, because the drink melts and separates. Do not overfill the jug: blend four drinks in two batches.
How many glasses in a bottle of fizz
A 75 cl bottle holds 750 ml. At the recipe measures, that is about seven Bellinis or Rossinis at 100 ml of Prosecco each, six Kir royales at 120 ml, or eight Aperol spritzes at 90 ml. The Sgroppino uses 120 ml of Prosecco for two glasses.
A bottle of 11% sparkling wine contains about 8 units of alcohol, before the other ingredients, so one bottle is plenty for two people. Chill it well and pour slowly down the side of the glass.
Use the drinks counter, then pace yourselves
Set the drinks counter on a recipe to 2 and the measures change. Check anything counted in whole items, such as passion fruit or egg white, and read the method, because two drinks may need a bigger glass or a second shake.
Cocktails are stronger than they look. A Daiquiri with 50 ml of rum at 40% is about 2 units. Make the second round after a pause, keep water on the table and eat something. A Virgin Bellini or Virgin mojito is a good alternative for one of you or for a round in between.
Questions people ask
Can you double a cocktail recipe in one shaker?
Yes, you can double most shaken cocktails in one shaker if it is large enough. Two drinks is about 180 to 200 ml of liquid plus ice, which a small shaker cannot hold. If yours is small, shake in two goes, and double-check egg white drinks, which need room to foam.
What are the easiest cocktails to make for two?
The easiest cocktails for two are drinks with few ingredients: a Daiquiri, Margarita, Negroni or Aperol spritz. The Negroni is stirred in a jug and the spritz is built in the glass, so neither needs a shaker. The blended Strawberry Daiquiri makes two in one go.
How many cocktails can you get from a bottle of prosecco?
A 75 cl bottle makes about seven Bellinis or Rossinis, six Kir royales or eight Aperol spritzes at the recipe measures. A bottle of 11% wine contains about 8 units, so for two people one bottle is plenty, and you will not need to finish it.
How do you double a cocktail recipe?
Multiply every measure by two, or set the drinks counter on the recipe page to 2. Check whole items such as passion fruit, egg white or fruit slices, which may need rounding, and keep the shaking time the same. Taste before you pour if you are unsure.
Can you blend two frozen cocktails at once?
Yes, two frozen cocktails blend easily in one go. The Strawberry Daiquiri and Frozen Strawberry Margarita recipes are written for two. Put the liquid in first, then the frozen fruit and ice, and blend for about 30 seconds. For four drinks, blend in two batches.
How do you pace drinks when making cocktails for two?
Make one round at a time, with food and a glass of water between rounds. Cocktails are strong: a Daiquiri with 50 ml of rum at 40% is about 2 units. Offer an alcohol-free drink such as a Virgin Bellini or Virgin mojito for a round in between.